St. Sebastian's Magazine, Spring 2018

S T. S EBASTIAN’S SPRING 2018

M AGAZINE

2017-2018 Board of Trustees Seán Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Chairman William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04 Executive Officer, Headmaster James L. Elcock ’77, P’08 President Patrick J. Hegarty ’89, P’23 Vice President David M. Calabro ’78, P’16 Treasurer Devin C. Condron ’92 Assistant Treasurer Members: Barbara E. Connolly P’10,’12,’17 Rev. Michael E. Drea Kevin F. Driscoll ’72, P’05,’09 John W. Hueber ’71 Ross M. Jones P’16,’17 Susanne C. Joyce P’20,’23 Carolyn M. Lemone P’16,’18 Shawn Martin P’17,’18,’19 Wesley D. Mateo ’03 Peter J. McLaughlin ’55, GP’13,’19 John E. McNamara ’81, P’14,’18 James F. Mooney, III P’18 Kathleen A. Murphy P’21 Mark L. O’Friel ’79 Robert M. Reardon P’15 Kristin E. Reed P’15,’17 John A. Sebastian P’18 Randall P. Seidl P’17,’19 Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. Troy L. Stanfield P’21 Kurt R. Steinkrauss ’91, P’19 Mary L. Supple P’09,’10,’15 Stephen P. Ward ’96 Andrew Wasynczuk P’14,’17 Cara Real P’13,’19 President, Guild of St. Irene Michael P. Muldowney P’12,’16,’22 President, Men’s Association Timothy P. Doherty ’87, P’17 President, Alumni Association Trustees Emeriti: James A. Cotter, Jr. ’57 David F. Gately ’73 J. Brad Griffith ’58, GP’19,’23

SPRING 2018

S T. S EBASTIAN’S M AGAZINE

FEATURES

St. Sebastian’s graduates 69 students

32 Giving Back &

Paying It Forward

Three alumni give back to St. Sebastian’s through gifts to the Spirit & People Campaign

40 Growing Community

Charlie ’62 & Laura Tangerini P’07,’08 create a thriving community on their farm

48 A Riveting Victory

Assistant Headmaster Michael P. Nerbonne

IN EVERY ISSUE

10 Commencement 2018

The varsity baseball team plays a game for the ages at Fenway Park against Belmont Hill

2

Headmaster’s Letter

3

Around Campus

31

Campaign Update

44

Fine Arts

47

Event Highlights

52

Spring Sports

64

Alumni Events

66

Class Notes

70

In Memoriam

Director of Development Richard F. Arms P’14

Editor & Designer Christine Y. Robertson, Director of Communications Principal Photographer Joey Spadoni, Digital Media Coordinator Contributors Michaela Chapman, Communications Associate Ed Davis ’65, P’88,’90 Alumni Office, Director of Planned Giving Editorial Advisor Michael Deschenes, Director of Library & Information Services

58 Reunion 2018

Headmaster William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04

The classes of 3’s and 8’s celebrate Reunion St. Sebastian’s Magazine is published three times a year by the Communications Office.

Correspondence concerning the magazine should be sent to: communications@stsebs.org

40

Charlie ’62 and Laura Tangerini P’07,’08

58

St. Sebastian’s School 1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, MA 02492 781.449.5200 www.stsebs.org Reunion 2018

St. Sebastian’s School Mission Statement A Catholic independent school, St. Sebastian’s seeks to engage young men in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason. By embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community and by inspiring intellectual excellence in a structured liberal arts curriculum, St. Sebastian’s strives to empower students for success in college and in life. The ideal St. Sebastian’s graduate will be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.

ON THE COVER: Members of the Class of 2018 are congratulated by faculty as they process out of St. Bartholomew Church at the end of the Commencement Ceremony.

From the desk of the headmaster

Only in God are we capable of living fully.

W illia m L . Bu r k e III

These nine words come to us from Father Alfred Delp, S.J., who passed in 1945, having been condemned to death by the Nazis in Berlin, Germany. A great man was martyred. His message lives on. The Spirit never dies.

How richly blessed we are to be members of our inclusive, nurturing St. Sebastian’s faith community—forever open and committed to knowing, loving and serving God and neighbor, forever cooperating with grace, forever inspiring integrated happy, healthy, holy lives of excellence in body, mind, and spirit, forever advancing the truth that Only in God are we capable of living fully!

As I reflect on the year fading behind us and focus on the year unfolding before us, my heart swells in gratitude to God, the giver of all good gifts, to our students, to their families, to our faculty and staff, to our alumni, to our trustees, and to our many friends. Givers all! I thank you for tirelessly seeking and forever finding ways to help your School become an ever stronger, ever better place.

I hope that you will enjoy perusing this issue of our Magazine, which features our most recent Commencement and Alumni Reunion events, celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of Arrows of yesterday and today, and provides updates on our thrilling Spirit & People Campaign, which promises to provide our students with more and better opportunities to grow in all the right ways.

Please visit when you can and allow us to provide you with the grand tour of our new West Campus Center, our new athletic fields, our new Class of 2018 Health Center in the Birmingham Academic Building, and our new digital media lab in the Art Center.

Thanks again for everything. May God continue to bless you and your families every sacred step of the way.

With love and gratitude,

William L. Burke III Headmaster

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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

AROUND CAMPUS

News & Notes from Our School Community

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AROUND CAMPUS

Classics Day at Holy Cross Members of the Latin Club attended Classics Day at Holy Cross on April 12, competing against other schools for prizes in various academic events.

St. Sebastian’s Latin students had a very successful day, earning four awards—1st Place Art Contest, 1st Place Lower Division Certamen, 2nd Place Upper Division Certamen, and 2nd Place Manuscript Challenge. Students participating in the Art Contest and Manuscript Challenge logged many hours of preparation in advance of Classics Day. It was a fun day for all involved to showcase our Latin and Fine Arts programs.

ABOVE: Jack Moffatt ’19, Ryan Steinkrauss ’19, Patrick Ryan ’18, Orvin Pierre ’18, and Jeff Serowik ’20 won second place in the Manuscript Challenge at Holy Cross for Classics Day. TOP RIGHT: A wheel thrown vase, depicting the story of Charon and the golden bough, earned Stephen Jessup ‘19 first place in the Art Contest. BOTTOM RIGHT: Nolan McGovern ’21 sculpted Cerberus, the three headed dog.

VERGILIAN ACTUS On May 16, students in the Latin IV Advanced Placement class demonstrated their mastery of Latin in the annual Vergilian Actus. Richard Thomas, George Martin Lane Professor of Classics at Harvard, presented questions and led a discussion of Vergil’s Aeneid. Each student read a passage from the poem metrically, translated, and offered reflections on Vergil’s words.

Professor Thomas also presented a large group reflection centered upon each student’s favorite feature of the lines in Book VI, one of the most famous passages of the epic poem. Students who participated were Connor Bertsch ’19, Justin Charles ’19, Jack Dumouchel ’19, Jack Moffatt ’19, Jeffrey Serowik ’20 and Ryan Steinkrauss ’19.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Birmingham Lecture Series Continues with Dr. Patrick Ewanchuk

The newest members of the Cum Laude Society with Headmaster Bill Burke, Assistant Headmaster (and Chapter President) Mike Nerbonne, and Director of Grades 7 and 8 (and Chapter Secretary) David Cornish.

Fourteen Seniors Inducted into the

Cum Laude Society Headmaster Bill Burke, Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne, and faculty member David Cornish inducted 14 members of the Class of 2018 into the Cum Laude Society during a ceremony held on April 13, 2018. Stephen DuFour P’14,’18,’21, Portfolio Manager at Fidelity Management and Research Company, provided the keynote address.

The Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, the Society has grown to over 350 Chapters located in public and independent schools in the United States, Canada, England, France, Spain, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Class of 2018 Inductees include: Royce Abel, Daniel Borah, Harrison Carlson, William Coyne, Luke Diggins, Patrick DuFour, William Fox, William Kiley, Robert Lordi, Peter Murphy, Jr., Orvin Pierre, Patrick Ryan, Michael Twohig, and Martin White.

On April 18, St. Sebastian’s welcomed Patrick Ewanchuk, Associate Professor of Biology at Providence College, as a part of our Birmingham Lecture series. Dr. Ewanchuk spoke to the students and faculty about his studies of the relationship between predator and prey, specifically crabs and snails, and his findings from conducting multiple experiments focused on tidal pools on the New England coastline.

Ewanchuk attended Vancouver College, an all-boys Catholic high school in Canada, and received his PhD in Ecology from Brown University. He teaches a number of courses at both Providence College and Brown University, including ecology, tropical biology, marine plants, invertebrate zoology and conservation biology. His research has resulted in over 25 peer review journal articles.

#ArrowsPride With feeds from our social media channels and links to photo galleries, videos, news, our school and athletic calendars, our digital dashboard is the perfect way to stay connected to what’s happening on campus.

Bookmark this page today!

Patrick Ewanchuk, Associate Professor of Biology at Providence College, standing with Karen Birmingham (Jack ‘59) P’84, GP’14,17 and Headmaster Bill Burke.

www.stsebs.org/arrowspride

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AROUND CAMPUS

Finance Academy Receives

Wise Guidance As part of the Finance Academy’s speaker series, members of the club had the opportunity to hear from two experts in the field.

On March 28, Professor Ethan Sullivan, Associate Dean of Undergraduates at the Carroll School of Management, offered his insight on the top high school and college courses to take, along with potential career paths and job opportunities.

His interactive presentation served as an excellent guide for upcoming high school seniors, and soon-to-be-college freshmen interested in pursuing a career in finance.

On May 23, the Finance Academy was privileged to welcome back Brian Mulvey P’17,’22 to advise the students on how and why to invest in different areas of the market as high school students. Mulvey is currently a Managing Director in Wealth Management and Private Wealth Advisor for UBS United States. Using examples to which the boys could relate, he explained the basics of financial planning and emphasized the importance of time on the overall growth of an investment. Mulvey’s presentation demonstrated that it is never too early to invest in the future and provided a plan for making the first step.

Brian Mulvey P’17.’22 with some of the senior members of the Finance Academy.

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TOP: Members of the MPA club gather together at the end of their banquet. BOTTOM LEFT: Ellis O’Donnell ’19 presents Ibrahim Kaba ’18 with his stole. BOTTOM RIGHT: The seniors’ memory boxes.

MPA Banquet Celebrates Seniors

T

he annual Men with Positive Attitudes Banquet on May 17 was a feast of food, family and friends. The evening kicked off with a welcome from next year’s MPA president, Miguel Vega ’19. Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne shared reflections on the 24 senior members and a number of underclassmen also spoke about the departing seniors. The program was filled with top-notch entertainment: Stepan Kapreilian ’19 presented a video created by Anthony Perez ’19 to introduce the 2018-2019 MPA Officers; Christian Casiano ’21 performed a beautiful sonata on the violin; and Nate Kocho ’19 recited “Brothers Without Barriers.”

The keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack, PhD, shared his journey as a first-generation college student and spoke about his research on diversity and education. Dr. Jack is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and an Assistant Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also holds the Shutzer Assistant Professorship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

Senior MPA members presented Headmaster Bill Burke with a gift of patio furniture for the Class of 2017 Courtyard. A highlight of the evening came when several fathers each read notes from the seniors’ memory boxes. The night ended with the traditional blessing of the seniors by Fr. John Arens and members of MPA singing, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” It was a special night for the seniors, their families, underclassmen and alumni who came back to campus for the event.

AROUND CAMPUS

Class of 2018 Senior Class-Alumni Breakfast The Class of 2018 began its final week at St. Sebastian’s with the annual Senior Class-Alumni Breakfast on May 31. The Alumni Association Board joined with other alumni to celebrate soon-to-be graduates. Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock ’77, P’08, Alumni Association President Tim Doherty ’87, P’17 and Raffi Barsamian ’17—who just completed his freshman year at Middlebury College—each addressed the Class of 2018, offering advice for the future and welcoming the seniors to the alumni ranks. Headmaster Burke reminded the seniors to savor each moment of their final days at St. Sebastian’s before showing a slideshow depicting their parents’ Senior Class Gift: the Class of 2018 Health Center. Before the breakfast concluded, 100% of the Class made their first gift to the Alumni Fund, contributing to the success of Arrows Forever Day, St. Sebastian’s second annual giving day.

Undergraduate & College Book Awards The following students were presented with College Book and School Awards for their academic achievements during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly on May 23.

COLLEGE BOOK AWARDS: Boston College Griffin C. Wagner ’19 Brown University Thomas J. Lyons III ’19 Bryant University Owen P. Martin ’19 College of the Holy Cross John R. Dumouchel ’19 Dartmouth College Nolan M. Prince ’19 George Washington University Andrew Y. Ko ’19 Harvard University Jared H. Price ’19, John H. Randall ’19 St. Anselm College Keun Woo Oh ’19

SCHOOL AWARDS: Alizadeh Most Improved Student Award Matthew L. Connelly ’19 Bausch & Lomb Science Award Nolan M. Prince ’19 John P. Birmingham, Jr. Writing Award Alessandro Barbiellini ’21, Nolan T. McGovern ’21

TOP: Billy McNamara ’18, Jonathan Pace ’18, and Blake Colman ’18 holding up some St. Sebastian’s gear. BOTTOM: Nate McCarthy ’18, Harry Carlson ’18, Mario Oliva ’18, and James Mooney ’18 at the Senior Alumni Breakfast.

St. Lawrence University Brian C. Piatelli ’19 St. Michael’s College Jack-Patrick Milbury ’19 Trinity College Dublin Nathaniel T. Kocho ’19 University of Notre Dame John B. Moffatt ’19 University of Virginia Miguel J. Vega, Jr. ’19 Villanova University Robert T. Smith ’19 Williams College Theodore J. Hoppe ’19 Yale University Peter J. Blake ’19

Kevin Ghelli Award Ryan E. Mullen ’19, Timothy L. Noone ’19 Frank J. Hennessey, Jr. Award Anthony A. Perez ’19, Cole C. Tremblay ’19 Robert J. Joyce, Jr. Award Alex D. Cherry ’19, Anthony A. Perez ’19 William P. Judge Award John T. Flynn ’22, Thomas M. Scordino ’22

Catholic Citizenship Award Robert T. Smith ’19

William P. Judge Scholarship Peter J. Blake ’19

Chapel Speech Awards Jack-Patrick Milbury ’19, Edward R. Daniel ’20, Christopher N. Hatem ’20, Connor P. Arcara ’21, Aidan G. Mulvey ’21, John T. Flynn ’22, John P. Hamilton ’23

Jason Keating Award Brian M. Grande ’23

Joseph Compagnone Memorial Award Matthew L. Connelly ’19, William A. McCarthy III ’19 Gandolfo Award John R. Dumouchel ’19, John B. Moffatt ’19, Jared H. Price ’19, Miguel J. Vega, Jr. ’19

James P.B. McDonough Award Jack-Patrick Milbury ’19 The Men With Positive Attitudes Award Miguel J. Vega, Jr. ’19 Kevin T. Mutch Award Liam J. Gorman ’19, Thomas J. Lyons III ’19 Grace S. & Raymond M. Vorce, Sr. Award Ted P. Duffy ’19, Stephen E. Jessup ’19 SPRING 2018

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AROUND CAMPUS

Grandparents

& Special Friends Day St. Sebastian’s students hosted their grandparents and special friends for a memorable day on campus on April 24, 2018.

The day’s events began in Ward Hall with a welcome from event Co-Chairs Judy Kehoe P’14,’18 and Patti DuFour P’14,’18,’21. During lunch, our special guests were treated to a musical performance of Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up,” delivered by several members of the senior class, and a video capturing the spirit of St. Sebastian’s. Student speaker Conner Joyce ’20 spoke about his wonderful grandparents and the impact they have had on his life. Grandparents’ Fund Co-Chair Peter McLaughlin ’55, GP’13,’19 also made a few brief remarks. The students then took their guests to class before celebrating Mass with Fr. John Arens. The afternoon concluded with a dessert reception in Ward Hall.

A special thank you to the grandparents and special friends who visited, the students and faculty who made them feel so welcome, and the mothers of the Guild of St. Irene, who worked tirelessly to make the entire day, from registration to dessert, run beautifully.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Serving

Our Neighbors

I

ntegral to the St. Sebastian’s mission, our Service Program lives the order of the day of loving God, working hard, and taking good care of one another. Below are just a few of the many ways our students have served our neighbors recently.

Computer Science Club Makes Donation to

iPods for Wounded Veterans The Computer Science Club, under the leadership of (l-r) Aidan Garrity ’20, Nathan Piecyk ’20 and Thomas Flatley ’20, refurbished laptops to donate to the non-profit iPods for Wounded Veterans.

Founded in 2011, initially to deliver iPods with music to injured soldiers at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, the organization has expanded to include other types of technology. The process of refurbishing these laptops demonstrated to our students the importance of collaboration and project management, and the Computer Science Club is proud to be able to provide our veterans with this technology.

Arrows Participate in Opening Day for

The Miracle League On April 28, members of the 9th grade helped with opening day of the Miracle League of Massachusetts. The Miracle League is a non-profit organization that gives children with disabilities a chance to play baseball as part of a team in an organized league at no cost to the child’s family. Seven students trekked out to Acton to help with the first two games of the season. The following freshmen participated: Joey Hamilton, Gabe Twohig, Brendan Dumas, Sean Duffy, Jack Hornyak, Will Perri and Max Samulka.

Freshman Class Participates in

Rise Against Hunger On May 3, students in the 9th grade, along with members of the Needham Rotary Club, took part in a community service project for Rise Against Hunger. This wonderful organization is an international hunger relief group that brings aid and food to those in need around the world. Their goal is clear: they want to end hunger by 2030. St. Sebastian’s played a small part in that noble goal by helping to create 10,000 food packets for the those in need residing in Zambia.

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COMMENCEMENT 2018

Congratulations,

Class of 2018!

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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

St. Sebastian’s School graduated 69 students at its 74th Commencement Exercises on Thursday, June 7, 2018. The morning’s celebrations included awards, speeches and the conferral of diplomas to the outstanding Class of 2018.

COMMENCEMENT 2018

Commencement Awards Pursuit of Excellence in the Discipline Awards

Biology

Presented to individuals selected by the faculty

Greek

English Literature

Computer Science

Michael D. Twohig

William F. Coyne

Latin

Special Medals

Orvin A. Pierre History

Patrick S. DuFour, Michael J. Milbury, Orvin A. Pierre, Patrick J. Ryan Religion

Patrick J. Ryan, Michael D. Twohig English Writing

Nicholas M. Howell, Reed S. Mitchell Spanish

Henry Kapples Drama

William P. Fox, Robert A. Lordi Robert A. Lordi, Michael D. Twohig

Awarded to individuals who, during their high school years, have achieved the highest grade point average in required and advanced courses in the respective disciplines Humberto Cardinal Medeiros Memorial Medal for Modern Languages

Ibrahim S. Kaba, Henry M. Kapples Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Beatty Memorial Medal for English

Patrick J. Ryan, Michael D. Twohig Rev. Msgr. John F.X. Harney Memorial Medal for Religion

William D. Forman, Nicholas M. Howell, Andrew J. Santosuosso, Martin P. White

Royce D. Abel

Studio Art

Orvin A. Pierre, Michael D. Twohig

Osamudiamen V. Onaiwu, Jr. Music

William D. Forman, Nicholas M. Howell, John T. Kerwin Art History

Michael D. Twohig Photography

Brendan M. McKenzie Mathematics

Royce D. Abel, William F. Coyne, Patrick J. Ryan Physics

Patrick J. Ryan Chemistry

Orvin A. Pierre

Rev. Msgr. Charles D. McInnis Memorial Medal for History

Paul A. Ablondi ’57 Memorial Medal for Mathematics

The St. Sebastian’s Scholar with Distinction Award Presented to the graduates who have received a yearly average of A- or higher in every course every year

Patrick J. Ryan St. Sebastian Medal for Fine Arts

Michael D. Twohig St. Sebastian Medal for Classics

Patrick J. Ryan

The Headmaster’s Award Presented to the graduate who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average Patrick J. Ryan

Presented each year by the Student Council, in conjunction with the School community, to a member of the St. Sebastian’s family for outstanding service to the School

Royce D. Abel, Luke A Diggins, William P. Fox, Orvin A. Pierre, Patrick J. Ryan, Michael D. Twohig

Patricia J. Colton

The St. Sebastian’s Scholar Award

Presented by the Assistant Headmaster, in consultation with the administration and faculty, to the members of the graduating class who have shown true leadership in exemplifying the virtues of faith and honor for which the School stands

Presented to the graduates who have received a yearly average of B or higher in every course every year Harrison P. Carlson, Blake V. Colman, Patrick S. DuFour, Alexander L. Gainey, Henry M. Kapples, William P. Kiley, Peter J. Kilmartin III, Robert A. Lordi, Finn M. Mulligan, Thomas E. Olson, Martin P. White

The Sr. Evelyn C. Barrett, O.P. Scholarship Award Presented to that senior who, in the opinion of the Faculty, most exemplifies in body, mind, and soul the spirit of St. Sebastian’s School Orvin A. Pierre

William F. Coyne St. Sebastian Medal for Science

The Joseph P. MacDonald Award

The Robert S. Gilligan Award Presented to a senior who best exemplifies the qualities of courage, determination, and perseverance Peter L. Pickard

The Cardinal Cushing Memorial Medal for Student Service Presented to a senior for exemplary service to the School Brian C. Craven Matthew D. Wolpe

The Reverend Charles K. Riepe Medallion

Patrick J. Ryan

The Founder’s Medal Presented to the member of the Senior Class whose character, leadership, and fortitude most closely reflect the ideals that inspired William Cardinal O’Connell to found this School in the name of St. Sebastian Brendan M. McKenzie

The Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Medal Presented each year to seniors for exemplary initiative, creativity, and perseverance in advancing the mission of the School William D. Forman Osamudiamen V. Onaiwu, Jr.

The Alumni Award Presented to seniors, selected by the faculty, who possess strength of mind, body, and character; who display outstanding attitude, effort, and achievement; have innate commitment to excellence in all endeavors; and who have made many and varied contributions to

St. Sebastian’s School James F. Mooney IV Martin P. White

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COMMENCEMENT 2018

CLASS OF 2018 MATRICULATION Royce Abel Jayson Barros Michael Bollas Daniel Borah Jack Browne Harrison Carlson Julio Castelo Blake Colman William Coyne

Colorado School of Mines Boston College College of the Holy Cross Middlebury College

IE University—Segovia, Spain Gap Year University of Notre Dame

William Daniel

Trinity College

John DeMatteo

Boston College

William Forman

College of the Holy Cross University of Chicago Wake Forest University University of Notre Dame Boston College

William Fox

University of Notre Dame

Alexander Gainey

Johns Hopkins University

Nicholas Howell

Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences

George Johnson

Tulane University

Peter Julien Ibrahim Kaba Henry Kapples

Providence College Ohio Wesleyan University Georgetown University

Colin Kehoe

Boston College

Cameron Martin

Providence College

John Kerwin

Northeastern University

William McNamara Neil Melley Michael Milbury Reed Mitchell James Mooney IV

Jack Leetch Jack Lemone

Thomas Olson Osamudiamen Onaiwu

Harvard University

Middlebury College Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Jonathan Pace

University of Connecticut

Charles Pandit

Providence College

Cameron Parker

Merrimack College

William Phelan

Amherst College

Peter Pickard

Connecticut College

Orvin Pierre

Harvard University

William Plansky Evan Reddick Patrick Ryan Andrew Santosuosso Kurt Saraceno Paul Scemama de Gialluly

Vaughn St. Marie Michael Twohig James Walsh

Boston College

Martin White

Boston College

Matthew Wolpe

ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross

Ruben Shapiro

Wake Forest University

University of Wisconsin, Madison

College of the Holy Cross

Christopher Sebastian

David Labow

University of Florida

Mario Oliva

United States Military Academy—Army Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Boston College

Peter Murphy

William Kiley Charles Kittler

College of the Holy Cross

University of San Diego

United States Military Academy—Army Boston College

Boston College

Finn Mulligan

Timothy Kiley Peter Kilmartin

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Bucknell University

University of Notre Dame

University of Miami

Patrick DuFour

Duke University

Nathan McCarthy

Ryan Curran

Landon Dombrowski

Robert Lordi Wilson MacPherson

Brendan McKenzie

University of Richmond

Luke Diggins

Villanova University

College of the Holy Cross

Brian Craven

Matthew DeSisto

Kyle Licameli

University of Maryland, College Park Salem State University University of Notre Dame Syracuse University Wake Forest University College of William and Mary Providence College Stonehill College Boston University Christendom College Providence College University of Notre Dame Wake Forest University

COMMENCEMENT 2018

Celebrating on the Eve of Commencement On June 6, the night before Commencement, we held our annual Senior-Parent Dinner in Ward Hall following the Baccalaureate Mass in St. Bartholomew Church. It was a wonderful opportunity for seniors and their parents to gather together and celebrate the Class of 2018. In addition to receiving graduation ties and pens, students were presented with awards recognizing their talents and contributions to the School.

Some of the awards presented include: Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award

Timothy K. Kiley, William P. Kiley Chapel Speech Award

Michael N. Bollas, Nicholas M. Howell, William B. Plansky Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award

William F. Coyne, Robert A. Lordi Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award

Cameron T. Martin, William B. Plansky Semper Fidelis Award for Music Excellence

Michael N. Bollas, Finn M. Mulligan

FIVE-YEAR Matriculation #’s 5

Colleges to which or more students have matriculated over the past years

5

Boston College ...................................36 College of the Holy Cross .................. 25 Providence College .............................18 Harvard College .................................16 University of Notre Dame ..................14 Middlebury College ...........................13 Georgetown University .......................9 Wake Forest University .......................9 Trinity College ....................................8 Dartmouth College ...............................7 Villanova University ............................7 Duke University ....................................6 Northeastern University .....................6 Tufts University ..................................5 Union College ......................................5 Washington University in St. Louis .....5

TOP: Seniors congratulate each other as they approach the podium for awards during the SeniorParent Dinner. MIDDLE: Jack Lemone ’18 and Cam Martin ’18 enjoy sitting together at the dinner.

BOTTOM: The Class of 2018 receives a lesson from Headmaster Burke on how to tie their new bow ties.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute .........5

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COMMENCEMENT 2018

HEADMASTER’S ADDRESS

The One Who Sent Me Is with Me

BY WILLIAM L. BURKE III

O

ne more time as a class, let us pray together: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

In John 8:29, Jesus tells the Pharisees: The one who sent me is with me.

We know that we can live for ourselves alone and be miserable, or we can live for the Lord and others and be joyful. And how blessed you scholars are—and we all are—that your families have made— and forever make—the better choice!

In your Corporate Chapel address, one of you shared: “Mom was always there for us…her source of happiness was seeing us happy.”

Another of you told us that your grandfather lived his life in alignment with the plaque on his office wall which read: “Success is not what you gain or accomplish for yourself, but what you do for others.”

Clearly, you gentlemen have been richly blessed with and by parents and grandparents and other relatives, who have loved you from well before birth, up and down all of the peaks and valleys of your childhood, right up to this justifiably proud moment. They have held you and fed you and bathed you and clothed you and taught you and guided you and challenged you and supported you and comforted you. They have sacrificed for you in countless ways. They have prayed for you and paid for you, making possible your St. Sebastian’s education, which you—and all of us—treasure beyond measure. And they wouldn’t have it any other way. This is your great day of celebration, but it’s their great day, too.

Please rise, turn and face your beloved families, and express your heartfelt gratitude.

I have had reason to be in the company of medical professionals of late. When my doctor called the other day to check in on me, I told him how proud I was of him and of his wife, for truly they have raised three remarkable young women who apprehend and achieve the good, the true, and the beautiful. He thanked me but asserted that the work that he and 14 |

ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

his wife put in was essentially done in the first 10 or 12 years of each daughter’s life. After that, he added, the lion’s share of the credit goes to their many excellent teachers and coaches and advisors who have mentored them so lovingly well.

I immediately thought of the outstanding women and men on our faculty and staff, who are so intelligent, and so erudite, and so open and honest, who give and give and give and keep on giving, who honor the sacred partnership with your parents. You gentlemen are their concern. They’re with you all the time, and you know it. I am in awe of my colleagues, the lifeblood of our School and so much more grateful to them than I could ever say.

In your Corporate Chapel speech one of you told us: “I study physics not because I’m good at it but because of Mr. Ryan.” Another shared: “Mr. Nerbonne gave me the confidence to apply anywhere, and now I’m going to Harvard.”

Educationists have tried to develop teacher-proof curricula. Many have experimented broadly with distance learning. But the conclusion of all such studies points to the obvious truth that the most important variable in education is the teacher, and it’s all about the soul-to-soul connection between a student and a teacher who knows and loves each genetically unrepeatable student and devotes himself or herself to calling each one to ever-rising peaks of excellence in body, mind, and spirit.

Frederick Buechner expresses this truth succinctly, writing: “It is not so much their subjects that the great teachers teach as it is themselves.”

One of your moms recently wrote these words about our truly great educators: I wanted to stop to express my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for helping us so much along the way. Each of you, teachers, coaches, friends…really saw our son for who he is and who he can be. Somehow, God bless you, you managed to light a particular spark to allow him to shine and to inspire him to work harder to be a better person.

You are all so good at what you do that I feel privileged and fortunate to have shared time with you and to have witnessed the profound effect each of you had on our son and on our family.

Gentlemen, please rise, face your beloved mentors, and express your gratitude.

At Admissions Open House in October, the mother of one of our 8th graders overheard this dialogue between a prospective mom and her son. The woman asked: “What’s the worst thing about St. Sebastian’s?” Our young Arrow, wasting nary a second, responded forcefully: “We only get to be here six years.”

In all honesty, you actually get to be here seven years if you so choose.

In a stirring scene in the movie Shadowlands based on the life of C.S. Lewis, Anthony Hopkins, who plays Lewis, and Debra Winger, who plays his wife, Joy, are enjoying a

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delightful afternoon in the lush green English countryside.

When it starts to rain, they find shelter in an open-sided outbuilding. Though Joy’s cancer has gone into remission, she knows that it will soon return, and she tells her husband that she’s going to die. Lewis balks and tells her not to talk about it now when they’re enjoying themselves, but she persists and utters these memorable words: “The pain then is part of the happiness now.”

I think we can reverse the word order for our purpose. The pain now is part of the happiness then. The sadness you feel in leaving and the wistfulness we all feel in letting you go is part of the happiness we have all experienced together.

Wouldn’t it be sad if we weren’t sad? Wouldn’t it be a crying shame if we felt “Good riddance to this place…I can’t wait to get out of here?”

It’s been a blessing, a gift from God, a gift from your parents and families who have cooperated with God’s grace to make possible your St. Sebastian’s education.

I speak for my colleagues when I tell you that I’m beyond grateful to you for the many blessings you have showered upon us, and that I wouldn’t have wanted any other students than the 69 of you. Not 68. Not 70. Just you 69 brothers, each of whom has built up our community in ways that only you could have done. You have made your School a stronger, better place and we love you for it.

But why is it so hard to say good-bye? What is it about our place?

At the Harvard Book Prize Breakfast, which I attended with two of you scholars in October, Harvard Club of Boston President, Paul Brennan, the father of ’06 and ’07 Arrows, shared these words he had heard here: “An institution is measured by its spirit and people.”

So let’s take our measure—and start with Spirit.

Every year at our Admissions Open House program, which, by the way, fills this Church, we cite the words of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

Our beloved School and every member of our family are gifts from God our Father in whom we live and move and have our being and from His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the way, and the truth, and the life, and from the Holy Spirit at work in our weakness.

In the Foreword of Blessed with Spirit ~ The first 75 years of St. Sebastian’s School, we read: “From the beginning, St. Sebastian’s has been animated by a strong spirit and extraordinary people committed to advancing the eternal values of faith, hope, and love.” And what great people!

As one new parent put it in a note to me: “The best part for me at Seb’s are the boys; they are kind and want the best for one another. The moms and dads are the same.”

A few years ago, I was asked if there are books I could recommend to anyone who wants to know more about the

unique culture of St. Sebastian’s. My unrehearsed blurt was: Yes, there are—two of them actually, and you can get them anywhere. They’re called the Old Testament and The New Testament. I added that we’re not making any of this stuff up.

Rather, we’re trying to live the tenets of our Judeo-Christian heritage as best we can. We’re not perfect, and we never will be, but we do have a very clear, important mission: A Catholic independent school, St. Sebastian’s seeks to engage young men in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason.

By embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community and by inspiring intellectual excellence in a structured liberal arts curriculum, St. Sebastian’s strives to empower students for success in college and in life.

The ideal St. Sebastian’s graduate will be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.

And of course we have our short version, often referred to as our motto or order of the day: Love God, work hard and take good care of one another.

We never tire of expressing our belief that our School exists for the glory of God and for you gentlemen and for your families. The rest of us are simply here to serve. And what a great honor and true joy it is to do so!

We urge you to continue to pursue the truth through faith and reason, to love God, work hard, and take good care of one another through college and beyond. Many of you will find yourselves on campuses and in classes with professors and fellow students who do not share your values, who do not consider the pursuit of truth through faith in reason to be a worthy practice. In fact, in our aggressively secular culture,

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“Together, you have built a safe community, an unbreakable brotherhood of Arrows, united in one spirit.” many may be hostile to it. Be not afraid and be not strident.

Just be yourself. You have been given a gift. And you are being sent to spread the good news—through your words sometimes and through your deeds, all the time. Practice your faith. Go to church. Bring a friend. And remember that religions ought to be uniting, not divisive forces. People of different faiths from different places have more in common than we do apart. We are one.

The one who sent me is with me.

We’re never alone, a truth Gerard Manley Hopkins expresses in his poem “The Lantern Out of Doors,” referring to Jesus as our first, fast, last friend.

After college, seek meaningful work that makes the world a better place, take your vocations very seriously, which, for most will be as husbands and fathers, and stay ever focused on Heaven. As you know, everything we have done at St. Sebastian’s has been done with that sense of ultimate purpose ever before us. How many times have we sung: Since, Lord, thou dost defend us with thy Spirit, We know we at the end shall life inherit.

The world’s great need and our true calling meet at St. Sebastian’s, and we’re all the better for it.

That’s who we are. That’s how we roll. And thanks to the 69 of you, we’re rolling with all kinds of style and all kinds of grace.

One of you bared your soul in your Corporate Chapel address, putting way out into the deep, sharing your mighty struggles and proving by the evidence of your life that through love and communication, through accessing the two most powerful forces in the universe—God and people of good will through whom our Lord works—we can recover, we can grow, we can soar. You didn’t have to share so freely and fully and in such concrete detail. You didn’t have to do that at all. Why did you? When I thanked you shortly afterward, I got my answer. You shrugged a bit and said: “I figured I’d help a couple of kids.” A humble servant of the truth. The quintessential man for others. A couple of kids? How about liberating and lifting a whole School full of them and all of the adults, too, in addition to your wonderful parents, siblings, and yourself? God bless you. God bless you all!

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves. (Psalm 34:18) The one who sent me is with me.

One of you, a dynamic leader in this awesome class, has shared: “It’s an open and safe place…my biggest goal is 16 |

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to make sure that everyone, no matter what his race, feels comfortable.”

Man, are you succeeding. Known and loved, our promise.

Clearly, the more we know, the more we can love, and we know more because you dare to share more, and you dare to share more because—together—you have built a safe community, an unbreakable brotherhood of Arrows, “united in one spirit; ignited by the fire; still burning through the ages; still present in our lives.”

How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live in unity.

(PS 133:1) It’s all about love, and you can’t fake love.

The one who sent me is with me.

Listen to some of the proclamations you scholars have delivered in speeches and through the written word this year: We build each other up...sense of camaraderie and noman left behind mentality…St. Sebastian’s built me up…I did not only see living proof of this statement, I became the living proof.

Everyone will love you…you’ll fit in.

The best brotherhood I ever could have asked for…far exceeded expectations.

I try to be the man mom would want me to be.

I love this place.

Best six years of my life.

The best decision my parents ever made for me.

I felt love the minute I stepped on campus.

The School engulfs you.

I got a lifestyle out of it. I wasn’t expecting 5:00 AM wake-up calls or driving 45 minutes to hang out with friends watching a Bruins game at 9:00 PM at School…early morning extrahelp sessions in math…working on physics problems with my friends deep into the night in the library.

St. Sebastian’s brings a unique element to our secular league… No school could replicate what we do…we do not pit students against one another…ours is a supportive environment—so different from other schools.

Judgment leads us away…we can better ourselves by ignoring judgments—by looking beyond the exterior and seeing the character of the real, true person.

Our School encourages us to develop and share views and to learn from others God has a plan for me…I have become a better version of myself.

From terror to triumph…I had become one with the music I loved.

My friend stayed and prayed with me.

I want to be an outstanding leader.

I want you to know that I take your investment in me and my future very seriously and that I’ll work hard to make good on it. Becoming an Arrow is the best thing that ever happened to me.

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My best friend cried for and with me…he will always be my brother…friends come and go; brothers will always have your back.

I went into my room alone and talked to God…gave thanks for grace and unconditional love. …whether thankful, angry, sad, joyful, talk to God—whether on the bus, studying, waiting in the lunch line, talk to God. Spirit is better done than said…students hold one another to high standards…one shared a study guide he created with the entire class…we are different—spirit, one of a kind culture—controlled chaos of Henry’s Corner—no one rolls deeper on the road.

The truth is anyone with a passion can and will make a difference.

I could go on. Instead, I’ll let this sentence from Galatians serve as our conclusion: “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2) The one who sent me is with me.

Last week in the Chapel when reporting on your social service experiences, you spoke with such depth of feeling.

More than a few of you who served the elderly focused on the importance of being engaged, fully present, and in the moment. You noted that many of the residents are forgetful; they’re not going to get better; they’re never going to leave the facility, but you knew you could help. You could commit yourselves to the short-term goal of making them happy in the moment, and you did so!

The one who sent me is with me.

This past fall, a hobbled old neighbor made his slow, painful way to your football practices and games. And how did our two senior captains respond? By gifting him with a football jacket and telling him how much his support meant to them. Maybe there are people who worry about the future of our country and of our world, but those people aren’t at St. Sebastian’s School, where such acts of mercy abound.

Henri Nouwen writes: “Mercy comes from a compassionate heart; it comes from a desire to be an equal.”

We take pride in being members of the St. Sebastian’s family, and well we should, but we don’t think we’re better than others, or worse either. Rather, we’re called by God to be the best we can be and to help others be the best they can be—life-long learners who continue to grow in our capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.

The one who sent me is with me.

Through your college days and beyond, in your lives in the classroom, in athletics, in the arts, in your work life, in your dating life, don’t be selfish. Keep a running dialogue with your conscience, forever asking: Am I being selfcentered? Am I being selfish? Is my love selfish? Be honest with yourself, and you’ll do the right thing. One of my favorite fonts of wisdom, St. Catherine of Siena, offers this most helpful truth: “Selfish love separates you from God and your neighbors while perfect love unites you to both.”

The one who sent me is with me.

Former College of the Holy Cross President, Father John Brooks, S.J., who, thanks to Mr. Nerbonne, served on our St. Sebastian’s Board of Trustees for 18 years, writes: “Once a person is aware of a problem it is his or her moral and spiritual responsibility to help solve it.”

You gentlemen know that for you, neutrality is not an option. You cannot stand idly by in the presence of injustice.

If a racist or sexist or demeaning joke is told, tell the teller that he’s better than that. Face down the bully. Protect the inebriated at parties. Make sure their friends get them home or to medical professionals safely. Take good care of one another.

The one who sent me is with me.

Truly the essence of life is in relationships.

I cannot promise you lives free of injury or illness, but I can promise you good lives—if you hold sacred your relationships with God and with everyone else. Because if you keep your heart and your mind and your soul open to the grace of God and strive to do the Lord’s will and if you regard every woman and every man you ever meet to be someone like you, who has been made for eternity, you’re going to treat each person a certain way—with honor and dignity and respect and love and truth—and you’re going to live good lives. It cannot be otherwise.

So go now in peace, our honored men of St. Sebastian’s.

Know that we love you and that we will forever. Know that your school will always be here for you and will always need you. Return to us often in sorrow or in joy, and we’ll be right here waiting for you with hearts and arms wide open.

May God continue to bless you every sacred step of the way. Saecula saeculorum.

Shalom! And thank you!

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BOARD PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

Live the Motto

BY JAMES L. ELCOCK ’77, P’08

G

ood Morning.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate you on your graduation. This is a wonderful and memorable day for you and your family.

It is also St. Sebastian’s best day of the year! Headmaster Burke, Father Arens, Mr. Doherty, Major General Reverend Hurley, parents, grandparents, distinguished guests, faculty, staff, and most importantly, the great Class of 2018, I am here before you to give you all my “Chapel Speech.”

You are St. Sebastian’s. Everything that you have accomplished with excellence in the classroom, on the athletic field, in debate, drama, robotics, chapel speeches, community service....all of that is coming to an end today with much distinction. Your relationship will change from that of a student of St. Sebastian’s to that of an alumnus. This school is immensely proud of all that you have accomplished.

Try very hard to remember the remarks of your salutatorians, valedictorian, commencement speaker and Mr. Burke’s farewell address.

For one day you will stand in my shoes and these memories will help write your remarks. Finally, enjoy that final walk from this sacred place, thanking with a handshake or an embrace, all your wonderful teachers, coaches and advisors that have been your shepherds on your journey.

Your processional out is only second to the grand entrance you made across campus just a short while ago.

This is your school, it will always be your school. I have just experienced Reunion with over 200 Arrows returning to campus; the weekend was exhilarating. From the young Arrows celebrating their 5th Reunion (remember them? You were just the lowly 8th graders back then) to the great Class of 1948 celebrating their 70th Reunion, coming together on this ever-thriving campus was so meaningful—in large part due to you…yes, you, the Class of 2018. All of the Arrows that have gone before you, including myself, take pride in all that you have accomplished.

You are St. Sebastian’s most recent history. Every year our school—your school—gets better.

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Though most of you were not known personally to those who returned for Reunion Weekend, you are known as the Class of 2018 that has...

• Four alumni fathers with graduating sons in the class, Jim DeSisto ’85, Jamie Kittler ’87, John McNamara ’81 and David Mitchell ’82, and one alumni grandfather, Peter Powell ’52.

• The extraordinary list of colleges and universities that you will be attending next fall, from California to Maine.

• The 5,000 hours of community service that you so unselfishly have given these past two months.

• Two members of the class achieving a perfect debate record in the Tournament of Champions.

• 14 members inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society.

• The tradition of each year, when members of your class write and direct our school’s winter play.

• Competitive teams each season with the majority of students going from season to season, sport to sport, making St. Sebastian’s athletics a topic of conversation throughout New England.

• And how about varsity golf winning the ISL Championship for the third consecutive year and varsity baseball winning its second ISL title and going undefeated at Fenway Park.

These are only a few of the many accomplishments that were shared and became the topic of conversation Reunion weekend. Without you, your accomplishments, and this graduation, we wouldn’t have anything to celebrate. Thank you.

It won’t be too long, and usually at your 10th Reunion, when you begin to hear the usual chorus: “I could never get in to Sebs Today”. This is only said because the Arrows following your footsteps know that they must build upon your achievements and success and bring the School to a new level. You have given them the tradition, camaraderie, and the challenge to go on, follow in your footsteps, and do great things!

As you know by now, a St. Sebastian’s Arrow never accepts the “status quo.” You are either getting better or getting worse and at St. Sebastian’s it is always about getting better. You are simply too competitive, and your class has set a very high mark for those to follow.

St. Sebastian’s has prepared you well. Much better than you can ever imagine—trust me. Come this fall, you will be sitting in a lecture with a class of over 50 other freshmen undergraduates (yes, and there will be young women in the class alongside you). The professor will hand out a weekend assignment consisting of a 100-page read, followed up with a 5-page essay all due on Monday. And this is just one of your four or five classes—but that’s when you realize with your St. Sebastian’s work ethic, and discipline, you will survive because the likes of Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Cornish, or any other teacher, have prepared you so well. Maybe it is

COMMENCEMENT 2018

The Arrows legacy continues as proud grandfathers and fathers join their grandsons and sons prior to Commencement. From left: Matt ’18 and Jim DeSisto ’85, Peter Pickard ’18 with his grandfather, Peter Powell ’52, Headmaster Bill Burke, Charles ’18 and Jamie ’87 Kittler, Board President Jim Elcock ’77, P’08, David ’82 and Reed ’18 Mitchell, and John ’81 and Billy ’18 McNamara.

two years from now when you set your eyes on that elusive Summer internship. You have read up on the company, checked to see if there is a St. Sebastian’s connection, you interviewed with great poise, made constant eye contact, dressed smartly as you are today (okay, without the white pants). You conclude the interview with a firm handshake and follow up with a handwritten thank you note in the mail the next day, all coming naturally.

Finally, perhaps it is your 10th Reunion when you are thinking about settling down with that special someone, a fellow classmate’s loss of a job, or your own personal conundrum about when graduate school makes sense, and you realize you don’t have all the answers, but you have St. Sebastian’s. You may leave St. Sebastian’s, but St. Sebastian’s will never leave you. This is your school and as you look to your left, to your right, behind you, in front of you, and across the aisle, your fellow Arrows, students and teachers, will not leave you or let you down. We are Arrows forever!

As President of the Board of Trustees, it is my responsibility to encourage each member of the Class of 2018 to continue to live the motto of our school, no matter where the future takes you.

Go off and do great things. Be a leader. Speak up. Share your intellect, your honesty, your commitment to do good, and your love of God. Don’t be judgmental. Embrace the values of a St. Sebastian’s student, and share those values wherever your journey takes you, on whatever road you’re on.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Though you will physically leave St. Sebastian’s today as an undergraduate, take St. Sebastian’s with you. The world needs more St. Sebastian’s gentlemen.

To conclude my remarks, I would like to quote some lyrics from Logan Mize. As many of you saw last Thursday, my son Jimmy was playing the drums for Logan Mize when he was

kicking off “Arrows Forever Day” in the morning video. Here are some of his lyrics from his newest single, “Somebody to Thank”: I gotta thank a small town preacher Makin me a hymn singer On the Sunday’s Mama made me go I gotta thank a high school teacher for believin’ in a dreamer And steering me down the road I gotta thank my granddaddy for the Saturday’s on the lake Hookin’ ‘em and reelin’ ‘em in I gotta thank the boys I raised all kinds of hell with Couldn’t ask for better best friends I gotta thank Earnhardt, Springsteen, Luke Skywalker For filling up my memory bank I gotta thank JD, Jim Beam, Mr. Anheuser For a Friday night good time drink I gotta thank Mama and my Daddy For eighteen years of them gasin’ up the Chevrolet tank No matter who you are Everybody’s got somebody to thank I gotta thank an old coon dog For licking my hand on days I was feeling alone I gotta thank my old man’s brother For a tour in the jungle Just to keep us all safe at home I gotta thank a next door neighbor For calling that number That morning our house caught fire I gotta thank a midwest farmer For a teenage summer With a boy he didn’t have to hire Gentlemen, God Bless. Go forward and seize the day!

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KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Know Your “Why”

BY MAJOR GENERAL REVEREND PAUL HURLEY

F

irst, I want to say, “Thank you,” and it is a pleasure to be here. I want to say, “Congratulations,” to the graduates, to the families, to the faculty, to everybody involved here.

What a great moment it is in these people’s lives.

I also want to make a confession and confessions are sometimes painful, but, they’re good in a way, right?

So here’s the deal. I have been unexpectedly called to be part of an effort that’s going on right now in the Army with some of the senior leaders, and it has pulled me out of my office. For the last two weeks I’ve been traveling a lot... And, I have to honestly say, because I do respect this school and what you’re here for, that I am just not prepared to speak today. I apologize, but I need to be honest.

Thank you for the invitation.

(Rev. Hurley sits down as a perplexed audience remains silent.)

Just kidding!

As you just experienced (I hope), being unprepared is not good or pleasant to say the least. Currently, readiness is the number one priority in the Army. I want to emphasize the Army’s top priority is not about training or equipment or weapon systems or rocket launchers (as my brother-in-law would say). A brief survey of our country’s war campaigns reveals a recurring theme of our lack of preparedness. More importantly, it reveals the tremendous cost in lost American lives—our most precious commodity. Here is a quick look at those costs: During the Civil War, the country had a small Army that was not adequate or prepared, ultimately costing the lives of 215,000 Americans. Again, in WWII over 300,000 Americans died and in Vietnam, over 50,000 because we were not prepared for that fight. And today, all of us know the cost of not being prepared for this war on terror, for the counterinsurgencies that are popping up all over the world. It is costing lives and time. We must be ready. That is our priority.

Not being prepared can be embarrassing, but it can also be deadly.

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I hope you remember your reaction to my not being prepared for today. It applies in all aspects of life.

I found these great quotations.

Bobby Knight, the great basketball coach, said this: “The will to succeed is important... but I’ll tell you what’s more important—it’s the will to prepare. It’s the will to go out there every day, training and building those muscles and sharpening those skills.”

Roger Staubach, world premier quarterback, athlete and businessman, said this: “In business or football, it takes a lot of unspectacular preparation to produce spectacular results.”

Preparation is about readiness in all aspects of life. This is not just an Army issue.

And so it is for you today. We are here for your Commencement exercise...the beginning of a new chapter, beginning a new way of life. I ask you now, are you ready... prepared? In a superficial way, you can certainly answer that... you are in fact here, you have your bow ties, you have all met the rigorous requirements for St. Seb’s, your college admissions are completed (I hope).

But I am referring to the opportunities and challenges you will face in your new beginning in life, each and every day... Can you answer that, are you prepared? That’s not easy to answer. But to help you with that, I have another more sublime question that helps clarify the preparation question.

WHY are you here? The “why” question...

I ask Army chaplains this question everywhere I go. They often answer with responses about being ordered to be there, or about learning something new, or to be a better chaplain.

It usually takes quite a few attempts before someone gets it right. They are there because God called them to minister to these brave men and women, these soldiers and their families. They need to know this, it is essential, in order to navigate the ambiguities and distractions of their highly secular environment and myriad duties. We spend a lot of time training and learning how to be a good officer and chaplain. However, we can never teach them how to respond or minister in every situation.... “How many souls have you touched or saved today?” Without the “why” front and center they are easily distracted and lost in efforts that get them off track. They need to know their purpose in order to know what do, where to be and when to act.

Back to you... why are you here today? Because of those who love you. Parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, teachers, headmaster, coaches, counselors...your work, study, learning to take risks to go beyond your comfort zones, learning to trust the processes and rules even when they seem to make no sense to you. All true and very necessary but I contend guiding all this is the WHY... your purpose.

In the military we call this a mission statement. Mission statements are essential for any and every action in Army operations. This is the purpose which then drives the “how”

COMMENCEMENT 2018

Introduction of Major General Reverend Paul Hurley

by Tim ’18 and Will ’18 Kiley

Tim ’18 and Will ’18 Kiley, nephews of Major General Reverend Paul Hurley.

and “what” of all military operations, tactics and strategies.

Understanding these are essential for proper preparation and readiness.

Here at St Sebastian’s School, you’ve had this in your mission statement: “to engage young men in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason...to inspire intellectual excellence...to empower students for success in college and in life...to be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.”

I have, in fact, come to personally know this is the mission...I have seen it...not from the words I just read but through the lives of my nephews, Tim and Will Kiley. I’ve seen it in their work ethic, in their pursuit of academic excellence, in their dedication to study, in their deep and abiding friendships, in their faith during times of struggle and disappointment, in their many volunteer activities, in their unbelievable pursuit to give themselves to a future that will be dedicated to serving this great nation and essentially the freedom we all enjoy and in fact which the world order depends on. Much will be asked of them that goes well beyond any monetary compensation.

They and each one of you here today is a living witness to the mission statement of St. Sebastian’s. You have been guided by this and are sitting here at this moment in time because of this Purpose...this Why. But for those graduating and moving on there will be no St. Seb’s mission statement guiding you. Now you start anew.

Today, this commencement marks a beginning. I am here and speaking for the purpose of encouraging you to always have and know your OWN purpose and live it, make decisions and choices based on IT. That is my WHY. That is my purpose today and it has come with much preparation. I want you to

Our uncle, Chaplain Hurley grew up in Weymouth and was an avid hockey player, recruited to play for West Point in 1980. After graduating from West Point in 1984, he began his military career as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery and completed two assignments as a Field Artillery Officer in Germany and Fort Bragg, NC. It was towards the end of these assignments he began to discern a vocation to the priesthood and resigned his commission in 1990.

Chaplain Hurley returned to the Boston area to begin his formation for priesthood at St. John’s Seminary. In May 1995, he was ordained and served five years at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Hanson.

I might add he never lost his love for playing hockey, participating in men’s leagues whenever possible, and is known for racking up penalty minutes. His love of the priesthood and Army were joined together when Cardinal Sean O’Malley approved his request to rejoin the Active Duty Army Chaplain Corps in 2000.

Since joining the United States Chaplain Corps, Chaplain Hurley’s assignments have included: Ft. Bragg, NC; Second Infantry Division, South Korea; West Point, NY, and while assigned to West Point, deployed to Iraq for a year with the 18th Airborne Corps Chaplain’s Office; Special Operations Command: 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, and while assigned, deployed to Afghanistan for a year; Command Chaplain for all United States Forces in Afghanistan; Command Chaplain for the 18th Airborne Corps based at Fort Bragg, NC, and in this assignment included Command Chaplain for the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Headquarters in Afghanistan.

In his spare time, he received a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, PA, in 2013.

In May of 2015, he was promoted to Major General and became the 24th Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army where today he leads the Army Chaplain Corps providing religious support to soldiers and families. Without further ado, please welcome our uncle and also a significant role model in our lives, Chaplain (Major General) Paul Hurley.

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get it and be prepared for the opportunities and challenges that you will face day in and day out in your new life.

Simon Sinek provides a great talk on how critical the “why” is for our activities. He makes a great point of describing the distinction between those who are successful in the face of greatest opposition and those who aren’t.

He compares the Apple iPod to the Sony Walkman. Think about that, they started out the same, but Apple was able to communicate the “why” whereas the other folks concentrated on the “what” and the “how.” That’s the difference: purpose.

Inspiration, belief is connected to the “why.” Think of Martin Luther King’s impact on the world. His “I have a dream” speech that ultimately changed our nation in the face of unbelievable powers is all about the “why.”

Winston Churchill, addressing the House of Commons in his first speech as Prime Minister on May 13, 1940, made his purpose clear: “You ask: ‘What is our aim?’ I can answer in one word: ‘Victory!’ Victory at all cost, victory in spite of terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” This is why they needed to fight.

Because he clearly focused first on the “why” in the face of tremendous dissent and voices trying to bring the British 22 |

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people to posture away from engaging an overwhelming enemy, he perhaps single handedly turned the tide of Allied forces against what was arguably one of the world’s worst evil, destructive forces.

Our own faith tradition has much as well to say about this critical understanding of human nature being wired to always make the “why” central to our lives’ activities. Here is what St. Thomas Aquinas taught us: “Again, the end is that in which the appetitive inclination of an agent...finds its rest.” (SCG III 3, 3). In other words, the ends and our action are intended to be aligned. Not only is this good and proper, but it provides rest. This rest is a peace of sorts that overcomes our restlessness, distress or spinning out of control.

On a lighter note that captures this truth about the proper alignment of our lives’ purpose: Dwight Hall tells the story of a little fellow returning home from his first day of school. The teacher asked the students to bring copies of their birth certificates so the school could be sure of accurate records. But “certificates” was a big word for the boy to handle, although he grasped the idea. Bounding into the house with his important message, he promptly called out, “Mom, tomorrow I have to take in my excuse for being born.” Hall goes on to say, “That’s an interesting way to put it—an excuse for living. Everyone should have one. What’s

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“Take time to understand and own your own personal ‘why’—your purpose. For whatever endeavors you pursue and wherever you go from here, always act out of that purpose.” your excuse? Anyone’s life can be noble, free, and useful; or it can be slovenly, vile and wasted. It all depends upon our choices. We can reach the highest goals, or we can aim at nothing and hit it.”

Understand your “why” in everything you do. Understand why God has blessed you with intellect, reason, creativity, and free will... all for a great purpose.

Understand why your family and friends have given so much, sacrificed so much in order for you to achieve the greatest dreams.

Understand why St Sebastian’s has provided you a superb foundation, that few have known, so that you can build awesome lives.

Take time to understand and own your own personal “why”—your purpose. For whatever endeavors you pursue and wherever you go from here, always act out of that purpose. This brings us beyond the constraints our world places on us or individuals may lead us toward.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that the power of the Gulf Stream will flow through an ordinary drinking straw, if the straw is placed parallel to the flow of the stream.

The same is true of our lives. If we are lined up with a life of purpose and dedicate our lives and actions toward its fruition, extraordinary achievements of lasting value can be attained.

This is the readiness that I hope and pray you will have each and every day of your new lives: Know your “why” and never be unprepared. Make readiness your number one priority.

Remember, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

Be ready and know your “Why.”

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COMMENCEMENT 2018

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Hustle Never Slumps

BY PATRICK RYAN ’18

M

r. Burke, Fr. Arens, Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Elcock, Fr. Hurley, members of the faculty, parents, families, distinguished guests, and fellow Arrows of the Class of 2018...

Well…We made it.

What our shorter, more immature selves couldn’t fathom happening six years ago is finally about to happen. Come next fall we won’t be gathering here in this Church for the all school Mass to begin the year. We will be starting new lives in new communities, where we will make new friends and create more memories that we will cherish forever. That is something to celebrate. All of our hard work has paid off, and we should be proud of our achievements. But before we get swept away in the hectic plans of graduation parties, summer jobs, and college move-ins, let us heed the advice of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, who commands us to “in the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, and look around you.” In this time where we can look around, I recognize the many people to whom I owe a debt of gratitude—mentors, friends, family, siblings, Mom, and Dad. Thank you for all you have done; I love you so much. Tolstoy’s advice also means that we must not forget to revel in this moment, for time will not delay so we can get an extra taste of this feeling.

Yet there is also some sorrow mixed in, for we will never again be students at St. Sebastian’s. Soon we will walk out of this church, saying goodbye to the school as we know it. Of course we remain a part of the Seb’s community, as we have been reminded, but there will be an irreversible difference after today. No more nods of welcome in the halls, no more classroom discussions, no more lunch table debates, no more games where we wear red and black, no more cheering from Henry’s Corner. We remain ever connected to one another and to the school, but the dynamic has changed. Unfortunately, like all great movie, television, and book series, the show must eventually end, and today the last chapter of our high school lives is completed. Just 24 |

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as Andy says goodbye to Woody and Buzz at the end of Toy Story 3, we must move on from our days on the couches being invited out of the library by Fr. Paris. Yes, it is okay if it gets emotional today, because there’s no shame in expressing both the joy and the pain of moving on. And, by the way, I question whether you can even feel emotions if you didn’t cry the first time you watched Toy Story 3—Orvin, I know you haven’t seen it, so you get a pass.

As I stand here before you, the little time left before we close the book on the Class of 2018 is drifting away. Time is a funny thing. While the grueling days and weeks of school made time appear to slow down just to make us suffer, six years flew by. Every month was filled with long weeks, but every year was short. In these past few weeks where we have been given enough time to slow down, complete our service projects, prepare for the summer, and savor life, I have asked myself a simple question: “What would I give to go back in time, to get one more moment out of Seb’s?” At times I considered trading everything just for one more of Mr. Cleary’s history stories, one more of Mr. S. Cressotti’s philosophical tangents, one more playoff hockey game, one more time I could step onto the turf wearing a St. Sebastian’s jersey, one more anything. No matter how much I want to form another high school memory here, I know I can’t, and I’m glad. I wouldn’t trade anything to go back, because it would mean leaving this class behind.

Today will be my last memory of high school, and sure, I’ll come back to reminisce about the good old days, but I will not be able to create a new memory. Despite the great sadness that creeps into my heart upon saying those words, a sense of delight arises. I can’t make anymore memories with you guys because we’ve already made them all. And whether you were a part of this Class of 2018 for six years or two, you made my memories of Seb’s so special. If St. Sebastian’s has taught us anything, it is how to appreciate time properly. Even if we regret time wasted in our past, attempting to form newer memories is the only way to stop the cycle of missing out on the present and the future. As the American inventor Charles F. Kettering once said, “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.” Now obviously we must reflect on our memories and enjoy our past life, but we cannot grow obsessed over them. When we return for class reunions, the proper steps for solving a physics problem may slip from our memory, but the time we spent here, and, more importantly, the people we spent it with, will remain firmly in our minds. That is the beauty of St. Sebastian’s. We will all go on to pursue meaningful careers as men of integrity, but we can always reread the story of our high school career, even if no more chapters are written—we will just be living the epilogue.

I don’t know if this would be a proper Ryan speech if it didn’t include something about Notre Dame or baseball, so here is one phrase that will stay with me forever. It comes not

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“The best way to embrace life’s challenges is to attack problems head on, not allowing the moment to pass without leaving your mark on it.” from some baseball guru like Yogi Berra, but rather from my freshman baseball coach and junior year physics teacher, who by the way is my dad: “Hustle never slumps.” Three simple words, and the man who is my teacher, coach, mentor, and dad effectively reveals that what is true on the diamond is true in life. This sense of hustle not only means running hard every game or practice, but it also means pushing ourselves to follow the path of what we know to be the right way to live, no matter the pain. In all the chaos that is a baseball game, there is only one true controllable factor: your own effort to make the plays.

Even the least skilled player can hustle all the time. The best player is the one who, in addition to having developed skills, has a work ethic that remains the same when he is on a twentygame hitting streak or striking out every at bat.

I don’t know what the future holds for any of us, but I can guess that it will be full of joys and struggles, and all you can do is give one hundred percent to whatever you commit to. Time pushes us forward, forcing us into foreign

experiences. The best way to embrace life’s challenges is to attack problems head on, not allowing the moment to pass without leaving your mark on it. St. Sebastian’s has prepared us well for our future. Here we have learned determination, which I can guarantee will lead to some form of success (just maybe not the kind you were hoping for). If we are blessed with only a limited amount of time, why should we wait to travel abroad, to apply for the job, to forge new relationships, to help our brother in need, to become the men we’ve always dreamed of becoming? The more you wait, the fewer heartfelt memories will be stored inside of you, and as time passes, those memories become your identity. So, before I relinquish my hold on time for today, just remember: “Hustle never slumps.” Thank you and God Bless.

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SALUTATORY ADDRESS

Stop and Look Around

BY WILLIAM FOX ’18

M

r. Burke, Fr. Arens, Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Elcock, Fr. Hurley, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, parents, guests, and brothers of the Class of 2018...

The great Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” It seems like only yesterday that most of us filed into the McCulloch Room to meet each other for the first time. We shook Mr. Cornish’s hand, we questioned whether Jonathan Pace was a student or a teacher, we listened to Walt Scemama shamelessly admit that he couldn’t pronounce his own last name, and, most of all, we tried our hardest not to accidentally step on Soree Kaba in the process. On that day in seventh grade, I never could have imagined how much all of you in that room would mean to me today. When I reflect on our many years on Greendale Avenue, a whirlwind of happy relationships and memories come to mind. So, on the day of our graduation, I think it’s best to heed the words of Bueller, as well as Mr. Burke at the Alumni breakfast last week, and slow down, look around, and reflect on everything that Seb’s has meant to us over our time here.

At the end of my seventh grade chapel speech, which I delivered from this very podium, I admired the many talents present in our grade and expressed my excitement for our future as a class. After six years, I’m proud to say that we didn’t disappoint. Two of us are on track to serve in our nation’s military after attending West Point. Thirteen of us are moving on to play a varsity sport in college. One of us was accepted to Harvard this Fall at the ripe age of 16. One of us was nationally recognized for his charitable efforts in Uganda.

One of us, nicknamed the “King of the Couches,” could probably beat any living human being in a wrestling match at the couches in the library. The list could go on and on, and with all these accomplishments comes many memorable moments. Before we relive all the good times, though, we must recognize all the people in this church today that made them possible.

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What better place to start than Headmaster Burke himself, or, as one of us recently exclaimed in admiration, “Ah Billy Burke, who wouldn’t follow him into battle?” You were right. Whether it was two years ago or seven years ago, all 69 of us decided to take Mr. Burke’s words to heart and join the blue-blazered army of Arrows. Since then, he has graced the halls of our school rocking his signature bowtie, greeting every student by name, and dropping his beloved expressions of wisdom after chapel speeches. I think what sets Mr. Burke apart is his willingness to express his love and dedication to all of us, especially in an age where men are considered weak for sharing their feelings. This willingness to foster bonds of love is what makes St. Seb’s tick, and it extends to all aspects of the community. We are blessed to have an extremely dedicated and caring faculty, who fully embrace the “you haven’t taught until they have learned” model. Whether it’s Mr. Palmaccio arriving literally before the crack of dawn to provide extra help or Mr. Nerbonne staying late in the library, all of our great faculty have been a constant source of knowledge and advice. Not only that, but we call many of our teachers our friends. There are too many memories to count that amplify this connection. When Patrick DuFour could have written his senior chapel speech about pretty much anything, he decided to dedicate it in thanks to Mr. Dennis Cleary. All the seniors on the lacrosse team embraced their coach, Mr. White, as their names were called at the banquet last week. Peter Pickard and Mr. Dan Burke even arrived at school one day wearing matching T-shirts with “Best Friends Forever” written on the backs. This tight knit dynamic between the faculty and the student body simply doesn’t exist at most high schools in the country. We’re blessed to have dedicated teachers at home as well: our parents. To steal a line from Mr. Burke, “Our parents have paid for us and prayed for us, sacrificing mightily for us to attend this great school, and we know they’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.” From elaborate team dinners and banquets to constant support at games, parent-son masses, and chapel speeches, our parents have always been there for us, and we know they always will be. If there’s one thing we should never take for granted, it’s the endless amount of guidance and love that our parents have invested in us. Mom and Dad, thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the last 18 years. I could never put into words how much you both mean to me.

It is clear to me now that love, companionship, and kindness—all expressed through faith—are the defining principles of the St. Sebastian’s Way, and these principles manifest themselves strongest and most significantly in the brotherhood within our class. I can say with no hesitation that the 68 of you in front of me have been the most important aspect of my time at Seb’s. It all starts in the classroom, where we’ve achieved much academically, but also helped each other along the way thanks to the supportive environment here. We answered our phones late at night to

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help each other with homework. We collaborated on study guides and stayed late in the library before tests. Whether it was Mr. Stanton throwing Pat McCoy’s shoe out of the window in geography, Ryan Curran asking Mr. Weihman if he “left his quotation marks at home” during a discussion, or Labow just being Labow, we had many laughs along the way.

We had so much fun in class every day that one member of the faculty simply stated this truth: “These kids think school’s a party.” Our success continued on the athletic field and in Henry’s Corner, with many memorable games and plays. Here are some of my favorites: Will Phelan scoring the tenth point in back-to-back years in the Silent Night basketball game.

Will Plansky netting the OT winner against IMG in lacrosse.

Soree Kaba’s golden goal against Thayer in eighth grade soccer and subsequent classic celebration with Mr. Foley.

The true spirit and brotherhood of St. Seb’s didn’t show on the scoreboard though, but rather in the pride with which we wore the Arrows uniform and how we used that uniform to further our mission. What better example than Peter Pickard, who, in the wake of unthinkable loss, took the lacrosse field to play with his brothers after raising over $75,000 for breast cancer awareness. It was moments like these where the true strength and unity of our class was evident. Over the years,

“It is clear to me now that love, companionship, and kindness— all expressed through faith—are the defining principles of the St. Sebastian’s Way.”

we’ve always had each others’ backs. As James Mooney stated in his senior chapel speech, “We build each other up.” So, as we leave the church today, let us recognize how important it is that we are doing this together as a class, and not merely as individuals.

With the end in sight, I’ve finally appreciated our repeated saying, “Time wasted with the boys is time wasted well,” so excuse me while I get a little nostalgic. I’ll miss the Kileys patrolling the couches slapping necks left and right. I’ll miss the classic debates in Ward Hall punctuated by Matt Wolpe’s endless supply of hot takes. I’ll miss playing flag football or ping pong, watching the Bruins in the library, and storming the football field. I’ll miss the Chipotle runs, the Seb’s lingo, the Lower Lot, and the scraps on the couches. Most of all, I’ll miss all 68 of you. It still hasn’t sunk in that we won’t be together this Fall.

Even though we’ll soon graduate, we shouldn’t forget the values of faith, hard work, and kindness that we’ve developed over our high school years. We will continue to pursue the truth through faith and reason. We will continue to call ourselves and those around us to greatness. In a nutshell, we’ll continue to love God, work hard, and take good care of one another. While it’s crucial to enjoy the present, especially this momentous day, and reflect on the past, at some point in time we must look toward the future and relish the chance to live out our mission as St. Sebastian’s graduates. That time starts as soon as we exit the church today and, honestly, I can’t wait to see what we all do in the future. As I’m sure one of you would have put it, it’s time to reach into the box of life, grab some life, and start livin’. Whatever it is you do with this one precious life, to quote the great Brian Craven, “Do it for ‘ole Yebbos.’”

Thank you, God Bless, and Roll Arrows.

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SALUTATORY ADDRESS

One Long Journey

BY MICHAEL TWOHIG ’18

M

r. Burke, Mr. Nerbonne, Mr. Elcock, Fr. Arens, Fr. Hurley, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, family, guests, and fellow members of the Class of 2018: I would first like to take this opportunity to congratulate my fellow classmates on this tremendous occasion. We have, collectively, spent roughly the last third of our lives working hard in school, on the sports’ fields, in the art studios, and at various community service placements.

Today, we can and should reflect upon and celebrate all of our many accomplishments, both as individuals and as a class. However, I would like to point out that today is just as much a celebration of all of our teachers, coaches, administrators, and families as it is of us graduates. On behalf of my class, I offer my sincerest gratitude for all the loving support, instruction, and guidance you provided for us during our time at Sebs. I would especially like to thank my mom, dad, and brothers for being the best family I could have asked for. Words cannot begin to describe the depths of love and gratitude I have for you.

As one of your salutatorians, it is my task to give one of the salutatory addresses today. The adjective salutatory derives from the word salutation, which is defined as “an address of welcome.” And yet, here we are at graduation, the official last day of high school before we all take leave of one another and head off to college. In a strange paradox, then, I am giving an address of welcome for the end. We have spent the last two, three, four, five, and even six years on the same journey together through high school. I am certain that every single one of us has had as one of our goals the successful completion of high school, and the grand culmination of the successful completion of high school is graduation. We have reached the end.

And yet, even as we reach one end, we set our sights on another: the successful completion of college. All of us here will be departing for college in the near future, with all the

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trials and triumphs that journey will entail. Hopefully, we will all reach the end of college and graduate with a degree.

Again, however, our journey will not end there. I am certain that all of us want to find jobs and settle into fulfilling and profitable career paths. And I am also certain that many of us will marry and start families of our own. Both of those are ends as well. I am also certain that every single person here has unique and particular goals he would like to achieve throughout his life, be they life-changing trips to foreign countries, opportunities to play for professional sports teams, elections to public offices, etc.

Thus far I have roughly traced the life journey of a human being, and I must bring this journey to its logical conclusion. At the risk of sounding morbid on a day of celebration, I offer this question: What is the end of life?

Some of you may answer this question with that most uncomfortable of words, death. I would respond that you are right in a sense, but, more importantly, you are also fundamentally wrong. You are right, because biologically speaking, death is the point at which our physical bodies cease to function. You are wrong, because we are all endowed with immortal souls that live on after the passing of our bodies. Death is not our end. An eternity with God is. The question then becomes how we achieve this end. The answer is both maddeningly simple and deceptively complex as found in the Gospel of John, ch. 14 line 6, “Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.”

Life, then, is simply one long journey towards God or away from Him. As the author J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in his epic The Lord of the Rings: The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

In our society, there exists a debate between the proponents of two tired cliches. Some argue that it is only the destination that matters as opposed to the journey, whereas others argue that it is only the journey that matters. I would like to challenge these two notions with my own: that, in life, both the journey and the destination are equally important. Our ultimate destination is Heaven, and infinite joy and rest, and yet our journey through this “mortal coil” is what allows us to merit, through God’s grace, that infinite joy and rest.

Now, many of you may be curious as to why I even bring this topic up. I will let the words of Saint Augustine be my response: “Take care of your body as if you were going to

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“Every moment in our lives is of eternal significance. We have control over every interaction we have with another person, every word we utter, and every decision we make.”

with dignity, joy, patience, wisdom, honor, and love. All of us must seek to fill our lives, and the lives of all those we meet, with all that is good, true, and beautiful. Let us enter this next phase of our lives with the joyful desire to make ourselves and the world better, for as the Brazilian intellectual Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira said, “The most beautiful adventure in the world is ours.” Thank you.

live forever; and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.” Every moment in our lives is of eternal significance. We have control over every interaction we have with another person, every word we utter, and every decision we make. I know for certain many of us will become successful lawyers, doctors, scientists, and businessmen.

Perhaps, God-willing, one of us will find a cure for cancer or Alzheimer’s, or will provide water to an entire nation, or will develop policies that lift millions out of poverty. These are all noble endeavors that would benefit humanity in many ways.

However, all of us are capable of loving God and neighbor within the context of our own lives that are just as noble and beneficial. We are called to invest our future roles as fathers, grandfathers, husbands, volunteers, coaches, teachers, clerks, plumbers, engineers, professors, musicians, artists, or priests

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Senior Class Gift Funds

Class of 2018 Health Center Since the Senior Class Gift Program was launched in the fall of 1993, the generosity of the Senior Parents each year has blessed St. Sebastian’s with tremendous capital improvements that have greatly enhanced the campus—both inside and out. The Class of 2018 Parents continued this time-honored tradition, raising a recordbreaking amount in the program’s 25-year history to help fund a very special gift: the Class of 2018 Health Center.

Tripling the size of the previous health office, the new Health Center will be completed this summer and be open in Members of the Class of 2018 Senior Class Gift Committee. time for the start of school in September.

Still centrally located across from the Front Office in the Birmingham Academic Building, the new space will include an exam room with two beds, a bathroom, an office and a “quiet room” with a couch and two convertible lounge chairs that can easily be transformed into additional beds.

The “quiet room” will not only provide space for private meetings with students and families, as well as overflow space for sick students, but also serves as an ideal place to rest if a student has a concussion.

This past winter’s severe cold and flu outbreak was a stark reminder of why an improved Health Center is so important to the School. Jen Joyce, our Director of Health Services, recalls a day when as many as 30 students visited her office and there simply wasn’t enough space. “This new Health Center is going to make a huge difference in so many ways,” said Joyce. “The generosity of the parents is amazing and I am eternally grateful.”

Marking the beginning of Commencement Week, parents of the Class of 2018 gathered at St. Sebastian’s on Sunday, June 3, for a reception and dinner. During the reception, Headmaster Bill Burke thanked the parents for making this enhanced facility possible. “There are no words to describe what a contrast there will be between the before and after picture of the health center,” shared Burke. Along with all of the other changes to campus greeting students when they return in the fall, it will be exciting to see the direct and daily impact of the new Health Center on our School community.

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Campus Abuzz

with Construction Activity

A

lthough typically quiet during the summer months, St. Sebastian’s campus is currently abuzz with activity. Construction of the West Campus Center is nearing completion, with the new facility slated to open in September, but that’s not all. Thanks to the continued momentum of the Spirit & People Campaign, lots of other projects are taking place simultaneously to add to and upgrade the school’s facilities.

This magnificent project has freed up existing spaces and created new ones, making other enhancements across campus possible. With the new Class of 2018 Health Center requiring expanded space along the front entrance hallway, the bookstore will have a new home across the street in the West Campus Center. Located on the right after walking through the Center’s rotunda-shaped main entrance, the new bookstore will provide increased storage space, allowing for a greater variety of items to be in stock and on display.

Our photography facilities will also be significantly enhanced. The small dark room, previously located in the Birmingham Academic Building next to the bookstore, will now be in the Art Center, along with a classroom designated to photography and a digital media lab. With the recent introduction of a digital component to the curriculum, interest in photography has doubled over the past couple years. This new space will elevate the student experience in myriad ways and allow for more class offerings. The addition of the digital media lab, including nine Macintosh computers outfitted with the latest digital editing suite, is especially

exciting, creating many new opportunities for the Fine Arts program, from music editing and sound design to video.

While our athletic facilities will be dramatically different on the inside, work is happening outside, too! Thanks to a generous grant from the Yawkey Foundation, a new artificial turf baseball and soccer field has been installed in the fields behind the West Campus Center. This new field will provide our Arrows athletes with opportunities for additional practice and play. The existing artificial turf on the football/lacrosse and baseball/soccer fields have also been replaced.

These improvements round out the functionality of our campus and enable us to better serve our students. We can’t wait to share all of these changes with students and faculty when they return in the fall.

LEFT: A rendering of the new campus bookstore. TOP RIGHT: An aerial view depicting the new turf field behind the West Campus Center.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The new darkroom and digital media lab will be located in the Art Center.

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GIVING BACK

& PAYING IT

FORWARD

BY CHRISTINE Y. ROBERTSON

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S

ince our founding in 1941, St. Sebastian’s has graduated countless Arrows who remain forever grateful for their education and how the School prepared them for life. Now it is their turn to pay

it forward for the next generation of students. Three of our alumni from across the decades—Brian Burns ’53, John Piccione ’76 and Sassan Alizadeh ’81—have recently made generous gifts that will advance the goals of our Spirit & People Campaign, in particular by helping to grow our endowment. Although each of these Arrows has his own unique story to tell, they are connected by a fondness for the School and their desire to provide the same type of transformative experience for future students.

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Brian Burns ’53

B

rian P. Burns, the grandson of a poor immigrant from County Kerry, Ireland, grew up with the value of hard work and the importance of education instilled into him by his parents, The Honorable John J. and Alice Burns. Indeed, these messages, grounded in his father’s life story—a classic American dream tale— have inspired and shaped his own life’s path.

When Brian’s dad was only ten years old, his father, a Boston motorman, was run over by a street car outside Boston Symphony Hall, crushing his legs. With no disability or food stamps back then, young John, one of nine children, left school for a couple of years to work, selling newspapers to help support the family. John was a brilliant student, and recognizing his exceptional gift, a local priest sought help from Boston College High School. The Jesuit priests offered him a scholarship to BC High and later to Boston College.

After graduating from BC in 1921, John attended Harvard Law School, earning the prestigious Doctor of Juridical Science degree, and became the youngest professor on the faculty in the history of the school. At 29 years old, he set another record as the youngest man appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. In 1934, John, a close advisor to Joseph P. Kennedy, was selected as the first general counsel in the newly formed Federal Securities and Exchange Commission, yet another testament to his exceptional character and intellect.

Determined to ensure that his own children received a great education, John sent his four sons—Daniel ’50, Robert ’51, Brian ’53 and Michael ’58—to St. Sebastian’s School. In the 34 |

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fall of 1949, Brian joined his two older brothers on Nonantum Hill, commuting from Belmont each day. Clever and witty, he quickly made many friends at St. Sebastian’s as he excelled in both academics and athletics. Brian was a twoyear member of the varsity basketball team, winning the New England Prep School Championship both years, and served as captain his senior year. He also worked on The Walrus all four years, as well as The Arrow yearbook.

Brian has great memories of his days as an Arrow, the lessons he learned there and the many wonderful priests who served as his teachers and coaches.

He recalls how Monsignor Flanagan stretched him, especially in the Classical languages; to this day, he is still known to quote a Latin or Greek phrase, whether it’s in a business setting or to one of his 15 grandchildren. “I also learned a great deal through the athletic experience— how to win, how to lose and how to compete vigorously,” recalled Brian.

The passion he developed for reading and writing while at St. Sebastian’s played a role in his life-long love of Irish history and literature.

After graduating from St. Sebastian’s in 1953, Brian attended The College of the Holy Cross. Just shy of his graduation from Holy Cross in May 1957, his father

TOP: John’s senior portrait in the 1953 edition of The Arrow. BOTTOM: Members of the 195253 basketball team, led by Coach Frank Power (2nd from right) and captain Brian Burns ’53 (far right), celebrate their tournament win.

passed away suddenly at 56 years old.

In Archbishop Richard Cushing’s eulogy to the late judge, he noted “in almost everything he did, he proved to have been the youngest to have done it.” Brian followed in his father’s footsteps, graduating from Harvard Law School at age 23, and went on to become a nationally regarded business attorney and executive, currently serving as Chairman of BF Enterprises, Inc. His broad range of experience has led to his election or appointment to the boards of major corporations, as well as professional, governmental and charitable organizations. Among his many accolades, Brian received the American Free Enterprise Award in 2012.

His father’s pervasive influence drove Brian’s efforts as a philanthropist as well. John was an active Irish scholar

“Neither I, nor my brothers or sisters, would have had a first-class education if somebody hadn’t reached out to that 10-year-old newspaper boy in the streets of Harvard Square and given him a free education.”

Brian with pieces from his vast collection of Irish art in the background.

who had done many charitable things for Ireland. Never forgetting his roots, Brian dedicated himself to Irish causes.

In 1963, he became the youngest director of the American Irish Foundation, and by the mid-1980s, he had overseen its merging with The Ireland Fund to form The American Ireland Fund. Since the merger became effective on St. Patrick’s in 1986 during a ceremony presided over

by President Ronald Reagan at the Irish Embassy, the fund has collected over $650 million in support of Irish charities that promote art, culture, peace and community development in Ireland.

As a way to permanently honor his father, Brian established the John J. Burns Library of Rare Books and Special Collections at Boston College in 1986.

The library, recently recognized as the

most beautiful in the country, is home to the most comprehensive assortment of Irish history and culture in the U.S. Brian also devoted himself to building his personal collection of Irish art over the course of five decades, ultimately becoming the largest of its kind by a private collector. Born out of his desire to promote and celebrate these hidden treasures, including work from the 18th century to the present day, the collection has been exhibited in museums across the U.S. and in Ireland and is beautifully illustrated in the magnificent book, A Rising People—The Brian P. Burns Collection of Irish Art. In 2013, Brian was inducted into the Irish American Hall of Fame along with former U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, for his many invaluable contributions as

an Irish-American. In recognition of his lifetime of service, Brian was nominated

by President Donald Trump to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Ireland in December 2016. Unfortunately, several months after his nomination, Brian reluctantly had to withdraw his name due to health concerns.

As part of his father’s legacy to him, Brian has lived by the following principle: “To whom much has been given, so much more is expected in return.” He and his wife, Eileen, recently made a very generous gift to the Spirit & People Campaign, establishing The Honorable John J. Burns Scholarship Fund, another fitting tribute to his dad.

“Neither I, nor my brothers or sisters, would have had a first-class education if somebody hadn’t reached out to that 10-year-old newspaper boy in the streets of Harvard Square and given him a free education, and thereby ignited a burning flame for him to succeed and to do great things while here on Earth.” Grateful for the education he received at St. Sebastian’s, Brian is proud of the school it has become today and knows his father would feel the same way.

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John Piccione ’76

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rom the stage to the sidelines, John Piccione has many fond memories of his days on The Hill. He can still remember vividly freezing his legs off while keeping score or clearing the outdoor rink as manager for the hockey team under the legendary Henry Lane ’49 during his first two years at St. Sebastian’s. In the 9th grade, he moved inside to serve as manager of the basketball team for Coach John Borden, while continuing to pursue other interests, including tennis, drama, and The Arrow yearbook, serving as co-editor his senior year.

Along with traditional musicals like The Music Man and Oliver, John recalls his role as one of the two men from Emmaus in an original play written

by Fr. Richard Powers and traveling around with the cast to perform in different churches.

The many priests and lay teachers on the faculty, along with the front office staff of Doris Barlow and Dot Curnane, also elicit warm memories.

“Morris Kittler was a great influence,” said John. “He got me really interested in biology and worked very hard with us to do well on our achievement tests.”

Msgr. Keating (and his black lab, QueQueg) also stands out among the cast of characters. As the Chaplain for the Boston Fire Department, Keating left an impression when speaking in the Chapel or delivering homilies during Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Belmont, where John’s family attended.

John felt that the teachers were really invested in his education and making sure that he did well. The academic rigor was intense at times, but he learned how to apply himself to accomplish a goal. In addition to 36 |

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the value of hard work, the value of Christian faith and listening to what’s taught in the Gospel was emphasized.

These lessons laid a strong foundation for John, staying with him throughout his career and as father of four children.

After graduating from St. Sebastian’s in 1976, John attended Harvard College where he studied history, a subject he enjoyed along with biology and chemistry during his days as an Arrow. Although he considered teaching history, with the country on the verge of a deep recession there were not many opportunities for newly minted teachers. Encouraged

by Lou DiGiovanni P’74,’76,’78,’84,’86, GP’09,’14, his father’s boss at the time, John ultimately settled on the law, graduating from Boston University School of Law in 1983.

Following law school, John began working for a business law firm in Waltham. For the next 8 years, he represented small, rapidly growing companies, getting his feet wet in mergers and acquisitions. In addition to a 3-year hiatus from the law as an investment banker, John worked at two

TOP: John’s senior portrait in the 1976 edition of The Arrow. BOTTOM: John receives his diploma.

additional firms before joining Thermo Electron in 1998 as a Vice President and Deputy General Counsel.

Today, John serves as Chief Counsel of Mergers & Acquisitions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, with revenues of more than $20 billion and approximately 70,000 employees globally. In managing the legal aspects of the company’s acquisitions and divestitures, John has been involved in hundreds of transactions representing several billion dollars in transaction value.

During his 20-year tenure, he has also managed approximately 60 divestitures as part of Thermo Electron’s major restructuring between 2000 and 2002,

“It’s not just paying it forward; it’s paying it forward to a good steward of funds. Shepherded

by Bill Burke, the School has delivered results. Why not reward that?”

John in his office at Thermo Fisher in Waltham.

as well as served as Thermo Fisher’s lead attorney on employment and immigration matters.

The mission of Thermo Fisher is to enable its customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. “What makes me feel good about coming to work every day is that I know that the company I work for actually helps make a real difference in people’s lives, in the sense that if we help to cure cancer or if we help a pharmaceutical company to come up with a new drug to treat diabetes or to treat Alzheimer’s, or to treat one of these major diseases; that’s really meaningful to me,” said John.

As a recent example, Thermo Fisher donated $1 million worth of rapid

DNA analyzers to support efforts to reunite children and parents recently separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.

This breakthrough technology ensuring fast, easy and accurate DNA matching, was developed by a company John was involved in acquiring last March.

In working for a very resultsoriented company like Thermo Fisher, John is drawn to looking at results and has been impressed by the outcomes produced by St. Sebastian’s under Headmaster Bill Burke’s leadership over the past 28 years—from the Chapel Speaking program to college matriculation records. He is also pleased that the School has stayed true to its mission. “I think it’s a remarkable

place,” said John. “It’s a school that hasn’t wavered from its founding ideals.

In fact, if anything, it’s even stronger in terms of reinforcing the original school’s ideals.”

A loyal donor to the St. Sebastian’s Annual Fund, John has always felt it was important to give back to the School that played a role in helping him get where he is today. He and his wife, Noreen, whom he met while they were both studying at Harvard, recently chose to make a generous gift to the Spirit & People Campaign, knowing that their contribution will have a tangible impact as St. Sebastian’s builds its endowment and improves its physical plant. Making the school affordable for students who might not be able to afford it under the circumstances was an important factor, especially in terms of helping to build diversity—a top objective in the business world today.

In reflecting on why he was motivated to give, John noted, “It’s not just paying it forward, but it’s paying it forward to a good steward of funds. Shepherded

by Bill Burke, the School has delivered results. Why not reward that? It’s as simple as that.”

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Sassan Alizadeh ’81

W

hen Sassan Alizadeh arrived as a student at St. Sebastian’s in September 1979, it was under the most unusual circumstances. At the time, his native country, Iran, was in a state of chaos as a result of the Iranian Revolution. Sassan, his aunt and cousin, Ramin Ghafari ’81, were among the many who fled the terror and came to the United States. Only a year later, the Iran-Iraq War broke out in September 1980. His father, a member of the Iranian Army, had no choice but to remain until the war was over and his mother stayed with her husband for a number of years.

Sassan settled in Brookline, MA, with Ramin and his aunt. His older brother was nearby, having arrived two years prior to study at Tufts University.

Although Brookline’s public high school had a great reputation, Sassan’s parents and aunt decided that a private school would be the best fit for the two boys.

“My parents thought that a Catholic school, which is a bit more structured and has more caring and supervision for the student, would be better for us since they wouldn’t be here,” recalled Sassan.

In addition to the structure, Sassan’s parents were drawn to St. Sebastian’s academic rigor and reputation for having graduates matriculate to excellent colleges.

Sassan and Ramin, both 15 years old, began at St. Sebastian’s as juniors.

Neither spoke English very well, and they were the only foreign students, creating a big challenge for these two Muslim boys to integrate into the radically different setting of a Catholic independent school. “The faculty members were not easy on 38 |

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us, but they understood where we were coming from,” noted Sassan.

“They really tried to adjust us to this new environment and also the new environment to us.” Meanwhile, things continued to swirl in turmoil in his homeland—where his parents remained—as the 1979 Revolution was followed by the war with Iraq, a conflict that ultimately lasted eight years and devastated both countries.

“St. Sebastian’s was a comforting zone for us.”

The guidance of mentors such as Morris Kittler and Fr. Riepe, as well as the small class sizes and customized curriculum, enabled Sassan and Ramin to excel academically. Indeed, St. Sebastian’s ability to tailor the curriculum to the boys’ needs was another major factor in choosing the School. Sassan was far more advanced than his classmates in certain subjects, particularly math, physics and chemistry, and needed extra attention in other subjects such as English and History. The faculty met him where

TOP: Sassan’s senior portrait in the 1981 edition of The Arrow.

he was at and pushed him to learn and advance in all areas, despite the language barrier. “My 12th grade English teacher forced me to memorize Shakespeare’s ‘to be or not to be,’” remembers Sassan. “She wouldn’t back down; she made me actually memorize the entire text and I had to recite it.”

Following his graduation from St. Sebastian’s in 1981, Sassan attended Tufts along with Ramin. In just two and a half years, he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in electrical engineering. Sassan credits St. Sebastian’s and the customized education he received as an Arrow with helping him achieve this impressive feat.

Sassan later received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Tufts.

Sassan then went on to receive an MBA from the Wharton School and a PhD in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania through a joint degree program. While at Wharton, he began to work with one of the world’s leading economists to develop an innovative hedge fund strategy, one that required a great deal of mathematics and economic

“The things that St. Sebastian’s did for me personally were quite significant and for that I am grateful.”

TOP: Sassan on one of his travels abroad; BOTTOM: At his 20th Reunion in May 2011, Sassan (2nd from right) gathers with his 1981 classmates.

theory. This three-year project, along with his academic background, laid an excellent foundation for a career in the hedge fund business. Sassan joined a proprietary trading group at Bear Stearns and later in 2003, joined

Highbridge Capital Management, which was acquired by JP Morgan a few years later. Eventually, he was running the company’s multibillion dollar Quantitative Global Macro and Systematic Commodity hedge fund

business. In 2014, Sassan launched his own company, QSquared Capital.

Meanwhile, he has kept one foot in the world of academia, teaching at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in the Department of Finance and Risk Engineering since 2000.

Sassan recently made a generous gift to St. Sebastian’s endowment to fund a scholarship and established the Alizadeh Most Improved Student Award. “When I decided to establish this award and scholarship, I said to myself, as an educator, what is our job? Our job is really not to have the best student come in and be very good. Educators are supposed to take a student who wasn’t as strong and try to make him much better,” said Sassan.

“It’s not about the level. I’m much more interested in the slope.”

The award will be presented annually to a member of the 11th grade who has shown the most growth between his freshman and junior years at St. Sebastian’s. The first Alizadeh Most Improved Student Award was presented at the Undergraduate Awards Assembly in May 2018. Supporting the School’s endowment is Sassan’s way of saying “thank you” to the school that helped him to adjust to his new home and succeed academically. “The things that St. Sebastian’s did for me personally were quite significant and for that I am grateful.”

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Growing Community

BY JOEY SPADONI

W

hen Charlie ’62 and Laura Tangerini P’07,’08 purchased a 65-acre farm in Millis, MA, in the early 1990’s, they had a vision. Their dream was to build more than just a successful farm; they aspired to create community. Today, thanks to their passion and perseverance, that vision is alive and thriving.

On any given day, Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm is teeming with visitors shopping for fresh produce, picking their own flowers, or simply enjoying the day. A newcomer to the beautiful farm might be struck by the maple trees lining the road, the gorgeous 18th century farmhouse, and the vast expanse of fertile land. A farm-to-fork dining option and a gorgeous new farm stand continue to add to the experience.

For those seeking respite from a fastpaced world, Charlie and Laura have truly created an oasis for their loyal community of patrons.

For Charlie, the seeds were planted during his childhood in Wellesley, MA. “You would’ve had to have met my father and the family that I grew up with,” commented Charlie, “because there was no such thing as I can’t.”

Charlie’s parents had a crane rental and excavation business and from a young age, Charlie learned a great deal by watching his father work on equipment at local job sites. Charlie also learned never to give up and credits St. Sebastian’s with reinforcing that quality in him. Tapping into his gift for working with his hands, he served as a stage manager for the Dramatics Club and built props and sets for the productions. Charlie preferred the sciences over humanities. “Math, geometry, physics, and chemistry were easy for me,” remembered Charlie. In particular, he enjoyed his geometry class with Fr. Gilmartin.

At the age of eighteen, while still a student on Nonantum Hill, he became an apprentice in the Union where his father worked. “I didn’t like the idea of

“I didn’t like the idea of staying in an office, it just wasn’t me. I wanted to be outside, I wanted a change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of people.”

—Charlie Tangerini ’62, P’07,’08

OPPOSITE: Charlie ’62 and Laura Tangerini P’07,’08 on their farm in Millis, MA. TOP: A welcome sign directs visitors to all that Tangerini’s Farm has to offer. BOTTOM: The Tangerinis’ 18th century farmhouse adds to the beauty and character of the property.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Some fresh produce on display in the Tangerinis’ new store; Charlie with his tractor; a view of Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm from one of the fields; the greenhouse.

staying in an office, it just wasn’t me. I wanted to be outside, I wanted a change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of people. Construction is perfect for that.”

Charlie went on to obtain his degree in Architectural Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

For a number of years, he worked as a crane operator alongside his father who “did excavation with a dragline and a clamshell,” recalled Charlie. While on a job in New Hampshire, he purchased a farm in North Berwick, ME, where hay and firewood were harvested.

Eventually, he met Laura, who had degrees in business and nutrition, but knew that she wanted to work outside.

She decided to plant a number of tomato plants on the 100-acre farm in North Berwick and was gifted a sweet corn field by a man headed for New York. “We sold corn and tomatoes on the side of the road,” recalled Laura.

“I’d never grown a tomato before. I just decided that it sounded like a good idea.” Little did the Tangerinis know that such a simple decision would impact the rest of their lives.

Together, they grew the farm, had two sons, Emilio ’07 and Charlie Jr. ’08, and were successful in their business ventures. However, after a sand and gravel company they started 42 |

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went under, Charlie and Laura had to start again. “Adversity is not always adversity. It was the best thing that ever happened to us,” said Charlie. Although he enjoyed living in Maine, Charlie wanted to raise his children near Boston, closer to where he had grown up. In 1992, the couple discovered an ad for a 65-acre farm in Millis. The Massachusetts Land Conservation Trust (MLCT) was reviewing proposals, and Charlie and Laura submitted theirs along with forty other bidders.

Although the Tangerinis’ bid was not the highest, their wonderful vision for the property and strong proposal convinced the MLCT to accept their offer. “Laura has an MBA, she knows how to write a business plan. We also had all of the equipment and the desire,” commented Charlie. “You can’t hide that passion, and both of us, for whatever reason, we’ve got that passion.” In 1994, they moved back to

Massachusetts and began Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm.

Charlie and Laura raised their two sons on the farm. There was an abundance of space for Emilio and Charlie Jr. to explore and play. “All their friends loved to come here, because we had the biggest backyard,” remembered Laura. But life on the farm was not all fun and games for the young Tangerini boys; they learned to work hard and to figure things out for themselves.

As the boys matured, it came time for Charlie and Laura to decide where to send them to high school. At first, Laura was content with sending her boys to public school, but Charlie insisted they consider St. Sebastian’s School. It only took one visit for them to make up their minds. Captured by the mission and enthralled by the headmaster, the Tangerinis decided they would do whatever it took to send

their sons to St. Sebastian’s. “It was clearly the best decision that we ever made … I am so proud of who they are and what they have become and how they treat other people,” said Laura.

Charlie likewise is happy that he decided to enroll his sons as Arrows.

With the family’s affinity for St. Sebastian’s, the Tangerinis have hired many Arrows—and their sisters— over the years. They work hard doing tasks that need to get done around the farm. All the while, they are hopefully learning that “there is no such thing as I can’t.” Reflecting this motto, this hard-working pair has spent the past 24 years growing the farm to what it is today. “The vision was for people to come here and feel like this was their farm, that this land really shouldn’t belong to just us, that it should be here for everybody to enjoy,” shared Laura. From gardening and cooking classes to summer camp, concerts and

birthday parties, the Tangerinis have created many ways for their customers to enjoy this oasis tucked into a residential neighborhood. Along with a 470-member—and growing—CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) operating year-round, each season brings something new, from hayrides and pumpkins in the autumn to ice cream cones and blueberry picking in the warmer months.

Charlie’s route to success was a circuitous one. Fortunately for him, he had an excellent partner accompanying him along the way, his wife, Laura. The Tangerinis have built a wonderful farm and a beautiful community. According to Laura, “it truly is a place where people can gather.”

“The vision was for people to come here and feel like this was their farm, that this land really shouldn’t belong to just us, that it should be here for everybody to enjoy.”

—Laura Tangerini P’07,’08

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FINE ARTS

Teaching the Art of Adaptive Photography

Illustrating

Endangered Species In Massachusetts, there are currently 427 native species of animals and plants that are endangered.

Art students focused on drawing animal and plant life in the 2nd semester, paired with learning about being stewards of the earth! Here are just three of the beautiful pieces of artwork that were created as a result of this project.

Brendan McKenzie ’18 gives a photography lesson at the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

This spring, the AP Photography class shared their passion for taking photos with others through two service projects.

For the second year in a row, members of the class taught photography skills to students at the Cotting School, the first school in America to serve children with disabilities. “It was amazing as a teacher to watch the St. Sebastian AP photo students interact with the Cotting School students.

They treated their Cotting School partners with kindness, respect, and heart,” attested photography teacher Courtney Bent.

Three seniors in the AP Photography class—Brendan McKenzie, Matt DeSisto, and Landon Dombrowski— also taught photography to adults at the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired at their day program in Brookline. During the workshop, the AP photo students and MAB participants sat around a table and had an open conversation with the new photographers, asking questions about the MAB participants’ lives and the many barriers and successes they have experienced. The St. Sebastian’s students also shared their own personal stories.

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TOP LEFT: “Roseate Tern,” chalk pastel by Jameson Lynch ’21; TOP RIGHT: “Red Bellied Turtle,” chalk pastel by Yves Kayihura ’21; BOTTOM: “Purple Poppy,” oil cray pas by Declan Maguire ’20.

FINE ARTS

RAKU

On May 23, four juniors and one sophomore along with faculty member Barrett Ellis visited the Potter’s Shop located at the Gorse Mill Studio in Needham. The boys were given a tour of a professional ceramics studio and a history lesson on the ancient tradition of Raku from Raku master, potter and teacher Steven Branfman.

After learning about a few Raku glazes and how they would react under different circumstances, the boys glazed their own work and loaded it in to the kiln. The boys had a great time as they were involved in the entire firing process and produced amazing results!

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FINE ARTS

Spring Revue

T

he Fine Arts Department’s annual Spring Revue on May 30 showcased students’ acting and musical talents. The Slings & Arrows Players kicked off the entertaining evening with a fourperson play: “Death Takes the Train,” written by D.M. Larson and directed by the cast comprised of seniors AJ Santosuosso, Thomas Olson, Will Forman, and Nicholas Howell. The other performance was “Mixed Nuts,” written by Corey M. Sprague and directed by Tony Perez ’19.

After intermission, the evening continued with a number of musical performances. The Rock Band performed “Somebody Told Me,” by The Killers and were joined by guest vocalist Laura Pettine. Jazz Combo played “Strasbourg-St. Denis,” by Roy Hargrove, and “All Shook Up,” by Elvis Presley. And then the Jazz Ensemble performed “Surfin’ USA,” by the Beach Boys, “All Night Long,” by Lionel Richie, and “24K Magic,” by Bruno Mars. The lights and sound were handled by Aidan Garrity ’20, Nicholas Howell ’18, Evan Prince ’20, and Nolan Prince ’19. Congratulations to all the students for their wonderful performances!

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS PARENTS OF ALUMNI RECEPTION On April 26, St. Sebastian’s hosted its annual Parents of Alumni Reception in Ward Hall. Numerous parents from a wide range of classes returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce. Mary Supple P’09,’10,’15, Co-Chair of the Parents of Alumni Fund, welcomed the parents and introduced a video capturing St. Sebastian’s spirit. Headmaster Bill Burke then gave an update on the Spirit & People Campaign and the state of the school.

HEADMASTER SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT

Joe Harney P’92,’95,’96, GP’21, Lorraine Smith P’99 and Donna Cullinan P’02 at the Parents of Alumni Reception.

On May 7, more than 100 St. Sebastian’s parents, parents of alumni, alumni, and friends participated in St. Sebastian’s Headmaster Scholarship Golf Tournament at Charles River Country Club. For the fifth year in a row, the outing successfully raised funds for the Headmaster Scholarship which provides financial assistance to St. Sebastian’s students. Thank you to Men’s Association President Mike Muldowney P’12,’16,’22 and Golf Chair Sam Hodgson P’12,’20 for their efforts to make this event a fantastic success. Thank you also to all of our sponsors and participants for their generous support of the tournament.

GUILD OF ST. IRENE FASHION SHOW St. Sebastian’s mothers enjoyed an evening of fun and fashion on May 15 at the Guild of St. Irene’s annual closing event in Ward Hall. The Dinner & Fashion Show began with socializing and shopping, followed by the highlight of the evening—senior moms working the catwalk in the latest fashion trends. A lovely evening was had by all thanks to the fantastic efforts of Co-Chairs Mary Torrence P’20,’20 and Linette Van Flandern P’20 and the event committee.

Cara Real P’13,’19, Headmaster Bill Burke, Susan Martin P’17,’18,’19 and Lynn Giacchetto P’19.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION COOKOUT

The event co-chairs and senior moms who served as models line the stage at the end of the fashion show.

On June 13, Headmaster Bill Burke hosted a number of parents, past parents, alumni and friends for the Volunteer Appreciation Cookout to celebrate and thank our amazing team of volunteers who have made contributions of time and talent this year. From supporting Guild and Men’s Association events, to working on the annual fund and serving as class agents, St. Sebastian’s is very fortunate to have a tremendous team of volunteers!

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A Riveting

Victory

BY JOEY SPADONI / PHOTOS BY ADAM RICHINS

F

or young athletes who have grown up playing baseball and rooting for the Boston Red Sox, the chance to play at Fenway Park is nothing short of a dream come true. That dream was realized for a number of Arrows when President of Baseball Operations for the Boston Red Sox, Dave Dombrowski P’18, called Headmaster Bill Burke and invited the St. Sebastian’s varsity baseball team to play a game in the historic ballpark—and against rival Belmont Hill, no less! What ensued was a game for the ages, ending with a riveting come-from-behind victory, and a memory that many Arrows will cherish forever.

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ON APRIL 18, THE ARROWS ARRIVED AT FENWAY PARK for what would

end up being one of the most important games of the season. Both highly competitive teams and with a rivalry stretching back to the 1950s, St. Sebastian’s and Belmont Hill were playing excellent baseball thus far in the season and vying for the ISL Championship.

After settling into the Red Sox dugout, the team warmed up for the game in their new uniforms designed especially for the event by Reed Walsh ’19.

“Growing up watching the Sox play and then finally being able to sit in the dugout and play in the same spot that Jackie Bradley and Johnny Damon have played was pretty cool,” commented Tim Noone ’19. The players soaked in the amazing experience of being on the field at Fenway Park. “It was crazy, I’ve seen Mookie Betts out there in right field,” said Landon Dombrowski ’18, “and then Jack Browne ’18 is out there in right field.”

Faculty member Jim Rest, who served as the announcer, kicked off the proceedings, calling out the starting line-up in classic Red Sox fashion. “It was a dream to play there. Getting my name called out to run out onto the field was the coolest part,” remembered Alex Cherry ’19. JP Craven ’06, a former teacher and coach at St. Sebastian’s, then took the mound for the ceremo-

“Growing up watching the Sox play and then finally being able to sit in the dugout and play in the same spot that Jackie Bradley and Johnny Damon have played was pretty cool.”

—Tim Noone ’19

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TOP: The Arrows lean out of the Red Sox dugout. BOTTOM LEFT: Christian Casiano ’21 and Luke Diggins ’18 on the field to perform the National Anthem. BOTTOM RIGHT: J.P. Craven ’06 (right), who threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with his brother, captain Brian Craven ’18.

nial first pitch. Ball in hand, he looked out at his brother, captain Brian Craven ’18, waiting for the pitch at home plate.

“Crouching down to catch that ball is a feeling I’ll have for a long time,” shared Brian. JP was badly injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, but thankfully he has made a full recovery.

“For JP to have a St. Sebastian’s game jersey on and a St. Seb’s hat and throw out that first pitch to his brother was just a magical moment,” remembered Headmaster Burke. A beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was performed on the violin by Luke Diggins ’18 and Christian Casiano ’21. “People were literally awe-stricken inside Fenway Park,” remembered Headmaster Burke. “Jack Doherty ’62, who was running a little late, could hear the sonorous strains of their violins wafting in the breeze above Yawkey Way and said, ‘all of the pedestrians stopped and just listened.’”

Billy Seidl ’19, eventual ISL MVP and ISL Pitcher of the Year, took the mound for the Arrows. “It was a little nerve-wracking getting out there at

first on the mound,” recalled Seidl. “I just tried to do my thing, pound the zone, throw a lot of strikes.” The Arrows recorded the first three outs of the contest and escaped the opening inning unscathed. Craven approached the plate and drove the ball deep into left field, just missing a homerun and causing a loud clang as the ball banged high off of the iconic Green Monster. The captain made it safely to second base for a standup double and successfully fired up his teammates and the fans. In the second inning, Belmont Hill was able to score a run, putting them on top.

With Seidl, committed to pitch for Duke University, matched up against a strong Belmont Hill pitcher, the game quickly evolved into a heated pitcher’s duel with neither team giving up another run. The Arrows found themselves down by one going into the bottom of the final inning.

With their backs against the wall, the Arrows were a mere three outs away from losing to their rival. Alex Cherry ’19 led off the inning and reached first base on a five-pitch walk. Henry’s Corner

made its presence felt by doing their best to fill the major-league ballpark with as much noise as possible. Next up was Andrew Dorsey ’19 who was able to make it to first base on a full-count walk.

With two men on and nobody out, the coaching staff decided to send up a pinch hitter to bunt in the hopes that he might advance both runners into scoring position. Neil Melley ’18 was the man for the job. Melley stepped up to the plate in an obvious bunting situation, but after a ball and a wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position, the coaching staff made a tactical move and sent Joey Fiore ’19 out to pinch run at second base. “All of a sudden, coach just said ‘are you ready to run on second?’ and I said, ‘of course, I’m ready to go,’” recalled Fiore. Now facing a different situation than he was called upon to address, Melley got the green light to swing for the fences, and that is exactly what he did. “You don’t really change it up too much,” commented Melley, “you don’t want to get too rattled, it’s just like any other at bat.” After hitting a few fouls, Melley crushed the ball all the way back to the warning track and scored Cherry on a sacrifice fly. And just like that, the game was tied.

Tim Noone ’19, son of Matt Noone ’86 (the baseball coach for Babson College and a batting practice pitcher for the Red Sox), made his way to the plate.

Noone took two balls to start off his at bat, but then he fouled off the next two pitches. The Belmont Hill left fielder was drawn-in, playing closer to the infield. With two balls and two strikes on the count, Noone made contact with the pitch, sending it hurtling over the left fielder’s head and into the outfield.

Fiore took off and scored from second base. St. Sebastian’s had won! “Getting the game winning hit was probably the coolest thing that has happened to me in my baseball career,” reflected Noone.

What happened next was most likely a blur for the Arrows as they dashed out of the dugout, celebrating, and forming a giant pile while the Fenway

classic “Dirty Water” blared out over the ballpark’s speakers. “It was just pure excitement,” remembered Dombrowski ’18, “everyone was so happy to win that game that was probably the biggest game of the year.” Seidl pitched the entire contest for St. Sebastian’s and ended up striking out ten of Belmont Hill’s batters while only allowing one run and four hits.

At the end of the season, Belmont Hill’s record was thirteen wins and two

losses; St. Sebastian’s was fourteen and one, making them outright ISL Champions for the second year in a row!

“We are so grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Dombrowski, and so very happy for our players, coaches, and many fans,” remarked Headmaster Burke. Thank you, Mr. Dombrowski, for giving these Arrows an amazing experience and a great story to tell, one that is sure to become a St. Sebastian’s legend.

TOP LEFT: Billy Seidl ’19 delivers a pitch. TOP RIGHT: Landon Dombrowski ’18 takes a swing.

BOTTOM: The varsity baseball team celebrates a walk-off win at Fenway Park.

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Varsity Golf

BY COACH JIM SULLIVAN

The legendary basketball coach at UCLA, John Wooden, once said, “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” Yes, that is just what the Arrows 2018 Golf Team possessed: character. Led by the very talented, confident, but not cocky, and committed trio of Mario Oliva, Jack Lemone, and Patrick DuFour, these three senior tri-captains set the tone for the 2018 golf season right from the first wintry day of practice. They were not going to rest on their achievement from the 2017 championship team. They knew that every team in the league would be aiming to dethrone the 2017 undefeated Arrows. With all players returning from the 2017 squad, the Arrows met every challenge along the way and compiled a 16-1 league record, only losing to a scrappy Milton team in the last league match of the year. However, 52 |

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the excellent play by the Arrows golfers was not accomplished without determination, great team effort and the ability to play under pressure.

Several significant and defining matches took place throughout the season. Of particular note were two key victories over Belmont Hill and, in a battle of undefeated teams, a season defining victory over Rivers School.

The Arrows entered the Rivers match with a 12-0 record and Rivers came into the match with two ties and no losses. Several matches went to the ninth hole, but in all but one match the Arrows prevailed. All 11 members of the team contributed significantly to this memorable season. The team consisted of Mario Oliva ’18, Jack Lemone ’18, Patrick DuFour ’18, Billy McNamara ’18, Matt Wolpe ’18, Jake Milbury ’18, Andrew Giacchetto ’19, Andrew Michienzi ’19, Michael Walsh ’20, Ted Murphy ’20 and Juan Oliva ’21. Each and every member contributed significantly to the golf program’s success over the past two

years. The overall team record on this incredible two-year run was 184-4228. Additionally, several members of the 2018 team—Mario Oliva, Jack Lemone, Patrick DuFour, Andrew Giacchetto and Andrew Michienzi— have been varsity golfers through the more notable and historic threeyear run: three consecutive league championships, one league loss over the past three years and a combined league match play record of 305-61-39.

Having captured the league championship, one more event remained on the minds of the top five team players and on Monday, May 21, Arrow golfers added another significant victory to the 2018 golf season with a first place finish in the 18-hole medal play tournament, the Kingman Cup. With a combined 4-out-of-5 team score of 306 (Andrew Giacchetto-72, Mario Oliva-75, Andrew Michienzi-78, Patrick DuFour-81 and Jack Lemone-87), the Arrows captured the cup for the second consecutive year. Andrew Giacchetto and Mario Oliva won All

SPRING SPORTS

League Honors with their second place and fifth place finish respectively in the tournament. Andrew Giacchetto was voted the ISL All Scholastic Award in golf for his incredible 14-0-2 match play record in league play. The record becomes even more incredible knowing that Giacchetto always played the number one player on the opposing team, many of whom will move on to play golf at the collegiate level.

Individual awards are always the most difficult to choose, especially when all team members are worthy to be recognized for their excellent character, most supportive team spirit and a totally unselfish attitude of togetherness. Such was the case this year. The Sullivan Award was established several years ago by a parent, Mr. Todd Clark, to honor such a member of the golf team. This year’s recipient was Billy McNamara.

OPPOSITE: Jack Lemone ’18, Mario Oliva ’18, Andrew Michienzi ’19, Patrick DuFour ’18, and Andrew Giacchetto ’19 win the Kingman Cup. ABOVE: The varsity golf team.

It clearly has been a wonderful journey. The departing six seniors will be greatly missed, but Arrows golf, under the most capable leadership of Giacchetto and Michienzi and

SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS The following student-athletes were recognized for their performance during the spring season at an Athletic Awards Assembly on May 30.

ALL-LEAGUE ISL Baseball: Brian Craven ’18, Connor Bertsch ’19, Billy Seidl ’19, Matt Joyce ’20 Golf: Mario Oliva ’18, Andrew Giacchetto ’19 Lacrosse: Alex Gainey ’18, Cam Martin ’18, Will Plansky ’18, Will Frisoli ’19 HONORABLE MENTION ALL-LEAGUE Baseball: Landon Dombrowski ’18, Drew Dorsey ’19, Tim Noone ’19 Lacrosse: Matt DeSisto ’18, Peter Murphy ’18, Peter Blake ’19, Brian Piatelli ’19, Mike Swirbalus ’19 Tennis: Jayson Barros ’18, Kurt Saraceno ’18 ISL LEAGUE ALL SCHOLASTIC AWARD AND ISL GOLF MVP Andrew Giacchetto ’19

ISL PITCHER OF THE YEAR Billy Seidl ’19 ISL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (baseball) Billy Seidl ’19 THE BOB SCOTT AWARD Presented to one lacrosse player in the ISL who goes above and beyond in service to his team, school, and community. This player exemplifies the fundamentals of lacrosse, works hard to improve his game and is a leader on and off the field: Peter Pickard ’18 THE PAUL LEPLEY AWARD Presented by the coaches to the players who show the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and dedication to the sport of baseball at St. Sebastian’s School:

bolstered by returning veterans Juan Oliva, Ted Murphy, Michael Walsh and the strong junior varsity team headed

by Joe O’Donnell, will clearly send ripples throughout the league.

THE SULLIVAN AWARD Presented to a golfer who exemplifies sacrifice for the good of the team, team spirit, and a most positive attitude in the face of disappointment: Billy McNamara ’18 THE ATHLETIC COMMITMENT AWARD Presented to members of the senior class who have participated in interscholastic athletics each season from their sophomore through senior year: Michael Bollas ’18, Jack Browne ’18, Matt DeSisto ’18, Alex Gainey ’18, and Jack Leetch ’18 THE LETTERMAN AWARD Presented to members of the Senior Class who have earned a Varsity Letter in each season from their sophomore through senior years: Colin Kehoe ’18, Peter Murphy ’18

Brian Craven ’18 SPRING 2018

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Varsity Baseball

BY COACH RICHARD CONNOLLY

Winning back-to-back outright titles is no small accomplishment, especially in a league known for trotting out some of the best pitching in the state. At 17-2 overall, and 14-1 in the league, the 2018 St. Sebastian’s varsity baseball team used stout pitching, slick defense, and timely hitting to secure a place atop the proud accomplishment of St. Sebastian’s athletics over the better part of eight decades.

On May 21, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and a man on first, left handed pitcher Tim Noone ’19 threw a 2-1 curveball that the Thayer batter grounded to second baseman Matt Joyce ’20. Joyce flipped it to shortstop Brian Craven ’18 who then connected with first baseman Drew Dorsey ’19. This game-ending doubleplay clinched St Sebastian’s first-ever successful defense of the Independent School League title. This feat had not been done in fifteen years. During the season, St. Sebastian’s won five ISL games by one run, helped in large part by throwing four shutouts, and allowing just 17 runs in 15 league contests.

The team also walked-off two ISL opponents, further solidifying “Seb’s Ball” as a style that never quits.

Craven, Seidl, Joyce and Connor Bertsch ’19 earned All-ISL honors, while Drew Dorsey ’19, Tim Noone ’19 and Landon Dombrowski ’18 received Honorable Mention recognition. Seidl was also voted 2018 ISL Pitcher of the Year and 2018 ISL Most Valuable Player, an honor that lands him a spot on the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team. Next year’s captains-elect are Bertsch, Noone, and Seidl.

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The varsity baseball team plays at Fenway Park.

traveled to Washington, D.C., for a week over spring break. The first day in the nation’s capital was beautiful and auspicious; cloudless skies allowed for a great morning practice and early afternoon batting practice. Afterwards, the team crossed the Francis Scott Key Bridge into Virginia to scrimmage Episcopal School. The Arrows began their season on a high note by not giving up a single hit to Virginia’s oldest high school. Unfortunately, the team brought a little too much Massachusetts with them, and the next day snow descended on the city, preventing the team from playing outdoor baseball for the rest of the trip.

Always upbeat, the boys made the most of the situation. They got in a good workout at an indoor baseball facility in Northeast Washington and utilized the gym and weight room at St. Albans School, who kindly hosted the team.

For those of a certain age, one highlight was the team being crowned “Official Out-of-Market Team” of the Tony Kornhesier Show, which hosts a daily

podcast near the hotel the team stayed at in Glover Park.

Back home in Massachusetts, the regular season began with a 7-2 win over Dexter, who finished at 17-2 on the year. Cole Tremblay ’19, Joey Fiore ’19, and James Donovan ’19 combined for the win, scattering seven hits against a formidable offense, and Joyce was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI to pace the offense.

Next was a 5-1 win over St. George’s, with the highlight being a three-run homerun by Alex Cherry ’19. Against rival Nobles, the Arrows offense erupted for 12 hits en route to a 6-2 win. Facing Lawrence, St. Sebastian’s held on for a 3-2 win, having been on the right side of an overturned call in the fifth that scored the winning run. With Groton, the offense was sparked by 2 RBI from Dombrowski, as the team picked up an 8-1 win to move to 5-0 on the season.

Next was an exciting and memorable walk-off win at Fenway Park against Belmont Hill on April 18 (see pg. 48 for story). Seidl was on the bump for Seb’s, and after the leadoff Hillie reached on

SPRING SPORTS

an Only-at-Fenway ground rule double— the ball was lifted high to left field, tailing towards the grandstand. The tight foul ground confused our left fielder, as it does many big leaguers, and the ball landed in fair territory and bounced out of play—he induced a line-drive that Cherry ’19 snagged and then struck out the next two batters to retire the side.

Craven ’18 came up with two outs in the bottom of the first and launched a double that nearly cleared the Green Monster and really fired up Henry’s Corner. Alas, a fine play on a Bertsch ’19 liner to right ended the inning. With one out in the second, Belmont Hill recorded a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk to load the bases.

A sac fly to left scored the man from third, but the relay throw missed the cut-off, and the ball rolled to the visitor’s side of home plate. Relying on instinct, Dombrowski ’18 collected the ball and threw a strike to an on-the-move third baseman Bertsch ’19, who controlled his body just enough to apply the tag on the runner advancing from second for the not-often-seen 7-2-5 inning-ended double play.

While runners made it to scoring position over the next several innings, neither team was able to push one across and Seb’s entered the bottom of the seventh down 1-0. Cherry ’19 led off the inning with a five-pitch walk, chasing the All-ISL starting pitcher. Up next was Dorsey ’19, who the whole park expected to bunt, but instead he earned a full-count walk. After Seb’s switched pinch hitters as the situation dictated, Neil Melley ’18 came to the plate in the most obvious bunt situation ever.

A discerning eye, Melley took the first offering for a ball, and then watched as the second pitch scooted through the legs of the catcher, advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd and changing his approach. Seb’s inserted Fiore ’19 to run at second, and after fouling two off, bringing the count to 2-2, Melley lifted a fly to the warning track that was caught but scored Cherry from third.

After another pitching change, Noone ’19 strode to the plate. After working a 2-0 count, Noone fouled off the next two before launching a drive over the head of the drawn-in left fielder, scoring Fiore from second and sending the Arrows into a frenzy. Seidl ’19 finished the game with 10 strikeouts against 2 walks and scattering 3 hits, while going 1-for-3 at the plate.

In a not-so-welcome “Let’s do that again,” Seb’s needed bonus baseball in its next game against Tabor, with Bertsch leading off the eighth with a double, moving to third on a Seidl sacrifice bunt, and ultimately scoring when Cherry ’19 hit a two-out fielder’s choice, giving the Arrows a 3-2 win and a second-straight walk-off. A nonleague 7-5 win over Worcester was followed by a 6-1 win over BB&N, during which Seidl carried a perfect game into the last frame, only to have it ruined by a comebacker that bounced off his glove, slowly dying in the infield.

At 9-0 and undefeated in April, the team rolled into Roxbury Latin on May 1 knowing it would be a battle and after scoring three in the bottom of the first, the Foxes held on, 3-1, handing the Arrows their first loss of the season.

Quickly bouncing back the next day, St. Sebastian’s defeated Middlesex 7-2, a game punctuated by a Craven homerun deep over the fence in left. Next, Seidl pitched a two-hit shutout and scored the only run as the Arrows escaped Rivers, 1-0.

At Exeter, St. Sebastian’s exploded for six runs in the sixth, only to have the hosts respond with five in their half, but Craven came in with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth and recorded the final five outs for the 9-7 win. Joyce threw a one-hit gem to beat Milton 3-0, the lone hit coming on a ground ball the fielder just couldn’t get out of his glove in time. A 3-1 win over Governor’s was highlighted by a Matt Connelly ’19 tworun blast to spark the team.

TOP: Captain Brian Craven ’18 makes a play at shortstop. BOTTOM: Andrew Dorsey ’19 takes the lead off first base.

In the game against Andover, a team that finished 20-2 and won the Central New England title, the boys battled but came out on the losing end of a 3-1 game. Responding as they have shown they know how, the Arrows rode a three-hit shutout from Joyce to beat St. Mark’s 1-0. Next, the team used a three-run first inning and a two-hit gem from Seidl ’19 to down Brooks 4-1.With no desire to share the ISL Championship title, St. Sebastian’s got an RBI double from Melley in the second inning and never looked back in their aforementioned season-ending and title-clinching win over Thayer.

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SPRING SPORTS

Varsity Lacrosse

BY COACH ADAM WHITE

This year, the Arrows lacrosse team finished at 17-3 overall and 13-2 in the ISL, good enough to tie for third in the league. Though we didn’t win a share of the title this season, it was a highly successful campaign in every other respect. The team once again returned to the Geico High School National Tournament in Washington, D.C., featuring some of the best teams from all across the continent. For the second straight year, the Arrows’ season came to an end against The Hill Academy from Ontario, and for the second straight year, the Hill went on to win the tournament. But it was a fun trip for the boys, who showed up to the game in patriotic dress code in honor of Memorial Day Weekend: coats and ties patterned with stars and stripes.

The team climbed as high as #8 in the national rankings and finished 2-1

against teams in the Top 25. One of the highlights came in the first game of the season: on a blustery day in March, snow piled high along the sidelines, Sebs knocked off highly touted IMG in overtime. In our second game of the league schedule, we played Nobles under the lights at Harvard. It was a game that was about much more than the results—all ticket sales went to the McRae Williams Foundation in honor of a Nobles grad, class of 2017, who tragically died this past fall—and both teams played valiantly in a fast-paced affair. In front of a huge crowd, Sebs came away with the victory, 10-8.

Other out-of-league wins came against Navy Prep, Exeter, and New Hampton (snapping their 33-game win streak) and big ISL victories were notched against Rivers (avenging last season’s lone loss) and Middlesex (down three in the fourth quarter, the Arrows rallied to win the game in the final seconds).

Perhaps most impressive, the Arrows allowed the fewest goals of any team in the ISL this year. We take pride in that title because it requires

a big effort from the whole team. The attackmen have to value possessions and ride hard, the defense has to be stout, the goalies have to keep the ball out of the net, and our second string has to play hard and carry the torch all the way to final buzzer.

Seven of our seniors are headed off to play college lacrosse at Connecticut College, Holy Cross, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, and Providence. The whole class led the way all season long, and their leadership was vital to the team’s success. They’ll be missed!

LEFT: Will Frisoli ’19 with the ball in a game versus Nobles. TOP RIGHT: Alexander Gainey ’18 in the net. BOTTOM RIGHT: Peter Pickard ’18, Peter Murphy ’18, and William Plansky ’18 together on the field.

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SPRING SPORTS

Varsity Tennis

BY COACH BRIAN RICHTER

A bad hamstring. A badly sprained ankle. A goal deferred.

This might be an apt summation of the 2018 Arrows’ tennis season. At the start of the season, we knew we had it in us to be a top five team in the ISL and possibly earn an invitation to the New England’s. Then, after six matches into the season, came the first injury.

Our #2 singles player and co-captain Jayson Barros ’18 suffered a badly pulled hamstring, essentially sidelining him for the rest of the season. As our seventh match got underway, Paul Scemama ’18 suffered a bad ankle sprain (out for seven matches) as he and his partner got off to what seemed to be a sure win at #2 doubles. What looked to be a comfortable team win that day became a narrow 8-7 victory, and, taking out our full line-up for about half the season, nudged our goal just beyond reach.

The story line above, though, doesn’t capture what the team accomplished. Despite the detrimental circumstances, the Arrows came through with some remarkable moments. We finished in a tie for 7th place in the league with a 9-6 record, 12-6 overall. We defeated the ultimate fifth-place team in an exciting 8-7 win.

On a cold and darkening day at Milton, Jack Dumouchel ’19 took the eighth point in a second set tie-break. The team won five of its six 8-7 decisions.

Henry DeMatteo ’18, often the last man on the courts, took two eighth points in two second set tie breaks.

The team went on to win its last seven matches. Scemama, after returning for the final three matches, took his second singles set against Brooks to seal an 8-7 win in one of these. And Will Goldman ’21, called up from the JV squad, won a critical singles set in

an 8-7 win against the Governors on a day when the team was down not two, but three players.

The team graduates five seniors: co-captain and #1 player for the past two years, Kurt Saraceno, whose unwavering determination and leadership will be tremendously missed; co-captain Jayson Barros (an All-League player in 2017), who will be remembered for finding ways to win even when his game was off; Henry DeMatteo, who anchored the #3 and then #2 position; Paul Scemema, playing at #4 then #3; and Royce Abel, who could always be counted on to come up with some big points in both singles and doubles, such as he did in a big 9-6 win against St. George’s.

Special honors were awarded to Saraceno and Barros, both being given All-League Honorable Mentions. The graduation of these five outstanding young men spells r-e-b-u-i-l-d. More to the point, these five seniors have been at the heart of this team for a number of years and have epitomized sportsmanship, team play, and determination.

TOP: Paul Scemama de Gialluly ’18 keeps his eyes on the ball. BOTTOM: Captain Kurt Saraceno ’18 sends the ball across the back to his opponent.

Juniors Jack Dumouchel and Owen Martin were elected co-captains for the 2019 team. The final two letter winners are Charlie DeMatteo ’22 and Will Goldman ’21.

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REUNION 2018

REUNION 2018 Alumni from the classes of 3’s and 8’s came back to campus to relive their days as students and reminisce with their Arrow brothers.

R

eunion weekend began on Friday, May 18 with events for the milestone Classes of 1993 and 1968, who were celebrating their 25th and 50th Reunions, as well as a dinner hosted by Brad Griffith ’58 for some of his fellow classmates and their spouses to mark their 60th Reunion.

Several alumni also participated in the Alumni Golf Outing earlier in the day.

Saturday’s festivities included the Headmaster’s Luncheon for the Classes of 1945 through 1968 where alumni had 58 |

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the opportunity to hear about life at St. Sebastian’s from current seniors. The afternoon also included campus tours and a chance to watch JV lacrosse as they took on Brooks before honoring all departed classmates during a Memorial Mass celebrated by Fr. John Arens in the St. Sebastian’s Chapel.

Reunion events concluded with the annual Cocktail Reception and Clambake on Saturday night.

Before dinner, alumni, friends, and family gathered in Ward Hall and St. Sebastian’s Way for the reception

and class photos. The attendees then enjoyed chowder, lobster and steak tips while continuing to catch up over dinner. The brief program included remarks from Headmaster Burke, a video presentation featuring photos from the Reunion classes, and a video of the current progress of the Spirit & People Campaign. Thank you to all of the alumni who returned to campus to be a part of this special Reunion weekend!

REUNION 2018

Cocktail Reception

& Clambake The highlight of Reunion weekend was the Cocktail Reception and Clambake, where close to 200 alumni, family and friends had the opportunity to reconnect and share old memories.

1998 classmates Matt Ryan, Gary Sullivan, Jack Berquist, Andrew Dell Orto, Elliott Otto and John Sheehan. n Dave ’68 and Barbara Leahy, Bill ’68 and Mary Fran Driscoll and George ’68 and Susan Morris. n Jay McInearney ’73 and Bill Ablondi ’73 with their lobster dinners. n Members of the Class of 2013 enjoy being back on campus and together. n Dave Wilbur, Chair of the Science Department, with 2008 classmates Dan Driscoll, Billy Elcock and Colin Packenham.

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REUNION 2018

Milestone

CELEBRATIONS

50th

REUNION

Reunion weekend kicked off on Friday, May 18, with 25th and 50th Reunion dinners for the milestone Classes of 1968 and 1993.

During a dinner hosted by Jim Dunn ’68, the Class of 1968 took a trip down memory lane while watching a video of photos capturing their days on Nonantum Hill. The Class of 1993 gathered for a reception and dinner on the Class of 2013 Courtyard. Brad Griffith ’58 also hosted a dinner at Brae Burn Country Club for some of his fellow classmates and their spouses to mark their 60th Reunion.

LEFT: 1968 classmates gather on Jim Dunn’s front porch during their 50th Reunion Dinner. n RIGHT: Front Row: Paul Maloof, John Morin, Paul Harrison, George Morris, Ronald Rich, Gerry Dahlstrom, Paul True, Bob Pierce. Back Row: Dan Broderick, John Goodfellow, Steve Caine, Doug Arnot, David Leahy, Bill Driscoll, Steve Dowling, Gavin Viano, and Jim Dunn.

Also in attendance for the 50th Reunion were Mike O’Doherty, Kip O’Neil, Kevin Cronin, Peter Cartey, Paul Costello, Ed Sullivan, Dave Barry, Jay Carlson and Peter Lyons.

LEFT: 1993 classmates assemble for a class photo at their 25th Reunion Dinner: Scott Esselman, Marty Clapton, Andrew Kara, Matt LaMarche, Marc Rosenfeld, Patrick O’Reilly, Frank St. Peter, Marc Brown, Brian Denning, Brian McCarthy, Ben Heller, George Benzie, W. T. Rich, T. Ryan Kennedy, Mike Pergola, Eric Saulnier, and Peter Sinis n RIGHT: Former faculty member Tom Nunan with Peter Sinis and Scott Esselman.

25th

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REUNION 2018

REUNION

2018

BY THE NUMBERS

60th

Members of the Class of 1958: Tom Smith, Jim Coleman, Vin McCarthy, Fil Bonica, Brad Griffith, Tom Connelly, Paul Lewis, and Dave Driscoll.

REUNION

Class of 1968 The class with the largest Reunion gift

3,000+ miles

Headmaster’s LUNCHEON The Classes of 1945 through 1968 launched Saturday’s festivities with a luncheon hosted

by Headmaster Burke and his wife, Patty, on the Class of 2007 Terrace.

The furthest distance traveled to get to Reunion by four alumni coming from California, including Doug Arnot ’68 (Los Angeles); Bob Pierce ’68 (Belvedere); and Jack Berquist ’98 & Elliot Otto ’98 (Alameda).

Class of 2013 The class with the greatest number of attendees at Reunion and also the largest percentage of participation in the Alumni Fund.

14 Classes The number of Reunion classes celebrated, with five members of the Class of 1948 serving as the most distinguished alumni.

LEFT: Evelyn and Bill ’50 Maguire, Tom Green ’49 and Tom Hartnett ’48. n TOP RIGHT: Jim Allen ’50, Ron Rich '68 and Bing Crosby '55. n BOTTOM RIGHT: Terry ’62 and Susan Ladd and Bill Dowling ’62.

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REUNION 2018

Jim Grogan, Tom Green (‘49), Jack Boyle, Andy McAuliffe, Jim Pierotti (son of Eugene Pierotti), Bill Brine.

FRONT ROW: John McKinnon; BACK ROW: Owen Todd, John O’Leary.

Tim Ready, Bill McMullin, Tom Godino.

FRONT ROW: David Gately, Doug Shaw, Bill Ablondi, Alan Comeau, Vin Gandolfo, Greg Fulham, Jay McInerney; BACK ROW: Joe DeRoche, Joe White, Phil Coleman, Andrew Maloney, Fred Carnes, Richard Chipman, Bob Lawler.

FRONT ROW: Jim Giblin, Mark Murphy, Sengil Inkiala, Jay Mullen, Peter Arnold; BACK ROW: Steve Burke, Mike Reddish, Kevin McCarthy, Ned Callahan, John McAuliffe.

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Dan Gilbert, Al Cedrone, Tim Greeley, Jim Lynch.

REUNION 2018

FRONT ROW:Joe Cusack, Alec Orr, Lee Sardone, Scott Dumais, Mike Daoust, Ed O’Connor; BACK ROW: Tim Cronin, Tom McCormick, Mike Stanton, Chris Tosi, Ean Callanan, John DeSisto, Dan Daly.

Ryan McLean, Bobby Cintolo, Andy Bartlett, Joe Scardino.

FRONT ROW: Elliott Otto, Jack Berquist, Chad Pessini, Mike Flaherty, John Sheehan, Peter Malaspina; BACK ROW: Andrew Dell Orto, Tim Sullivan, Nick Soivillien, Gary Sullivan, Matt Ryan.

FRONT ROW: Rob Brooks, Christopher Homsy, Jared Prince, Dan Driscoll, Colin Packenham, Jordy Fine, Jimmy Elcock; BACK ROW: Zack Mykulak, Billy Elcock, Matt Chabot, Charlie Jacob, Brendan Murray, Tucker Donahoe, Steve Feeley, Sean Sullivan.

FRONT ROW: Conor McGuirk, Teddy O’Hara, Matt Digan, Kevin Patterson, Matt Donovan, Andrew Sullivan, Nikil Basavappa, Brendan Daly, Mike Kavolius; MIDDLE ROW: James O’Leary, Joey Guarino, Joseph Tamburello, Alex Calabro, Ike Okwerekwu, Conor Hilton, Luke Packenham, Mike Petro, Joe Coughlin; BACK ROW: Chris Riley, Conor Thomson, Ike Chukwu, John Real, Scott Kingsley, Thayer Wade, Ryan Schnoor, Conor Chabot, Matt Fachetti, Mike Haley, Michael Hoff, Chris Marano.

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Alumni Golf Outing

O

n Friday, May 18, nearly 100 Arrows alumni from the Classes of 1966 through 2008 gathered at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham, MA, for the 2nd annual Alumni Golf Outing. The teams teed off bright and early, playing a four-man scramble format, and then enjoyed lunch and prizes. The winning group from the Class of 1993 included Brian McCarthy, Scott Esselman and Eric Saulnier. A special thank you to Stephen Ward ’96,P’24 for sponsoring the event. It was a fantastic day on the course, with the game of golf serving as a great catalyst for bringing these Arrows together.

ARROWS GATHERINGS

Networking Breakfast

College Lunches During the month of April, the Alumni Office team of Chris Brinkhaus ’92 and Fred Daly ’70 hosted lunches with young alumni currently enrolled at three different colleges: Providence College, Holy Cross and Boston College. The Alumni Office met up with the Arrows an area restaurant, including The Abbey in Providence, the Flying Rhino in Worcester, and Cityside Café in Brighton.

On April 27, Charles Haley ’92 and Mike Maguire ’91,P’21 hosted the Spring 2018 Networking Breakfast at their Putnam Investments office in Boston.

A gathering of alumni and parents (past and present) were on hand to hear Headmaster Burke give an update on the state of the School and the Spirit & People Campaign.

Young Alumni Reception Duces Society On June 14, St. Sebastian’s alumni from several decades gathered on the Class of 2007 Terrace for the Duces Society Reception. The Duces Society is comprised of alumni who made leadership gifts to the Alumni Fund. As part of the evening, Greg Wishart, Director of Admissions, gave an overview of current admissions trends and Headmaster Burke gave an update on the state of the School and the Spirit & People Campaign.

Young alumni from the Classes of 2000 to 2014 gathered for a reception at City Tap in Boston’s Seaport district on June 20, 2018. The evening was filled with beer tasting, delicious appetizers and camaraderie. Alumni also had a chance to reconnect with some members of the faculty, including Dan Burke ’97, Andrew Conway ’06 and Jim Rest.

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CLASS NOTES WHAT’S

NEW? Keep your classmates up to date on your accomplishments, family members, travels, or anything else new in your life. Send us photos, too!

Submit class notes and photos online at:

stsebs.org/classnotes Deadline for next issue:

DECEMBER 1, 2018

Photos will be published based on quality

1955

Tom Cahill’s latest book, the autobiographical Critical Masses: Exposes of a Catholic Nuclear Physicist not only includes new information on his work on the World Trade Center and radioactive Levi 501’s from Chernobyl, but a full chapter on how St. Sebastian’s changed his life. (see photo)

1964

Dr. Jerry Delli Priscoli is being honored by China’s Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) with the Award for Contribution to International Cooperation. The award will be presented at IWHR’s Forum on Modern Water Governance and Technological Innovation, held on

October 18, 2018, in Beijiing to mark its 60th anniversary. Jerry writes: “I have been working with the Chinese and Ministers of water (who are next to the polit bureau) since 1983 in China. This is actually a remarkable honor for a non-Asian, non-Chinese, and a U.S. citizen—it comes from some of the highest authorities in China.” Jerry is a senior advisor at the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ Institute for Water Resources. He serves on the Board of Governors and the Bureau of the World Water Council, the Inter-American Water Resources Network and works with, and has helped found several other world associations such as the International Association for Public Participation, the World Water Council and the Global Water Partnership.

and available space. Please be sure to send the highest quality image possible and identify everyone in the photo.

’69

’55

LEFT: The front cover of Tom Cahill’s most recent book. RIGHT: Joe ’69 and Margo Tansey hosted a pre-50th Reunion party over July 4th week. Chris ’69 and Andi Galligan bookend the festive event with Linda and Tom ’69 Casey unsuccessfully escaping Florida summer weather in Kennebunkport.

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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

1975

Andrew Frisardi, a writer, translator, and independent scholar, has produced the first fully annotated English translation of Dante’s Convivio, and the first to include the parallel Italian text. Convivio: A Dual-Language Critical Edition, was recently published by Cambridge University Press. Andrew’s aim in editing and translating Convivio was to “make an edition that provides non-specialist Dante enthusiasts and students with all they need to explore this work of Dante’s middle period, which he composed circa 1304–7, between his youthful work the Vita nova and his masterpiece the Divine Comedy.” Andrew dedicated the book in memory of his mother, Marie Sally Frisardi Cleary—sister of Frank Sally whose sons Frank ’93 and Peter ’00 attended St. Sebastian’s.

1978

Tony Reddick writes: “My wife, Belinda, and I have been enjoying life as grandparents to our 20-monthold grandson, William E. Harden III. Our daughter, Lindsay, and her

husband, William, are awesome parents, and our son, Evan, and his wife, Carla, are newlyweds. I regret having missed my 40th class reunion, but I was awaiting the outcome of my application for School Superintendent in the Gadsden City School System. The results are in, and as of July 1, 2018, I am officially the new Superintendent for the Gadsden City School System. I am thrilled about the opportunity, and I plan to seek guidance from home.”

Tony adds, “Without a doubt, and for numerous reasons, St. Sebastian’s has been significant to every major development in my life. I have often drawn from both my educational and personal experiences when having to make an important decision, having been reminded of the bond that was developed with my teachers and classmates alike. St. Sebastian’s developed and molded me into the young boy that allowed me to become the man, the husband, the father, and the friend that I am today. Although I am hundreds of miles away, not a day goes by without thoughts of my alma mater for some reason or another. I am proud to be an Arrow forever.”

’78

ALUMNI

EVENTS

September 25 29

Reunion Kick-off Rally Homecoming

November 1 12

Alumni Reception

13 20

New York Reception

21

Class of 2018 Yearbook Reception

24

Alumni Sports Day

Washington, D.C. Reception Boston Business Breakfast

For more information, visit:

stsebs.org/alumnievents

REUNION

2019 MAY 17 & 18 If you are a member of a St.

’75 LEFT: The front cover of Andrew Frisadi’s book, Dante Convivio: A Dual-Language Critical Edition.

RIGHT: Tony Reddick ’78.

Sebastian’s class ending in

4 or 9,

mark your calendar

for Reunion weekend.

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CLASS NOTES

’04

Have you joined

ARROWS

CONNECT? Become a part of our amazing network of Arrows you can tap into anytime, from anywhere!

Joining our networking platform for the St. Sebastian’s community is easy; you can even log in with your LinkedIn or Facebook accounts.

’04

Expand your network Connect with classmates

’10

Advance your career Be a mentor Register today:

www.arrowsconnect.org 68 |

ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

TOP: Michael Hepburn ‘04 married Sonia Esparza in Cancun, Mexico, on April 21, 2018. Other Arrows in attendance were Matthew Hepburn, Geoff Mueller, Ryan Murphy, and Brian Egan. n MIDDLE: Arrows alumni gather with Mike ‘04 and Jenna Buckley at their wedding in May: (Front Row, left to right) Mike Tierney ‘05, Brian Egan ‘04, Matt Vicidomino ‘04, Jenna, Mike, Mike Hepburn ‘04, and Geoff Mueller ‘04. (Back Row left to right) Andrew Digan ‘04, Tom White ‘04, and Ryan Murphy ‘04. n BOTTOM: Justin Jones ’10 married Jessica Wilson on January 6, 2018, at the Neighborhood Club of Quincy in Boston, MA. From left: a friend of the couple, Quandel Johnson ’12, Kyle Everett ’10, Justin, Terrell Diggs ‘09, Jordan Perry ’11, and Dean Ebozue ’10.

CLASS NOTES

1990

Rev. Virgil Glenn reports: “While home visiting my parents for Father’s Day weekend, I ran into one of my classmates, Winshell Laguerre ’90, and we were able to recall old times and catch up on each others’ lives (see photo). We’re looking forward to our 30th class reunion in 2020! I am on track to complete studies towards my Doctor of Theology this Fall as I continue to be the pastor of Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, MO. I live in Overland Park, KS, with my wife, Rachel, and our two daughters.”

1992

Mark Daly writes: “My wife, Susie, and I are very excited to have our oldest son, Jack, attend St. Sebastian’s this fall as an 8th grader.

He will be the third generation to go to the school. It was fun reconnecting with some of the teachers and administration during the process.”

2004

Mike Buckley married Jenna Morin on May 27, 2018, in the Boston area (see photo). Mike is Legal Counsel at the Massachusetts Port Authority, and Jenna works in Systems Integration at athenahealth. The couple resides in Brighton, MA.

2010

Christopher Marino was recently appointed to be the Senate Ways and Means Budget Director for the Massachusetts Senate. In his new role, Christopher serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Senate Committee that consider all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth, helping to oversee a $40B state budget and is the Senior Fiscal Staff Member to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. As the Budget Director, he advises the Committee on appropriate funding levels, monitors

state revenues, and helps ensure the financial integrity and well-being of the State of Massachusetts.

2013

Dalton MacAfee was voted captain of the Army West Point hockey team for the 2018-19 season. He joins Mac Lalor ’09 in achieving this great accomplishment; Mac served as captain of the Army hockey team in 2014-15. During the 2017-18 season, Dalton was one of five Black Knights to skate in all 36 games. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was the secondhighest scorer amongst the team’s defensemen in each of his final three seasons at the school. Dalton also plays varsity lacrosse at Army.

’13

ABOVE: After Sunday Mass in Falmouth in early July, Bill and Patty Burke ran into four members of the Class of 2013 (Kevin Patterson, Mike Petro, Nikhil Basavappa, and Michael Haley)! n TOP RIGHT: Rev. Virgin Glenn ’90 and Winshell Laguerre ’90 enjoy a spontaneous reunion. n BOTTOM RIGHT: Richard Arms ’14 and his father, Rich Arms, Director of Alumni & Development at St. Sebastian’s, caught up with fellow Arrow Junior Laura ’17 during graduation weekend at Bowdoin College in May.

’90

’14

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IN MEMORIAM We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the graduates and friends of St. Sebastian’s School whose deaths are reported with sorrow.

Dr. Thomas W. “Tom” Cail ’54

Tom passed away on June 26, 2018.

While at St. Sebastian’s, he compiled quite the list of achievements in athletics as well as academics. Tom played hockey all throughout high school, as well as football his senior year. His goal upon graduating was to pursue a career in the dental profession, following in the path of his father. Tom graduated from Boston College and chose to defer graduate school in favor of serving his country as a Marine where he was an F-4 pilot. After his tour of duty, he returned to Boston where he attended Tufts Dental School to receive his Doctor of Medical Dentistry. He is survived by his son Thomas, daughter Elizabeth and five grandchildren. He was the brother of Allen ’56, Harold (Hal) ’61, and John ’72 and uncle of Allen ’80 and Richard ’83.

Marcello G. Gentile ’91

Marcello passed away suddenly on July 3, 2018. While at St. Sebastian’s, Marcello played for the varsity hockey and lacrosse teams. He was also a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating, he went on to Bowdoin College, where he broke several records on the hockey team that still stand today, and earned his MBA from Babson College.

Marcello leaves behind his companion, Jen Hixon, his two boys, Nicolas and Anthony and his ex-wife, Katherine Gentile. He also leaves behind his parents, Anthony and Elie Gentile, his sisters Tania and Maria and brother Anthony, along with several nieces and nephews.

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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

John Slattery ’48

John passed away on June 28, 2018.

While at St. Sebastian’s, he was a standout hockey player, skating for the Arrows along with his best friend and future brother-in-law, Jack Mulhern ’46. John attended Brown University, where he continued to shine on the ice, and then entered the Army, where he was stationed at Thule Air Base in Greenland during the Korean War. Upon being honorably discharged in 1957, he joined his brother and his father in the family business, Slattery Brothers, which for more than fifty years manufactured and sold leather to the major shoe and handbag companies in the US. In addition to hockey, John enjoyed skiing, tennis, and was a long time member of Woodland Golf Club in Newton, where he won multiple club champion titles. He and his wife, Joan, were also twotime husband and wife Mass State amateur golf champions.

John and Joan raised six children: John ’80, Peter ’83, Ellen, Nan, Julie and Lee. He is also survived by seven grandchildren. John was the uncle of Fred Carroll ’64 and Joseph Mulhern ’79.

Roger F. Vorce ’48

Roger passed away on April 30, 2018. While at St. Sebastian’s, he was always a good student and had a great school spirit. He also wrote for The Walrus and became editor his senior year. After graduating, he attended University of Notre Dame and served in the Navy. Roger then began his career at the MCA entertainment group as an agent. He went on to co-found the Agency for the Performing Arts where Liberace, Johnny Cash, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, and Ginger Rogers were among the actors and musicians that he represented.

Roger later assumed the role as president of APA and was named CEO of the company. He is survived by his sister.

IN MEMORIAM

Stephen J. Walsh ’84

Stephen passed away on May 2, 2018.

While at St. Sebastian’s, he made many positive contributions to his class and school. According to The Arrow yearbook, “he was a well-liked and respected student and always showed an enthusiasm for schoolwork and activities.” Stephen was a hard-working student and an avid member of the photography club. After graduating, Stephen attended Northeastern University to pursue a medical career. He was a late lifetime member of the Boston Sparks Association and Box 52. He is survived by his mother Patricia and sister Joanne.

Paul J. “Rocky” Whelan ’68

Paul passed away on May 26, 2018.

While at St. Sebastian’s, he followed in the footsteps of his brothers, Edmund ’64 and Richard ’67, and did his share to uphold the fine Whelan tradition; his superior study habits and athletic ability made him an excellent student.

He was always one of the most amiable members of his class. Paul played for the varsity baseball team throughout and was also an active member of the Altar Society. After graduating, he went on to Boston College and was known by many Cape Codders as a wellloved bartender. He is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Devon and stepsons Christopher and Matt. In addition to Edmund and Richard, he was the brother of Marnie, Mary, Kathleen, Peter, Andrew and the late Michael.

This listing contains deaths reported before July 13 , 2018. To see a complete listing of Alumni who have passed away within the past twelve months please go to www.stsebs.org/inmemoriam. To report a death of a St. Sebastian’s alumnus or relative to the Development Office, please contact Kelsey Kane at kelsey_kane@stsebs.org.

Stephen F. “Rabbit” Abbott ’65 Former Director of Admissions, Latin Teacher and Hockey Coach Stephen passed away on June 3, 2018. While at St. Sebastian’s, Steve was full of drive and enthusiasm and his persistent cheerfulness won him many lifelong friends who nicknamed him “the Rabbit.” Two of these friends were Tim Sullivan ’65, who would become his best friend, and Coach Henry Lane ’49. He had a real talent for hockey and was elected captain of the team. In their senior year, the 1st Arrow line of “The Rabbit,” Tim Sullivan and Bob Cronin ’65 was the highest scoring line in Massachusetts High School Hockey. Steve also played on the varsity baseball team and was a key contributor to the undefeated 1965 team. He was a perpetual member of the Honor Society and contributed to both The Walrus and The Arrow.

As Henry Lane says, “Arrow friendships run deep and the strongest of all of them was probably ‘The Rabbit’ and Tim Sullivan.” The two were linemates for eight years—four at St. Sebastian’s and four at Bowdoin College, anchoring Sid Watson’s hockey Polar Bear team. After college, Steve immediately re-entered the New England Prep School world as a teacher, coach and administrator at Canterbury School and South Kent School in Connecticut. In the 1980’s, he worked at St. Sebastian’s School as Director of Admissions, coached hockey and taught Latin. Steve went on to become the Director of the Annual Fund in his second tour at the Canterbury School, where he also coached.

“The Rabbit” stayed close to St. Sebastian’s and his Arrows classmates and friends. He served faithfully as a 1965 Class Agent and co-chaired the 50th Reunion Committee in 2015. The Reunion was a huge success. Over the years, he became a good friend to Headmaster Bill Burke.

At his Memorial Service in Portland, ME, which was attended by a large number of his St. Sebastian’s ’65 Classmates, Tim Sullivan gave a powerful eulogy which wonderfully defined the special blessing that is a St. Sebastian’s friendship.

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IN MEMORIAM

Francis X. Flannery P’77,’79,GP’06,’09 Former Trustee Frank passed away on May 5, 2018. He grew up in Brighton and attended St. Columbkille High School. He then attended Boston College, graduating in the Class of 1954 with a degree in Accounting.

A CPA, Frank started his career at Ernst & Ernst in Boston. In 1958, he married the love of his life, Mary Kelly.

They made their home in Brookline. After obtaining his MBA from Suffolk University in 1964, he started his tenure at Suffolk as assistant treasurer the day after he received his degree. He was named treasurer in 1970 and vice president in 1972 and was also a member of the Board of Trustees. He retired in 2011 after 47 years serving the University.

During Frank’s years at Suffolk, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree in 1991 and The Centennial Heritage Medallion in 2006. He loved serving the University and assisted many students in the pursuit of their education and degrees. His able leadership in matters of finance made possible the expansion of academic programs and the addition of academic buildings and residence halls.

Frank retired from Suffolk in 2011 and spent more of his time with his children and grandchildren who spent summers with him at his summer home on the beach in Marshfield. A deeply religious man, he attended Mass regularly at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury and was also past President of the Parish Council at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Brookline.

In addition to serving as an invaluable Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee at St. Sebastian’s School in the late 1970s, Frank was also a member of the Boston College Alumni Board of Directors and the Clover Club of Boston. He was the beloved father of Maryellen, Joan, Tom ’77 and Paul ’79 and grandfather to Brendan ‘06, Sean, Stephen ‘09, Patrick, Connor, Kelly, Katelyn, Ryan, MaryKate, Allison and Matthew.

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ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE

ALUMNI RELATIVES & FRIENDS John “Jack” Patrick Albertson October 3, 2017 Grandfather of Brendan ’15 and Ryan ’22 and father of faculty member, Sean Albertson Mildred Buckley June 28, 2018 Grandmother of Mike Buckley ‘04 Joan Flanagan April 27, 2018 Grandmother of John Farley ’19 Rita Hurley May 7, 2018 Mother of Thomas ’93 Daniel P. Kelleher May 29, 2018 Father of Christopher ’94 and Timothy ’99 Joseph E. Libbey July 12, 2017 Grandfather of John Petro ’17 and Michael Petro ’13, faculty member Betty McAuliffe May 1, 2018 Mother of Eugene ’67 and the late William ’68 Mary T. (Carroll) McCue January 29, 2018 Mother of Thomas ’73 and Stephen ’74 Ann C. Petro May 26, 2018 Grandmother of John Petro ’17 and Michael Petro ’13, faculty member James M. Sullivan June 22, 2018 Grandfather of John Donovan ’12