2018 Fall Tau

THE

aU

FALL 2018 A Magazine for Alumni, Parents & Friends of St. Francis High School

Thank You Fr. Mark David 36 Years of Dedicated Service

Story on pp. 6 & 7

2 Bocce and Golf Tournament 4-5 Thank You Fr. Mark David 6-7 Alumni News and Notes 8 9 Fine Arts Winter Sports Recap 10-11 Back to Baltimore 12 New Faculty/Staff 13 SFHS Hockey Program Part 1 14 President’s Letter

Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received...but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage. Saint Francis of Assisi

AU

We welcomed the class of 2022 to the ranks of the brotherhood which is St. Francis, a class of 127 young men this September with a total enrollment of 480. Work has already begun on the incoming class of 2023, St. Francis hosted our annual Open House on September 30th and October 1st. The families that toured St. Francis High School were excited about all we have to offer. Hopefully, many of the young men, who with their families toured our facility, will become part of the class of 2023. I am also excited to report that our student based fundraiser the Red Raider Raffle generated over $108,000 to benefit St. Francis. Thank you to all who purchased tickets and to our young men who rose to the occasion to support THEIR school.

Our Annual Report of gifts is included in this edition of the TAU. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of St. Francis. You, along with many benefactors help us to continue the mission of St. Francis and the dream of Fr. Justin Figas, the founder of St. Francis, to educate young men in the Franciscan tradition.

Fr. Mark David THE

What do you think of when you read the above quote from St. Francis of Assisi? For myself, I realize that each school year is a new beginning, and I renew for myself the purpose of why we do what we do: to help our young men to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Francis exists for one purpose: to help maintain the faith of our Church, which allows our young men to be nurtured in an atmosphere of Christian brotherhood. Certainly we reflect, refresh and examine who we are and where we are going as a school community, realizing this is an effort of the whole family, not one individual. We have been blessed with many talented staff and faculty who have embraced the Franciscan philosophy of education and have enhanced what we have become, a school guided by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage. We have been enriched because of our faithfulness and have reaped the benefits. We begin a new academic year grateful for our past successes, cognizant of our present, and looking forward for our future.

FALL 2018 A MAgAzine for AluMni, PArents & friends of st. frAncis HigH scHool

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv. who dedicated thirty-six years of faithful serve to his alma mater. Fr. Mark David graduated from St. Francis in 1973 and returned after his ordination to the priesthood as a Friar to St. Francis in 1982. This issue of the TAU is dedicated to Fr. Mark David and his many accomplishments. Fr. Mark David received a new assignment this past summer after the conclusion of our Provincial Chapter, as a parochial vicar in Columbus, Georgia. Please read the article in this issue of the TAU. May God continue to bless you for your generosity.

Pax et Bonum,

Thank You Fr. Mark David 36 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE

Story on pp. 6 & 7

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Fr. Michael Sajda, OFM Conv.

President

alumni happenings Reunion dates set for St. Francis classes of ’88, ’98, ’13 The Office of Alumni Relations at St. Francis High School would like to announce that reunion plans are in place for the following graduating classes:

1988

(30th): Friday, November 23, 2018 from 7-10 PM in the Mastrantoni Suite of the Gacioch Family Athletic Center. Please contact Paul Bartell at (716) 627-1200 ext.465 or bartellp@ stfrancishigh.org.

1998

(20th): Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 6-10 PM at Hoak’s Restaurant.

Please contact Mike Regan at (716) 359-5995 or michaelregan01@yahoo.com.

2013

(5th): Wednesday, November 21, 2018 from 7-10 PM at Hoak’s Restaurant.

Please contact the SFHS Alumni Office at (716) 6271200 or alumni@stfrancishigh.org for more info.

Details can be found here: www.stfrancishigh.org/page/ alumni/upcoming-events.

Community Service Opportunity Planned for SFHS Alumni St. Francis High School alumni are invited to join members of the SFHS Alumni Association Board for a day of giving back to Western New York at the Food Bank of WNY on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 9 am -12 noon. Please contact Tom Fuchs ’81 at tfuchs@ niagaranational.com if you are interested in participating. There is a questionnaire from the Food Bank of WNY you can find here https://www.foodbankwny.org/ volunteer/ that must be completed prior to volunteering.

St. Francis Tau | Vol. 10 No. 1 Published three times a year by the St. Francis High School Office for Institutional Advancement

4129 Lake Shore Road | Hamburg, NY 14075 | 716-627-1200 | www.stfrancishigh.org Sue Schaffstall Editor VP of Communications & Marketing Paul Bartell’88 VP of Development & Alumni Relations Alumni News and Notes

Photography Yearbook Staff Toni Lambert Lifetouch Photography Jason Cretacci

Contributors Jenny Attea Marc Fattey, ‘99 Lou Billittier ’77 Joe Dotterweich ’76 Henry Grzes ’74 and Judi Griggs

Proofreading Pat Kaczmarczyk Katie Fattey

Annual Report Kate Taggart Paul Bartell Marc Fattey

We welcome your comments... schaffstalls@stfrancishigh.org

The TAU | 3

Alumni Bocce Tournament Draws Record Crowd

2018 SFHS Al Golf Tourney On Thursday, July 12th the 34th Annual St. Francis High School Alumni Association Charity Golf Tournament took place under sunny skies at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia, NY. Alumni, faculty, parents, alumni parents and friends of St. Francis came together to raise over $40,000 for scholarships established by the Association for current and future students.

On Saturday, June 9th a record 24 teams came out to enjoy the sun and fellowship on the shores of Lake Erie at the St. Francis High School Alumni Association’s 12th Annual Bocce Ball Tournament. At the end of the day it was team “2 and Out” (Mark Renkas ’96, Jamie Jayes ’97, Chris Sortisio ’96 and Matt Ferro ’96) that came away with the championship by defeating the defending upstarts “Jake Went To Frontier” in the finals.

Thanks to Event Chair Jack Jensen ’73 for his efforts and fellow Alumni Board Directors Ken Sovinski ’82 and Joe Golba ’49 for their expertise on the grill.

Also, a very special thank you to the Cichocki Family and Camellia Foods for providing the food for the event.

Class of 2018 St. Francis Athletic Hall of Fame Four new members were inducted into the Fr. Rufinas Athletic Hall of Fame during the annual Sports Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Pictured from left to right. Steve Otremba ’90 - Athletic Director, Doug Worthington ’05, Andy Lanigan ’02, Kevin Hoak ’99 and Fr. Michael, President. +Jason Jablonski ’13 was posthumously inducted.

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With an impressive score of 20 under, the foursome of John Russo ’06, Jason Surdyke ’04, Greg Delecki ’04 and Jordan Pitlack were this year’s tournament winners. Pat Howard ’82, Bryan Shaw ’00 and Nate Cichocki ’12 were the sharpshooters of the Closest To The Pin Contests while big hitters Greg Delecki ’04, David Koch ’06 and Nick Suchyna ’03 won the Longest Drive Contests.

Thanks to all participants, sponsors and the Alumni Board of Directors for making this

Alumni Roundup tournament so successful. Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Tournament Sponsors ($2500)

In Memoriam Please remember in your prayers the following members of the St. Francis High School Family who have recently passed away. +Thomas Frys ’63 +Bernard Kasprzak ’48 +Kevin McLaughlin ’12 +Maurice Schenck ’55 +Walter Stariker ’64 FAMILY AND FRIENDS +Robert P. Childs Sr. Father of staff member Nancy Smolinski and Grandfather of Jacob Smolinski ’13 +Robert P. Baker Grandfather of Christopher ’04 and Daniel ’06 Schalk

Corporate Sponsors ($1500) Excelsior Orthopaedics, LLP Franciscan Friars of St. Francis High School Gateway Printing & Graphics Inc. RP Oak Hill Building Company, Inc. Sgroi Financial Superior Auto Sales

Golf Cart Sponsor ($750) Judge Daniel P. Grasso ’84 Parkview Health Services

Beverage Cart Sponsors ($500) ACV Auctions Apex Agricultural Productions Extension, Inc. DEMCO Dennis Gaughan Attorneys Elderwood at Hamburg Lakeside Memorial Funeral Homes National Property Management Assoc.

Scheid Architectural Schneider Architectural Services P.C. Simoncelli Electric

+Rosemary (Dwyer) Davis Grandmother of Liam ’18 and Harrison ’20 Davis +Rosemary Edwards Grandmother of Liam Edwards ’22 and mother of Dennis ’89, William ’97 and Anthony ’99 Edwards +Richard Ferrino Father of Nicholas Ferrino ’15 +Helen Hennessy Mother of Brian ’73, Dan ’78, Paul ’71 Hennessy and Grandmother of Tom ’89 and Brendan ’99 Orrange, Bill Pippine ’91, Neal ’08 and Lee ’13 Kerwin +Joseph Kloc Grandfather of David Kulczyk ’12* +Robert Moesch Father of Robert Moesch ’06 +Jonathan Connor Oliver Brother of Hunter Oliver ’20 +John J. Palisano Grandfather of Joseph Palisano ’20 +Jack Peterson Grandfather of Ryan Peterson ’21 +Dorothy Rice Grandmother of Joseph Jerge ’21 +Charles Schaffstall Father of VP of Communications Sue Schaffstall and Grandfather of Zak ’09 and Alex ’12 Schaffstall +James W. Smith Father of Peter’96 and Nicholas ’01 Smith *Correction from the Spring 2018 edition of The Tau

The TAU | 5

By Sue Schaffstall It was September of 1967 when John Skura of Eden, NY was a wide eyed freshman entering St. Francis High School. Who knew that some 50 years later he would have made such an impact on the school and the lives of so many young men who have passed through these halls? Generations of young men have benefitted from his instruction, dedication, direction and friendship.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have tried to write this article, and where to start. How can I do justice to a man who spent 36 years of his life deeply rooted in the soil that is St. Francis High School?

Needing help, I sat down with David Nease, former longtime faculty member and Director of the Fine Arts Department, and more importantly a close personal friend of Fr. Mark David. (My request to sit down and talk with FMD himself was met with a resounding NO! I was not at all surprised at this response.)

6 | FALL 2018

David Nease joined the faculty in the 1970-1971 school year when “John”, Fr. Mark David was a senior. Nease describes Fr. Mark as having been a bright student, he was in honors classes and played the romantic lead in “My Fair Lady.” According to Nease he was quiet and unassuming.

Following his graduation in 1971, like many St. Francis graduates of his time, he went off to become a Friar. He entered the Franciscan Friars Conventual, professing his solemn vows in 1975. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Massachusetts and Master of Divinity from St. Anthonyon-Hudson in Albany, New York.

Ordained a priest in 1982, he returned to his alma mater and this is where the story continues.

We’ve probably all heard that we are not irreplaceable, and while true in this case as well, what it really comes down to is how many people will it take to do all of the jobs Fr. Mark David has done at St. Francis High School? Over the last 36 years, he has taught Religious Studies, English and Computer Science. As Director of the Fine Arts Department, Fr. Mark David has also directed 64 plays and musicals for St. Francis and performed in or directed numerous community theatre productions.

When he returned to St. Francis in the 1982-1983 school year he was prefect in the dorms for a few years.

The dorms closed in 1988, but the new Alumni Hall 800 seat theater was

completed in 1988 and that was his baby. He directed every St. Francis play and musical since the theater opened.

According to Nease, “The arts build relationships and there are a lot of emotions associated with doing a play, many of his best friends are his former students that he directed and then later worked with.” “Mark David is 100 percent dedicated to everything he does,” said Nease. “And he will do it himself, he didn’t want anyone to help.

When he did a play he did everything.

He was the producer and director. He designed and printed the programs. He was stubbornly persistent.”

Dedicated and fiercely loyal to his alma mater he has made more than his mark on this institution over the past 36 years. He would take on projects that most likely nobody else would have wanted. SchoolMaster is our student record keeping, grading and scheduling system. Fr. Mark David did all the scheduling for the 500+ students each and every year. This was no easy task when you take into consideration that for years we had a seven day cycle with a drop day and 9 periods, fast forward to a 5 day cycle with 10 periods, he did it, figured it out and made it all work.

He also said Mass every day for the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph at the mother house and heard their confessions. In 1983 he was Alumni Director. He programmed and managed the outdoor digital signs on campus. He designed the cover and fine arts pages for the Tau for a number of years. He established the Fine Arts Hall of Fame. An avid gardener, he tended and nurtured the flower beds and pots on campus as well as the pond. I’m sure there’s more that I’m not aware of, but you get the gist.

Those are some pretty big sandals to fill!

Many of you may be asking, why the transfer? Why after 36 years of dedicated service? That is the burning question that we may never have an answer to, except that when you take a vow of obedience and your boss says go, you go.

What do you say to a man who has dedicated his life and spent his entire career at St. Francis High School?

THANK YOU, YOU WILL BE MISSED! Fr. Mark David’s new assignment is Associate Pastor, St. Anne Catholic Church, Columbus, GA.

The TAU | 7

alumni news and notes...

1950s

2000s

Joseph J. Macielag ’52 was inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame on September 1, 2018.

Over the years Joe and his band, the PicA-Polka Orchestra, accompanied many of the finest vocalists including Marisha Data and also achieved considerable success in their own right. He began his passion for music as a freshman at St. Francis High School where he took music lessons arranged by Fr. Adolph Szelegowski on a borrowed clarinet. Within ten years, not only did Joe have his own band, he became a champion of eastern style polka music as an arranger, promoter and cofounder of Pic-A-Polka…a weekly show on WGR-TV (Channel 2) which lasted for four years. Outside of the world of polka, Joe is retired from Praxair Inc. and the five-term, President of the WNY Division of the Polish American Congress, a columnist for the Am-Pol Eagle and active in many organizations including the Chopin Singing Society, Knights of Columbus, Buffalo Audubon Society, Polish Arts Club and the Niagara Frontier Folk Arts Council.

Patrick O’Malley ’02 is an engineering professor at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. He and some of his students were recently featured in an article for their work with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that builds bunk beds and delivers them to households where children may not have their own room and/or bed.

1960s James DeLauro, Ph.D. ’68 lives and works in the San Diego, CA area where he owns his own company (DeLauro and Associates) that specializes in fundraising.

1970s Jake Schneider ’73 continues to be a leader in the development and redevelopment of the greater Buffalo area through his company the Schneider Family of Services that includes real estate, construction and development divisions. Most recently, the company has undertaken the rehabilitation /redevelopment of Shea’s Seneca in South Buffalo and completed its first third-party development project, Cathedral Commons-the Apartments at St. Paul’s.

For more information on other exciting projects, please visit their web site at http://www.schneiderservices.com.

1990s Dan Flood ’92 is the VP of Sales, Americas Global Accounts at Dell EMC in Minneapolis, MN. Jesse Buxton ’95 has been named the Director of Workforce Development at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.

8 | FALL 2018

Michael Ehlers Jr. ’06 graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Daeman College in Amherst, NY on May 19, 2018. He previously graduated from the University of Buffalo in 2011 with a BA in Psychology.

Steve Ambrose ’08 is the CEO at Yum Media and founder of the Buffalo Dinner Club, a VIP dining experience for those living in Western New York. For more information please visit https://buffalodinnerclub.com.

Trevor Dugan ’09 was sworn in as a member of the Buffalo Fire Department on June 20, 2018. He also received his certificate from the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications which recognizes he is qualified in accordance with standards established by the National Fire Protection Association and the New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Trevor is also a 2013 Buffalo State College graduate.

2010s Aaron Hayes ’14 graduated with a BS in Biology from SUNY Fredonia in May 2018. He also played 4 years on the Blue Devils Soccer team.

Konstantin Rudnikov ‘18 was Naturalized in a ceremony on October 4, 2018, at the Federal Court Building in Buffalo. Konstantin, who is a native of Russia, attended SFHS as a resident student for four years. He has not only embraced the brotherhood, but our country as well. He is currently studying aerospace engineering at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and plans on enlisting in the US Air Force. Mrs. Lambert was honored to attend the ceremony and share this special occasion with him.

celebrating the Fine Arts at fine arts page St. Francis High School Is He Dead?

by Mark Twain adapted by David Ives

Saturday, November 10th at 7:00 pm Sunday, November 11th at 2:00 pm

Newsies

The Broadway Musical

Friday, March 15th at 7:00 pm alumni reception at 6:00

Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 pm Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 pm

The Christmas Programs Vocal Concert

Thursday, December 13th at 7:00 pm Alumni Hall Theatre Chorus Classes, Men’s Choir, and Senior Schola

Instrumental Concert

Tuesday, December 18th at 7:00 pm Alumni Hall Theatre Concert Band, Jazz Messengers, and K-OS

The Spring Concerts

Instrumental Concert Tuesday, April 9th at 7:00 pm

Alumni Hall Theatre Concert Band, Jazz Messengers, K-OS

Vocal Concert

Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 pm Alumni Hall Theatre Chorus Classes, Men’s Choir, and Senior Schola

The 47th Annual Fine Art Awards Banquet Sunday, May 19th at 5:00 pm

Salvatores Italian Gardens Restaurant

The TAU | 9

spring Sports Recap Photography by Toni Lambert and Jason Cretacci

VARSITY BASEBALL

Georgetown Cup Champions 17-6 Overall Record 10-4 League Record 1st Team All-Catholic Cole O’Connor • MMHSAA Offensive Player of the Year • 1st Team All-WNY • 2nd Team All New York State Gavin Krawiec • 2nd Team All-WNY Andrew Michalski • 2nd Team All-WNY • 5th Team All New York State Jack Haxton Michael Hartman 2nd Team All-Catholic Hitch Edwards Ben Heilig

VARSITY LACROSSE 1st Team All Catholic Jack Kernitz 2nd Team All Catholic Lucas Bell

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VARSITY TRACK & FIELD MMHSAA League Champions and All Catholic Champions 7-0 League Record All Catholic Bo Sireika Ben Pinkowski • High Jump, Long Jump, 400M • Triple Jump • School Record: High Jump

VARSITY TENNIS MMHSAA League Co-Champions

The TAU | 11

Back to Baltimore

By Sue Schaffstall

What would Br. Nick like us Br. Nick Romeo, our beloved to remember most about him?

Campus Minister since 2009, “My sarcastic dry wit?” “I hope was transferred back to his Alma the boys know that I care and Mater, Archbishop Curly High that I was invested.” He goes School in Baltimore, Maryland. on to say, “the humbling thing A 2004 graduate of Curly, Br. is that in three years I will Nick says his return is bitter be forgotten when there is a sweet. “I am not surprised new group of kids that I never about the move, I’ve been here knew.” “The funny thing is for 9 years.” He will assume that I requested to go to Curly the duties of Campus Minister when I first started teaching, it Br. Nick, 2009 Br. Nick, 2018 at his new post and will serve was a great place to be formed What will he miss the most besides as Guardian of the Friary. “It will be and learn, and I didn’t really want to good chicken wings? “The people I’ve interesting to see how things have come here, but that’s worked out okay. met over the past nine years and their changed since I was a student, there I promised the class of 2019 that I families.

I’ve seen these guys grow up are only three teachers that I had as a would come back for their graduation, and with some I’ve become lifelong student still there.” He added that he so I guess we’ll see you in May.” friends.”

Br. Nick also said he will miss was not a very good student in high We wish Br. Nick well as he returns the view of the lake, and Wegmans. The school and that he’s intrigued to see to Baltimore to continue his ministry walk across the icy parking lot in the things work from “the other side”. and assure him that he will not soon winter is definitely something he won’t What has changed for Br. Nick since be forgotten, although some of us will miss. And while he will miss “the city he came to St. Francis? “I look older, not miss some of his snarky remarks of good neighbors” and the friendliness I was only 22 and now I’m 31. I know that were always said in jest. Right? of Buffalo, Baltimore he says, offers I’ve matured and with maturity comes God speed Br. Nick, come back and more opportunity to interact with friars wisdom. I’ve definitely mellowed out visit us soon! and to do more things. over the years.” He goes on to say that in his first couple of years he was frustrated because he “had an idealized sense of who the boys would be, today I am more accepting of their messiness.”

The re-vitalization of Campus Ministry is what he’s most proud of during his time at St. Francis. “It’s working well and has more of a presence in the school and the community.” Br. Nick also said he is pleased with how the service component of Campus Ministry has grown. “I like the idea of mind, body and spirit and we do that well”.

Additionally during his time here three students have joined the Catholic Church under his guidance.

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New faculty/staff

Fr. Max Avila Spanish

Pat Kaczmarczyk Administrative Assistant IA (Yes, she’s back part-time after a brief retirement)

Friar Matt Foley

Br. Daniel Geary

Campus Minister

Religion

Richard Luczak’14

Georgette Rautenstrauch

Social Studies

Administrative Assistant Main Office

The TAU | 13

St. Francis High School Hockey Program part one This is part one of a two part series on the St. Francis High School hockey program. Part one focuses on the founding of the program while part two will cover its evolution, starting with the first official season (1973-1974)

The beginning

The founding fathers

With the founding of the Buffalo Sabres in 1970, all of Western New York was in the throes of hockey fever. Lou Billittier Jr.’77 and Joe Dotterweich ’76 caught the bug and brought their passion for the game with them to St. Francis High School. Both became avid Sabres fans and these self-described “pond hockey scramblers” approached administration about establishing a school team for the 1973 season as they and many other St. Francis students had expressed an interest in hockey. The duo must have been persuasive, as administration reluctantly agreed-on the condition the team find an unpaid coach and funding for equipment and ice time. Luckily for the boys (and St. Francis High School), they did not have to look far for support.

After getting the green light, the young men’s fathers, +Lou Billittier Sr. and +Gus Dotterweich, quickly threw their support behind their sons and the program and made St. Francis High School hockey a reality. Gus, who worked long days at the Donner Hanna Coke plant, never played the game but developed a love for it by watching Hockey Night In Canada on a grainy black and white Toronto broadcast. He learned about hockey on the fly and what he lacked in experience, he made up for in competitiveness and organization. His son Joe recalled, “Whether it was playing with the neighborhood kids when I was young or 25 cent golf skins later on, the man did not enjoy losing. He made sure we were respectful of our opponents and taught us to never quit and always put your best effort forward.”

1974 J.V. Hockey Team Bottom row: L. Billitier, M. Chadderdon, M. Badaszewski, A. Bucki, M. Dotterweich, J. Dotterweich, B. Williams. Top row: Mr. Danney, Mr. Billitier, B. Bancroft, T. Hearn, J. Pinto, J. Gould, M. Lavelle, B. Bunte, M. Williams, G. Prenatt, Mr. Dotterweich.

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Lou Sr., who founded the famous Chef’s Restaurant on Seneca Street in downtown Buffalo, really didn’t know much about hockey until his son started delivering meatball sandwiches to their new neighbors on game nights. “We’d deliver the sandwiches and then stand on the ice in the Zamboni tunnel and watch the Sabres games. By the second period, your feet would be so cold they would hurt. Finally my father decided he had enough and bought our seats,” said Lou Jr. Additionally, Lou Jr. served as a stick boy after initially being pressed into service in a pinch. Thus began the long-standing relationship between the Sabres and the Billittier family that continues to this day. Thankfully, back in 1973, Lou Sr. was able to convince his friends at the Sabres to help him cover the ice time and equipment costs of the fledgling St. Francis hockey team.

Honoring the founders’ legacy Forty-five years later, the contributions of Lou Billittier Sr. and Gus Dotterweich are evident. Their efforts not only led to St. Francis High School formally recognizing hockey as an interscholastic sport for the 1973-1974 school year, but also laid the foundation for a highly regarded hockey program that now boasts over a 100 players on five different teams. Reflecting on their fathers’ legacy, Joe and Lou Jr. are quick to express gratitude for both their fathers’ support of the hockey program and their parents providing them with a St. Francis education. They see their personal successes as a combination of the lessons learned at home, on the rink and at school. “My years at St Francis were the best and most important years of my life hands down. I made my best friends there that I still have today,” Billittier Jr. explained. “Being a ‘St. Francis Gentleman’ stuck with me to this day - to act proper, be respectful, have integrity and be compassionate to others,” Dotterweich concurred. “St. Francis also taught discipline and accountability.”

To that end, the high school teammates have established a scholarship to memorialize and honor their fathers’ contributions and help other young men attend St. Francis High School. Starting in 2019, The Lou Billittier Sr. and Gus Dotterweich Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving member of the incoming freshman class. In the words of Lou Jr., “My Dad always said that if you have a loaf of bread, always share half with someone who needs it.”

Special thanks to Lou Billittier ’77, Joe Dotterweich ’76, Henry Grzes ’74 and Judi Griggs for their efforts in support of this article.

The TAU | 15

4129 Lake Shore Road • Hamburg, NY 14075-0185 www.stfrancishigh.org

Upcoming Alumni Events

Alumni News & Notes

Family Day Saturday, January 12, 2019 12 - 4 PM

Please forward any Alumni News to: Paul Bartell ’88 St. Francis High School 4129 Lake Shore Rd. Hamburg, NY 14075

Gift Gathering Party in support of Justinian Dinner Auction Saturday, February 2, 2019 • 6-9 PM Day of Community Service Saturday, February 23, 2019 9 AM -12 noon Memorial Mass Sunday, March 10, 2019 • 10 AM Spring Musical Reception Friday, March 15, 2019 • 6 PM

or email Paul Bartell at: bartellp@stfrancishigh.org

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