KIT IN MEMORIAM
MARY & GABE DESHARNAIS Mary and Gabriel DesHarnais taught at The Roeper School for almost 20 years. Mary came to Roeper in 1976, and was a Stage IV teacher nearly 20 years. She was the Stage IV specialist in language arts, social studies (sending students on many “trips” in the encyclopedia) and for social justice, breaking down walls between Roeper and the outside world. Gabe taught Latin and some Philosophy in the Upper School from 1990. He was known by his students as an engaging and circuitous speaker, touching many ideas en route to his final destination. Mary and Gabe’s careers did not begin and end at Roeper. Since the early 1960s both were members of Catholic religious orders, involved in theology and educational work in Southeast Michigan. In the late 1960s they met and decided their future was outside Catholic religious structure. They married and were involved in a number of peace and justice issues in Michigan, including SANE/ FREEZE — Peace Action, Focus Hope, and SOSAD. On their retirement from Roeper in 1995, Lower School Director Lorene Porter called Mary D “the conscience of the school,” and “Mary and Gabe are the people we should be.” They relocated to Durham, North Carolina, and continued their work in both education and social justice. Together they worked with a prison ministry — the Orange Congregations In Mission, St. Matthew's Interfaith Support Team, and an AIDS care support group. Gabe was ordained as an Episcopal priest and worked as a chaplain for Food for The Poor and the Durham VA Hospital until he passed away on August 17, 2014. Mary continued to work in classrooms in poorer areas of Durham until a few months before she died on October 3, 2016. Gabe and Mary are survived by their sons — both Roeper alums — Denis ’87 and Armand ’89. Mike Ruddy, October 28, 2016
Jeffrey Michael Stefani Class of 1991 Jeff passed away unexpectedly September 14, 2016. He was a person of courage and determination which allowed him to accomplish some very significant things. He climbed and summited Mt. Denali as a young adult, kayaked the ocean in Patagonia, was a well-respected paramedic, joined the Missoula Montana Mountain Rescue, was an avid student of Buddhism, a member of the Western Buddhist Order achieving Dharmamitr status, and he founded his own business, Optimized Digital Marketing, PLLC. Jeff will be missed by his immediate and extended family as well as his Roeper family and friends.
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