Xavier Magazine: Spring 2022

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS OF XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL

SPRING 2022

XAVIER SWEEPS REGIS

After losing the 2020-21 basketball season to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knights returned to the court and swept uptown rival Regis High School during the annual XavierRegis tripleheader in January. Troy House P’25 captured this photo of forward Padraig Long ’24 ending the JV game with a dunk.

contents Spring 2022

In This Issue 2.

From the President

3.

News from 16th Street

10. Xavier at 175 16. What the Church Teaches 20. Journeys of Faith 24. In the Footsteps of Francis Xavier An American Legion medal earned by Robert Loffredo ’67 during his time on 16th Street

28. Class Notes 52. Back Story

Xavier’s Mission Founded in 1847, Xavier High School is an academically rigorous, Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school in New York City that educates intelligent, motivated young men of diverse backgrounds and means. Xavier teaches students to take responsibility for their lives, to lead with integrity, to act justly in service of others, to pursue excellence in every endeavor and to deepen their relationship with God. Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.

On the Cover Students walk down 16th Street after dismissal in April.

SPRING 2022

Xavier High School Jack Raslowsky P’16 President Kim Smith Headmaster Shawna Gallagher Vega, APR Director of Communications Editor, Xavier Magazine Contributors Jeanette Alvarez Nick Barone ’16 Ralph Dinielli

Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02 Shane Lavin ’03 Joseph Parkes, S.J. Eddie Young ’22 Photography Troy House P’25 Minh Le, S.J. Michael Marmora Bryon Maldonado Julius Schlosburg Mark Wyville Design Erbach Communications Group

How to Reach Us Xavier Magazine Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011 Email: news@xavierhs.org Class Notes: classnotes@xavierhs.org

MIX Paper from responsible sources

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Dear Parents, Friends and Sons of Xavier:

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Ultimately, our work, the work of Xavier, is to be an Easter people. It is not a call to only be good individuals, but a call to be in community, connected to the common good, anchored in faith and rooted in mission.

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I am delighted to be writing you during the great season of Easter. Easter presents a great challenge to Christians, and by extension, to all people of faith and goodwill. While Advent and Lent invite us into preparation and the Triduum into accompaniment, Jesus is doing the hard work being born, engaging in public ministry, suffering, dying and rising. In the Easter season, it is time for us to do some work. The work of building community; the work of being church. To be an Easter people, people living in the love of God and the joy of the resurrection, is on us. It goes to who we are and how we are. We are certainly not on our own. Christ is with us. God sends God’s spirit, but this work cannot be done without us.

Ultimately, our work, the work of Xavier, is to be an Easter people. It is not a call to only be good individuals, but a call to be in community, connected to the common good, anchored in faith and rooted in mission. The Easter readings from Acts remind us again and again how to be church and how to build community. We are invited each day to be a “community of believers of one heart and mind, and with great power to bear witness to the resurrection.” This is certainly no easy task. It’s not easy today, and it was not easy over 2,000 years ago when Christ was crucified and rose again. We do this work of being church by teaching and learning, worship and prayer, fellowship and community.

This is what it means to be church. This is what it means to be an Easter people.

This magazine is a glimpse of us being church. It is important, accurate and true, yet incomplete. It covers a lot of ground from Asia to 16th Street; from current students to our oldest alums; from the impact of our alumni building the church in the Philippines to three young alumni living their own vocations as Jesuits; from students supporting Ukraine to stories from Xavier’s Sons near and far.

Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02 offers us a nice primer

on Catholic social teaching. This teaching is essential to who we are as church, and we look forward to exploring other foundations of our faith in future issues. Joseph Parkes, S.J. illustrates the history of the Xavier Jesuits who served in the Philippines, building the province and rebuilding the country after the devastation of World War II. I am grateful to him for researching and writing about such a distinctive part of Xavier’s history.

As we journey through our 175th anniversary year, we hope the anniversary is an ongoing invitation to each of us to make community real, to be church. Our 175th Anniversary Conversation and Lecture Series presents opportunities for students, alumni and parents to engage in teaching and learning. Our conversations with Dermot Shea ’86, Jim Martin, S.J., Greg Boyle, S.J., William Barr, and Dr. Jim Morgan ’82 P’12 have all invited us to see things in new ways, clarify our thinking and beliefs, and ask questions about how we live our faith. Opportunities for fellowship abound through our New York Tour, our summer receptions and our pilgrimage opportunities in partnership with America Media. The fall will bring great opportunities for celebration as well with the opening of our 175th anniversary exhibition on September 8 and our Mass and gala on December 3. I look forward to building and being church with all of you in the days ahead.

An old friend, Fr. Tom Smith, S.J., served for many years in Micronesia and on the provincial staff here in New York. Tom would sign off, “Keep the faith, and the joy that goes with it.” As we journey through our anniversary year, these are wise words to follow.

Keep the faith, and the joy that goes with it.

Sincerely, Jack Raslowsky President

News from 16th Street

The Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala returned to Gotham Hall on April 8, raising over $450,000 for student scholarships. More than 450 people turned out for the first in-person gala since 2019, where student speaker Bertin Borgella ’22 rallied the crowd to give generously—and to help keep Xavier accessible and affordable for the next 175 years. “God placed Xavier in my path. This school has shaped and nurtured me over the last four years,” he said. “[My] scholarship allowed me to be a part of this wonderful community and with your continued support, future Sons of Xavier will be able to write their own stories.”

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Standing With When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, targeting civilians and creating the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, members of the Xavier community instinctively sought ways to respond. “Here on 16th Street, we’re called to help however we can,” CJ Marlin ’23 said in a video shared on Xavier’s Instagram page on March 9. A dress down day held two days later raised $3,000 for the Jesuit Refugee Service, which continues to mobilize resources in Ukraine and provide assistance to refugees in neighboring countries. A prayer service for peace in Ukraine and a Rosary for peace on the Feast of the Annunciation (part of a global effort led by Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary) served as bookends to March.

That same month, more than 90 students, faculty, and staff members participated in the global #ArtforPeaceinUkraine project initiated by Pechersk School International in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. After guidance counselor Jordan Temkin discovered the project, he shared it with art teacher Denise Iacovone, who encouraged her students and colleagues to support the Ukrainian people creatively. All submissions, including the ones shown here, were uploaded anonymously and geotagged to 30 West 16th Street at padlet.com/PSIKyiv/ArtForPeaceInUkraine.

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Ukraine

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LAST FALL, students contributed their artistic gifts to the Memory Project, a nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and students to create portraits for young people facing substantial challenges around the world. Using photos as references, Xavier students created portraits for children in Cameroon.

Damian Montaleza ’23 crafted the image shown here.

“I left Cross with a great education, a strong faith in God, and lifelong friends. Most importantly, though, I left knowing that I was cared for. That was the greatest gift I received.”

He relishes the chance to return and give the gifts he received to the next generation of Holy Cross students.

“It’s like that scene in Dead Poets Society when Professor Keating quotes Walt Whitman: ‘That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse...what will your verse be?’ I guess I feel I have a verse to write,” he said.

Mongelluzzo is excited to start a new chapter while staying connected to Xavier—particularly through his

Mark Mongelluzzo Named President of Holy Cross High School After nearly 14 years at Xavier, Vice

Given his engaging personality and

son, Christopher Mongelluzzo ’25.

“At the risk of embarrassing him, he has had a wonderful freshman year, over the years, which served as the

played soccer and tennis, ran track,

President for Advancement Mark

volunteer work for Yale University, his

catalyst for his journey to become

made a host of friends, and done well

Mongelluzzo P’25 was named

college alma mater, his sister-in-law,

president of Holy Cross High School.

academically,” he said. “He has adjusted

president of his alma mater, Flushing’s

Kathy, suggested he look into alumni

“It was Jack who helped me

to life on 16th Street quite well and

Holy Cross High School, in February.

relations and development. Myriad

think and prepare for this journey,”

he will now have the opportunity to

He began his Xavier journey in

courses at Molloy College pointed

Mongelluzzo said. “From the Seminars

write his own Xavier story—without

October 2008, as a global financial

him in the direction of fundraising.

in Ignatian Leadership with the Jesuit

his old man around to get in the way.”

crisis and recession took hold; he

In August 2008, he interviewed

Schools Network to other professional

Mongelluzzo and his wife, Jill, plan

ends it as we exit a pandemic and

with former Vice President for

development opportunities and

to be familiar faces at Xavier events,

witness war in Europe. Along the

Advancement Joe Gorski and the

exposure beyond advancement to the

though, and they are especially looking

way, Xavier endured Superstorm

rest of the advancement team. He

enrollment and admissions process,

forward to the 175th Anniversary

Sandy and navigated political strife.

arrived on 16th Street that October.

strategic planning, management of

Gala on December 3 and next year’s

a capital project (the Sons of Xavier

Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala.

“We weathered it all,” Mongelluzzo

“I have stayed here at Xavier for

reflected. “It is never an easy environment to raise money. It is never easy to raise money, period.

Full stop. But living through these times reassures you that the world

“ I owe to Xavier as much as I owe to Holy Cross or any other institution that educated me formally.”

needs more Sons of Xavier out there asking the tough questions and

nearly 14 years because I have come

Center), among other things, not to

doing the tough jobs—living lives of

to love the people and the mission,” he

mention his personal mentorship over

consequence. So everything we do

said. “I can’t wait to get to work every

the years—all of that combined to

on 16th Street, in every classroom, in

day, to engage with alumni, with faculty

provide me with a strong foundation.”

every office, and every department

and staff and administrators. And, of

is as vitally important now as it was

course, with the young men who walk

strong work ethic, open ears, and

175 years ago. It is all worthwhile,

our halls, backpacks and water bottles in

keen eyes to Holy Cross.

no matter how hard it is to do.”

tow. I have been fortunate to know loyal

He now brings that experience,

Mongelluzzo was roughly 18 months

“We will always believe in Xavier’s mission and will always support it,” he said. “I owe to Xavier as much as I owe to Holy Cross or any other institution that educated me formally. Jack Raslowsky, a son of New Jersey, always loves to quote Bruce Springsteen. As a boy born on Long Island and raised

Sons and true from the Class of 1939 to

old when his brother, Danny, started

as “a recovered attorney,” having

2025 and I must say that there really is

as a freshman there. Soon after, his

in Queens, I lean toward William

practiced law for five years on and off.

continuity among them. Our mission

brother, Paul, followed. Holy Cross was

Martin Joel and am reminded of his

draws a straight line over the ages and

and always will be a part of his life.

lyrics: ‘So, before we end and then

Mongelluzzo describes himself

“I was disenchanted and unfulfilled,” he said. “So, in 2007, I

that has been worth sticking around for.”

“My four years at Holy Cross were in

begin, we’ll drink a toast to how

many ways like the experience so many

it’s been ... [Just one more time]

to pursue something else. What

Jack Raslowsky for the mentorship

Sons of Xavier have—years of personal

that I can say, I’ve loved these days.’

exactly? I did not know at first.”

and leadership he has provided

growth and accomplishment,” he said.

Indeed I have. Thank you, Xavier.”

made the decision to leave the law

Mongelluzzo praised President

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News and Notes Two years after their last pre-COVID parade, members of the Xavier Regiment marched in October’s Columbus Day Parade and again in March at the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. NY1 News profiled the Regiment in a special segment during its St. Patrick’s Day Parade coverage.

The Xavier Dramatics Society took on a robust schedule this year, showcasing an outdoor performance of Macbeth in November, the fall play, EVERYBODY, in December, and the spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in March.

Xavier track and field took second place at the CHSAA varsity championships in February,

JV basketball took home the CHSAA A division city championship this winter. The freshman team won second place in the A division.

In August, Dean of Faculty Brian McCabe P’23 completed the Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), a virtual program of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. Bridging the fields of business and education, CSML integrates expertise in managing teams and organizations with best practices in school and instructional leadership to provide school leaders with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to effectively lead and drive change in schools.

boasting four state champions, 22 medalists, and 11 State Federation qualifiers. The team later won five Federation medals.

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After months and in some cases years of training, math department chair Evan

Bernstein ’04, college counselor Jimmy Buckley ’13, and Dean of Educational Systems Lindsay Willert—a Chicago native— completed the Chicago Marathon on October 10. They were joined in the race by multiple Sons of Xavier, including Dennis Langley ’70, Chris Chavez ’11, John Maiocco ’12, and Christian Raslowsky ’16.

Associate Director of Admissions Marvin Thomas ’96 earned a master’s degree in management at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business in December.

During his course of study, he gained handson experience working on a project with Visa.

Religion teacher Dr. James Nagle recently published an article, “Forming a New Normal: Service Learning and Short-Term Mission Post COVID-19” in Religious Education, the official journal of the Religious Education

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1. Author John Loughery. 2. College counselor Jimmy Buckley ’13, math department chair Evan Bernstein ’04, and Christian Raslowsky ’16 at the Chicago Marathon. 3. Dean of Educational Systems Lindsay Willert runs the Chicago Marathon. 4. The city championship-winning JV basketball team. 5. Computer science and technology department chair Mike Chiafulio P’23 and art teacher Billy Maloney ’01 perform in the spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 6. The cover of the award-winning 2019-20 Annual Report. 7. An outdoor production of Macbeth. 8. The Regiment at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 9. Students with members of the Acting Company.

Association. He also served as a panelist discussing young people’s affiliation with Christian churches at the Religious Education Association Annual Meeting.

The Acting Company, a professional theater company dedicated to the development of young actors, visited Xavier in December.

They performed Twelfth Night for the Ignatian Scholars and a group of freshmen, all of whom had just finished reading Shakespeare’s play.

Paris is in Harlem, a movie starring fine arts department chair Nicole DiMarco and featuring multiple Xavier alumni and staff members, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January. One review called the film “a stunning piece of independent filmmaking, a multi-layered narrative that’s a love letter to jazz and New York City.”

added in recent years.

John Loughery, award-winning author of Dorothy Day: Dissenting Voice of the American Century and Dagger John: Archbishop John Hughes and the Making of Irish America, spoke to parents, friends, and Sons of Xavier about the legacy of Dorothy Day in February.

In March, Xavier launched the Pamoja Retreat for students of color. Pamoja, which means “together” in Swahili, brought students from Xavier and Regis together to reflect on their identities and values.

“Offering a retreat this year, specifically for our students of color, is one way that we continue to find ways to meet our students where they are,” said Director of Campus Ministry Kaija DeWitt-Allen. Other Xavier retreats include longstanding offerings like Kairos, Montserrat, and Magis; a freshman retreat and wilderness retreat have been

Last fall, Xavier revitalized its institutional website, xavierhs.org, bringing 16th Street to life through embedded videos, interactive maps, testimonials, and sitewide animation.

A few weeks later, a 175th anniversary microsite, 175.xavierhs.org, went live. The site features a timeline of Xavier history, archival photos, and rotating exhibits.

Xavier’s 2019-20 Annual Report received the InspirED School Marketers bronze Brilliance Award in the Annual Report/Report of Gifts/Donor Report category in January.

“This piece simply oozes Xavier’s brand,” the judges wrote. “The themes of brotherhood, pride, legacy, and intergenerational shared values are palpable.”

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Xavier After nearly two years of pandemic-imposed social restrictions, another chapter in Xavier’s long, resilient history came to a close. Just on time, another more celebratory chapter opened—Xavier’s 175th anniversary. By SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

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n the morning of December 3, 2021—the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, in Xavier’s 175th academic year—more than 1,000 students embarked on a pilgrimage unique to their city. Led by their teachers, Xavier’s youngest Sons fanned out in staggered departures on the F, M, and 6 trains, traveling from 16th to 50th Street to celebrate Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the heart of the Catholic Church in New York. To celebrate 175 years of Xavier’s service to the church, to the city, and to the nation.

“ How appropriate that you would come here to the mother church of the Archdiocese of New York, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, because Xavier has had a towering impact on the work of God’s church in these acres of the Lord’s vineyard.”

— Timothy Cardinal Dolan

“Our school has been around longer than even this grand cathedral,” Headmaster Kim Smith remarked as she welcomed the students, parents, alumni, and friends in attendance. “When Xavier High School began, there was farmland on this spot. And now, look at this beautiful testament to God’s enduring presence that stands here.”

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The grandness of the occasion served as a testament to Xavier’s enduring presence, too. Timothy Cardinal Dolan served as principal celebrant, greeting and congratulating members of the faculty and staff as they entered the Cathedral in academic regalia. Joining him on the altar during Mass were 20 concelebrants, including Bishop Edmund Whalen and former Presidents Jim Keenan, S.J. and Daniel Gatti, S.J. ’59. Deacon Francis Orlando ’67 read the Gospel.

“How appropriate that you would come here to the mother church of the Archdiocese of New York, St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” Cardinal Dolan said during his homily, “because Xavier has had a towering impact on the work of God’s church in these acres of the Lord’s vineyard.”

During the Mass, Student Leadership Council President Lenny Mannino ’22 and Cadet Colonel Giuseppe Quatela ’22 delivered the first reading and the prayers of the faithful, respectively. Colin DeMatteo ’22 served as cantor.

“Leading the congregation in song at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was such an incredibly special opportunity. First of all, singing in a space like that is really any singer’s dream. I remember being so incredibly excited, but I was also really nervous,” DeMatteo said. “I felt so lucky to have been chosen to cantor for such a special occasion at such a special place, so I would be lying if I said I wasn’t super intimidated, but once I started singing, I was

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Opposite page: Students sing the entrance hymn at the opening Mass of the 175th anniversary year. Above: 1. Cardinal Dolan waves to the congregation. 2. Cadet Colonel Giuseppe Quatela ’22 reads the prayers of the faithful. 3. Faculty and staff members process into St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 4. Dennis Baker, S.J. leads the assembled crowd in prayer at the New York Athletic Club after Mass. 5. Mike Puglisi ’68, center, at NYAC.

just overwhelmed by the joy of it all. It really felt like a once-in-alifetime opportunity, and I will always be so grateful I got to do it.”

Students had the rest of the day off after Mass, heightening the festive occasion. The celebrations reached a fever pitch when, during his closing remarks, Cardinal Dolan declared a Cardinal’s Holiday for students at a date to be determined in the spring.

“Students have always been at the heart of the work. That’s why we exist. That’s why John Larkin opened the doors,” President Jack Raslowsky reflected later. “A lot of anniversary events for organizations, and even for us, can be alumni events, so it was important for me to begin our celebration with the students.

Students who were here during the 125th anniversary remember, ‘I was there when Fr. Arrupe was there.’ They remember that, and it’s an anchor for them. We want students to look back one day and say, ‘Remember when we had Mass with the Cardinal at St. Patrick’s? And we got the day off, and he gave us another day off?’”

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s students departed for each of the five boroughs and far beyond after Mass, members of the faculty and staff made their way to Central Park South, where they were fêted at the New York Athletic Club during a celebratory luncheon attended by trustees, regents, major benefactors, and friends.

Speakers included Board chair Paul Enright ’91, Jack Raslowsky, University of Scranton president Joseph Marina, S.J. (a former Xavier trustee and the one-time pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier), and Joseph Parkes, S.J., a former Xavier trustee who now serves as provincial assistant for pre-secondary and secondary education for the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.

During his turn at the lectern, Fr. Parkes called Xavier “a true gem among the 829 Jesuit high schools around the world” as he traced our history and highlighted the achievements of alumni across generations.

“Xavier and Sons of Xavier have always led,” he said. “Your cherished alma mater has been a model of Jesuit education and has inspired countless other Jesuit high schools around the world to be true to the Ignatian vision of education—personal formation of students (religiously and socially) and a rigorous liberal arts and sciences education.”

Richie Battaglino ’67 P’96 attended the Mass and the luncheon that followed. He noted the long arc of Xavier’s history as he sat with Xavier’s first female headmaster, Kim Smith, at the New York Athletic Club nearly 60 years after he first set foot on 16th Street.

“These are momentous events. These are legendary events,” he said. “These are the times that mark what your school is about—the tradition, what we do, how we survive and thrive and move forward. We teach, we educate, we open minds—and it still works, 175 years later.”

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en days later, Xavier continued its anniversary celebration by kicking off the 175th Anniversary Conversation and Lecture Series, an effort to engage with topics of importance in our lives as citizens and people of faith. In his last weeks as Police Commissioner, after shepherding the New York Police Department through two of the most tumultuous years in its history, Dermot Shea ’86 visited Xavier to open the series.

“ Xavier and Sons of Xavier have always led. Your cherished alma mater has been a model of Jesuit education and has inspired countless other Jesuit high schools around the world to be true to the Ignatian vision of education.”

— Joseph Parkes, S.J.

In front of hundreds of students in Keenan Commons (with the rest of the student body watching from their homerooms due to COVID-19 precautions), Shea and Raslowsky engaged in a thoughtful discussion about leadership, law enforcement, police accountability, and the future of New York City.

“It was really nice to be back with the Xavier family, in a spot that didn’t exist when I was at Xavier. It was a great way to cap December and my career with the NYPD,” Shea reflected later. “I hope it helped students realize that conversations like this can happen—honest conversations where we hear each other and listen to each other. The last two years have been difficult times for the police department and for the city. It wasn’t just abstract things happening in faraway lands—these are real problems that we have to confront. In this case it was me leading, and one day it will be them.”

Since December, other series events have included virtual conversations with author and America editor-atlarge Jim Martin, S.J., Homeboy Industries founder Greg Boyle, S.J., and Lamp for Haiti founder Dr. James Morgan ’82 P’12. In April, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr visited campus to speak with students about his career in law and government. This fall, speakers will include Bryan Massingale, S.J., the James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University; businessman Mike Fernandez ’72, founder of the Immigration Partnership and Coalition (IMPAC) Fund; and other notables.

The 175th Anniversary Conversation and Lecture Series is part of an ambitious slate of anniversary events that will celebrate many areas of Xavier life. In honor of 14

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Opposite page: The Mass concelebrants. Above: 1. Former New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea ’86 with Xavier students. 2. President Jack Raslowsky in virtual conversation with Homeboy Industries founder Greg Boyle, S.J. 3. Raslowsky in conversation with former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr.

the historically diverse geographical backgrounds of Xavier students, the 175th Anniversary New York Tour will travel to multiple destinations, beginning with Harlem, Brooklyn, and Yonkers. A July event at the New York Common Pantry will bring members of the Xavier community together in service to the city. In early September, Xavier will unveil an exhibition of archival items, many of which were donated by alumni over the past year; and in November, an event celebrating the Regiment and Xavier’s service to the nation will mark those important aspects of our school’s history.

“ I think the thing I will remember most about this 175th anniversary year is how special of a year it was, because the Xavier community was finally able to reunite. We’d spent two years in virtual and hybrid settings, and it felt so good to return to the Xavier I knew from my freshman and sophomore years.”

— Colin DeMatteo ’22

Xavier is also partnering with America Media on several pilgrimages throughout our anniversary celebration. Jack Raslowsky traveled to Spain to walk in the footsteps of St. Ignatius in late April. Alumni

are invited to participate in additional pilgrimages to Lourdes and Ignatian Paris in September and to the Holy Land next March.

The 175th anniversary celebration will reach its summit on December 3, 2022, when the entire community is invited to attend the 175th Anniversary Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. (For a complete list of anniversary events that have been scheduled, see page 49.)

“This anniversary is an act of thanksgiving for what has been, for what is, for what will be,” Raslowsky said. “This celebration belongs to all of us.”

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or all of the anniversary festivities, it’s not an overstatement to say that for many—especially at a school at the heart of New York City in 2022— the biggest celebration is simply being together.

“I think the thing I will remember most about this 175th anniversary year is how special of a year it was, because the Xavier community was finally able to reunite. We’d spent two years in virtual and hybrid settings, and it felt so good to return to the Xavier I knew from my freshman and sophomore years,” DeMatteo said. “I’ve really felt doubly grateful for all the time I’ve gotten to spend at Xavier this year, because not only was it the end of virtual/hybrid learning, it was also my last year as a senior. This has truly felt like such a joyous year and such a good note on which to end my Xavier journey.”

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WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES 16

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In an atmosphere of national division, it can be hard to sort through the complications of competing arguments and ideologies. As Catholics, our faith hands us clear guidelines about our responsibilities to society—yet even those are debated. So what does Catholic Social Teaching really tell us about our place in the world?

By SEAN HAGERTY, S.J. ’02

“‘It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him [Jesus] out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.” — Luke 4:26-30 Discussing Catholic Social Teaching is a proposition that is fraught with complications. It should come as no surprise that conversations about justice and God’s care for the poor are difficult; Jesus encountered rejection among his own community when discussing the topic.

In the passage from Luke’s Gospel above, Jesus is speaking to the people of Nazareth and proclaiming the coming of God’s kingdom, liberty for the captives, sight for the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. It is a beautiful message that is at first received with joy, but when Jesus makes clear that he is not speaking about the locals, but outsiders, the Nazarites attempt to throw him off a cliff. When confronted with the proposition that God was most concerned with the least, with the outsider, the people of Nazareth felt indicted and left out. Instead of pondering Jesus’ words, they chose to cast him out of the town in order that they might maintain their illusion of privileged status as God’s chosen. Their inability to look beyond their immediate community, to see the dignity and worth of those on the peripheries, is a moral failing made evident by Jesus’ words.

Catholic Social Teaching is fundamentally concerned with how we treat others as a society. Before Vatican II, most of the Church’s moral teaching was centered on the discrete acts of an individual and whether those acts constituted a violation of divine and moral law. Put another way, it was concerned about a Catholic committing an act that broke their relationship with God or another person. However, Vatican II introduced a way of understanding sin in a more relational and societal, rather than individual and act-centered, way.

Sin was not limited to merely discrete acts against others but was also understood as the fundamental failure to love others on the individual and cooperative level. This is most

evident in the addition of “and what I have failed to do” to the Penitential Rite in the Mass in the 1970 Roman Missal.

While a seemingly small change, it implies a great deal.

It is not enough that we do not harm others; it demands that we actively seek to help those at the edge of our society.

It implies that Christians have a duty to confront social sin and actively work to create a more just society that serves the common good. When we encounter someone who is suffering, we cannot look away. Whether it is a migrant on our border or a man looking for a meal at a parish on 16th Street, they demand our attention. This task is not an easy one. It means that as Catholics, we are not only responsible for ourselves; we are also responsible for those we are able to help. Failure to love those who are in need is a sin.

An essential component to Catholic Social Teaching is the reflection of the Catholic community on problems that affect society. To confront societal failings, there must be an acknowledgment both that the problem exists and that we have a duty to fix it. Often, we identify a problem in our society, but then excuse our own inaction because the problem is just “too big” for a person to change. Herein lies the communal aspect of Catholic Social Teaching; the response to a societal problem requires the discernment and response of the community. It must, by its very nature, become the concern of the entire Christian community. In order to facilitate this discernment, the Church has provided seven themes (Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Call to Family, Community, and Participation; Responsibility to Protect Rights; Preferential Option for the Poor; Dignity of Work and Workers; Solidarity; and Care of God’s Creation) to guide this reflection.

As mentioned above, discussions around Catholic Social Teaching and our obligation to others can be difficult. No one likes to admit that their—or their community’s— inaction is sinful. Like those in the synagogue at Nazareth, it can be easier to discredit and destroy the messenger than to have a frank discussion about the situation. One need only to look at recent discussions about systemic and structural racism in our country to see how fraught and complicated these discussions can become.

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culture is not in question. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts, acknowledges that racism is a pervasive evil in American society that continues to affect our brothers and sisters of color. Yet when confronted with this reality, many Catholics (myself included) will respond defensively and insist that they are not to blame for racism’s existence in the United States: “But I didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve always treated people fairly!” However, this response refuses to acknowledge that every Catholic has a duty to oppose racist structures, which are still very much a part of American society. Whether it is systemic problems in our criminal justice system (which the bipartisan First Step Act began to address) or lending practices that have denied Black families homes, we are plagued by racism.

While I may not have contributed to the creation of structural racism, my inaction in the face of its pervasive evil is nonetheless sinful.

Whether the societal issue is racism, abortion (the two issues are linked), immigration, or climate change (these, too, are linked)—all of us have the obligation to respond. We, as a Christian community, have an obligation to identify where our failure to act has allowed evil and sin to remain.

An essential component to Catholic Social Teaching is the reflection of the Catholic community on problems that affect society. To confront societal failings, there must be an acknowledgment both that the problem exists and that we have a duty to fix it.

As members of the Xavier community, we can point to many things of which we are rightfully proud. However, we must also have the humility and courage to see where we have failed to act. To do that, we must be honest about the problems facing our community, our active or passive complicity in them, and recall our obligation to change the world for the better. If we don’t, we are no better than the people of Nazareth who sought to throw Jesus off the cliff.

Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02 is a member of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. Before entering the Society, he served as an Army officer and worked in logistics in the private sector. He is a graduate of Fordham University, Saint Louis University, and Boston College, where he recently completed his studies with a concentration in moral theology. He serves on Xavier’s Board of Trustees. After his ordination this June, he will start a new position in the vocations office.

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WHAT IS CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING? In the words of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Social Teaching “is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.” Papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents fully articulate the wisdom and teachings of the Church. The following are the seven principal themes of Catholic Social Teaching and descriptions of those themes from the U.S. bishops.

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Life and Dignity of the Human Person “ The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.”

23 4 5 6 7 Call to Family, Community, and Participation

“ The person is not only sacred but also social. … We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.”

Rights and Responsibilities

“ Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.

Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities—to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.”

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

“ A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring.

In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.”

“ The economy must serve people, not the other way around. … If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected— the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.”

Solidarity

“ We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.

We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. … At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace.”

Source: “Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching,” usccb.org

Care for God’s Creation “ Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.”

Last year, the Society of Jesus announced a major initiative in support of Jesuit vocations. “We need people with a passion for the Gospel and a love of Jesus, a flexibility to go anywhere, an interior freedom like that of St. Ignatius and of St. Francis Xavier, Superior General Arturo Sosa, S.J. said at the time. From 16th Street to Arizona, the Bronx, and Boston, three young Xavier alumni are answering that call. By NICK BARONE ’16

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KEEPING HIS EYES ON CHRIST Kieran Halloran, S.J. ’10 finds nothing but joy in being a Jesuit. Now in the regency stage of his formation, he is fully embedded in the apostolic work and community life of the Society of Jesus.

Ministry and service are in his blood. Thanks to his parents and his time on 16th Street, he feels a burning desire to give back to society.

When Halloran was just 9 years old, his father was among the hundreds of brave New York City firefighters killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. The next few years were difficult—but his time on 16th Street changed his trajectory.

“Through and outside of Xavier, I came to enjoy life again and get something out of it,” Halloran reflected.

“I saw this as God giving me life after a few years of experiencing this tragedy.”

A silent retreat at Xavier during his senior year sparked his initial thoughts about vocation, but he backed away relatively quickly.

It was, admittedly, too much for the 17-year-old to handle—he wanted to give college a shot and see where he landed. He matriculated at Georgetown University, where he studied international development, strengthening his desire to serve the underserved.

Much of Halloran’s time at Georgetown was spent in campus ministry, being in community with others who cared about faith and service as much as he did. An immersion trip to El Salvador during his freshman year brought back thoughts of vocation.

Hearing stories about the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador was a turning point for him. Halloran recalled his reaction: “Wow, I can see myself doing the work these Jesuits were doing.”

The following years saw Halloran continuing to discern and spending a great deal of time reflecting on the gifts he had received from and beyond Xavier.

Following his graduation from Georgetown, he entered the Society of Jesus.

As a novice, he spent time taking classes on the history of the Society and Ignatian spirituality, volunteering at a soup kitchen and a grammar school, and working at the Nativity School of Worcester.

Halloran spent 30 days on retreat as a novice, completing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and using his time to discern as he looked toward taking his first vows.

The first part of his regency was spent at Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, where he worked in campus ministry.

Today, Halloran is contributing his gifts in Arizona with the Kino Border Initiative, a Jesuit ministry that assists migrants on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

He spends his days engaging with the migrant community at the border, sometimes sharing meals and participating in a myriad of activities with them—such as watching movies, playing soccer with children, doing crafts with families, and teaching literacy and math to the young children.

When it comes to spending time with this community, Halloran associates the same feeling he does with being a Jesuit—joy.

Roughly eight years into his formation, he continues to live by the words instilled in him by his former Xavier religion teacher Ralph Rivera, S.J. years ago: “Just keep your eyes on Christ.”

“Being a Jesuit is to invite others into discernment,” Halloran said. “It’s about looking for and following where God is calling us in our lives.”

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Courtesy of The University of Scranton

BEING WHO GOD CALLED HIM TO BE Nicholas Colalella, S.J. ’08 was a sophomore at Xavier when he first felt a call to religious life.

The young Colalella was enthralled with languages and classics, and he felt inspired to devote himself to those subjects—and to the possibility of a Jesuit journey—by the late Dr. Phil Caliendo.

“He was able to form us as gentlemen, Christians, and young men ready to serve others,” Colalella recalled. “He taught us because he knew we were worth it. He was at Xavier to serve—it was a ministry for him. That very much affected me and a lot of people.”

Colalella recalls an image of St. Ignatius in La Storta, a town in Italy, in Caliendo’s classroom. St. Ignatius had a vision of the Holy Trinity in the town—one in which God asked him to serve. Colalella viewed this image as a personal invitation to serve, and it sparked his first thoughts about vocation.

Following his graduation from Xavier, Colalella joined a formation program at Cathedral Seminary in Douglaston, Queens. He resided in the seminary while earning his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. John’s University.

Next, he was sent to Rome to study theology. He lived at the Pontifical North American College and studied at Gregorian University, where he was able to rediscover the seed of his call to religious life.

Colalella was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2015 and continued his studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He fell in love with the Jesuits and in particular their community life during a semester he spent in Jerusalem. He examined the way he stood before 22

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God in a way he hadn’t before. A vocation retreat gave him time to pray the Scriptures in the way St. Ignatius recommends—further affirming his vocation.

And so his Jesuit journey began. Colalella applied to join the Jesuits and started as a novice in August 2021.

In January, he embarked on a 30-day retreat, completing the Spiritual Exercises and experiencing intense moments of prayer. He recently worked with Friends of the Poor, an organization sponsored by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

During his time in the Electric City, he found himself doing tasks he describes as “ordinary”—zipping across Scranton, accompanying others to pack up food and redistribute it to those who need it most.

The group also worked to distribute furniture, clothing, toys, and baby products, and at times helped pay their bills. Some days saw him working with children and responding to their needs through afterschool programs.

Now at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, he serves the needs of the sick as an orderly.

His Jesuit journey has only just begun, but Colalella already encapsulates the Jesuit mission and everything he felt called toward on 16th Street.

“Being Jesuit is a call to be holistic—to be who God called you to be,” he said. “It calls for the manifestation of prayerful disposition in whatever work or service I am missioned to do; to emulate Ignatius as one who strives to be contemplativus simul in actione.”

FOLLOWING A WINDING ROAD TO HIS VOCATION Sean Hagerty, S.J. ’02 lives a life of happiness as a Jesuit, but his vocation wasn’t always in sight.

At Xavier, he began to take his Catholic faith more seriously as he was exposed to members of the community who strengthened that faith—late college counselor Bill McGowan, S.J. and former headmaster David Ciancimino, S.J. ’77 (who later accepted him into the Society of Jesus in 2012) among them.

Life on 16th Street was relatively ordinary for the young Hagerty.

His days were filled with the Regiment, cross country and swim meets, and yearbook. Then New York—and the nation—were attacked.

Following 9/11, life in the Army seemed inevitable for Hagerty. His JROTC background and experiencing the attacks as a high school senior seemed to point him in that direction. And they did, temporarily.

Hagerty matriculated at Fordham University in 2002, riding on a full ROTC scholarship. At the time, vocation was an afterthought. Defending his country was his primary concern.

A Kairos retreat during his junior year at Xavier was his first encounter with God, Hagerty recalled, but it wasn’t until he embarked on a silent retreat—also called Kairos—during his sophomore year in college that he felt called to religious life.

“It shifted the ground under my feet and I started to take my faith a lot more seriously,” he reflected. “I had thoughts about becoming a Jesuit in college but thought I was crazy.”

In 2006, he graduated from Fordham and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army, serving in Alaska and Iraq.

In Iraq, he served as a fire support officer and soon became the

executive officer of one of the companies. He then became second in command of an infantry company.

“I loved my time in the Army and was a good officer, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue that career,” Hagerty said.

In 2010, he resigned his commission. Thoughts about Jesuit life began to resurface, but God pulled him toward something else— Budweiser.

He spent under a year as a night warehouse manager in the Bronx, then landed a position with Anheuser-Busch’s warehousing distribution operation in Los Angeles. But as he climbed the corporate ladder, he began to realize that corporate life had little appeal for him.

“I realized I was more attracted to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience,” he laughed. “So I had to pause to see why that was attractive to me.”

In August 2012, he entered the Society of Jesus—and he hasn’t had a second thought since.

His last few years have been infused with theology studies. He compares his days at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College to a “typical graduate student lifestyle.” Most of his time was spent studying ethics, systematics, Scripture, social teaching, and pastoral aspects of ministry in preparation for ordination as a priest.

In June, he will be ordained into the priesthood at Fordham University Church.

What does being a Jesuit mean to him?

“It means being a family,” he said.

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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS XAVIER

Jesuit schools have long sought to shape global citizens, and since 1847, Xavier in particular has worked to send forth young men to transform the world. Beginning in 1921, 34 Sons of Xavier followed in the footsteps of their alma mater’s namesake, the great missionary Francis Xavier, traveling to the Philippines to serve the Society of Jesus, the Church, and the Philippine people. Their wisdom and courage, especially during the brutal World War II years, still reverberates. By JOSEPH PARKES, S.J. 24

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In a letter dated March 4, 1921, the Jesuit Superior General, Fr. Vladimir Ledochowski, S.J., announced that he had transferred the Mission of the Philippine Islands to the Maryland-New York Province.

A group of Maryland-New York Jesuits that had originally planned to serve the people of India (until they encountered issues securing passports from the British colonial government, possibly the result of their overwhelmingly Irish last names and the ongoing Irish War for Independence) was redirected to Manila. Jesuits from the Aragon Province, who had labored for decades in the Philippines, were reassigned to Bombay.

Last July, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of East Coast Jesuits in Manila on July 11, 1921. In the ensuing century, 411 East Coast Jesuits have served in the Philippines, including 34 Sons of Xavier.

On June 12, 1921, as announced in The New York Times, a solemn parting ceremony and Mass were celebrated at the Church of St. Francis Xavier to bid farewell to the 20 priests and scholastics of the MarylandNew York Province who were to take off the next day for the monthlong trip to Manila by train and ship. Three of the 20 were Xavier alumni who had volunteered to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis Xavier. The other volunteers came from the New York City area and various other spots along the East Coast. Most were alumni of other Jesuit high schools. Like today's USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, the then Maryland-New York Province covered the vast Eastern Seaboard from Portland, Maine to Georgia.

Last July, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of East Coast Jesuits in Manila on July 11, 1921. In the ensuing century, 411 East Coast Jesuits have served in the Philippines, including 34 Sons of Xavier—Patrick Rafferty, S.J. 1896, Charles Connor, S.J. 1897, Joseph Mulry, S.J. 1906, James Hayes, S.J. 1907, John Fidelis Hurley, S.J. 1910, Vincent O’Beirne, S.J. 1916, John Sweeney, S.J. 1917, John Murray, S.J. 1920, Thomas Cannon, S.J. 1921, Wallace Pangborn, S.J. 1922, Forbes Monahan, S.J. 1925, Joseph Farrell, S.J. 1926, William O’Rourke, S.J. 1926, Harry Furay, S.J. ’29, James Blewett, S.J. ’32, Hugh Costigan, S.J. ’32, Edward

Klippert, S.J. ’33, Michael Cashman, S.J. ’35, Alfred Orth, S.J. ’39, Richard Leonard, S.J. ’40, Robert Rice, S.J. ’40, Thomas Connolly, S.J. ’45, Bill McGarry, S.J. ’45, Joseph Roche, S.J. ’45, James Dehn, S.J. ’48, Bill Klintworth, S.J. ’48, Nick Cushner, S.J. ’50, Tom O’Gorman, S.J. ’50, Thomas Walsh, S.J. ’50, Stan Joyce, S.J. ’52, Neil Mahoney, S.J. ’52, Richard Croghan, S.J. ’53, Jack Dougherty, S.J. ’54, and Roger Haight, S.J. ’54.

Those Sons of Xavier gave distinguished service to the Society, to the Church in the Philippines, and to the Philippine people. Some noteworthy examples are detailed below and on the pages that follow.

PATRICK RAFFERTY 1896, CHARLES CONNOR 1897, and JOHN FIDELIS HURLEY 1910 were the first three Xavier alumni to be assigned to the Philippines. Upon arrival, Connor was immediately given charge of the Ateneo de Manila High School. He introduced boxing as a sport, much to the chagrin of the remaining Spanish Jesuits. He implemented changes to make the school more like the Xavier he so fondly recalled and set it on the path of academic excellence that has marked it ever since. Rafferty was put in charge of the Jesuit community and Hurley, still a scholastic, taught in the Ateneo High School.

JOSEPH A. MULRY 1906 was assigned to the Philippine Mission in 1924. For the next 17 years, until the outbreak of World War II in 1941, he taught at the Ateneo de Manila High School and was widely known as the most outstanding liberal arts educator in the Philippines.

To this day he is remembered as the mentor of the “Three Summas,” the leading students of the Ateneo Class of 1935 who went on to exceptional careers. Horacio de la Costa became the most famous Filipino Jesuit. He earned a Ph.D. in history at Harvard, served as a professor of history and dean at the Ateneo college, the first Filipino Jesuit provincial, and an assistant to Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe in Rome. Leon Ma. Guerrero became a distinguished novelist, diplomat, and nationalist. Jess Paredes, Jr. taught in two law schools, helped Catholic schools with needs from the government and wrote speeches for President Ramon Magsaysay, who planned to make him Secretary of Education. Sadly, he died with Magsaysay in a plane crash when he was only 42. Fr. Mulry spent part of the war years imprisoned in a dungeon and two years in Los Baños prison camp, where he died on the operating table, a victim of World War II.

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Archbishop James T.G. Hayes

JAMES T.G. HAYES 1907 arrived in the Philippines in 1926 and was assigned to the mission area of Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao where he spent the next 44 years as Superior of the Jesuits, first Bishop of the new diocese of Cagayan de Oro, founder of the Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro (now the renowned Xavier University), founder of San Jose Seminary, and first Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro. A major street there is named in his honor.

JOHN FIDELIS HURLEY 1910 was named Superior of the Mission in 1936 and remained in that capacity throughout the brutal years of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. His heroic leadership, often at the risk of his own life, is recounted in the 2005 book, Wartime Superior in the Philippines. He spent two years in the Santo Tomas prison camp and lost close to 100 pounds. But even from the prison camp, he kept the Philippine Mission afloat. Immediately after the war, he organized the Catholic Welfare Organization to coordinate the relief efforts of the Church, the U.S. military, and the U.S. government. For his efforts, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by General Douglas MacArthur.

After his return to New York to regain his health, he worked with U.S. government officials to secure more than $5,000,000 in war reparations to build a magnificent new Ateneo de Manila campus. The previous one had been destroyed by an American bombing campaign intended to drive the Japanese military out of Manila, where they had murdered tens of thousands of civilians.

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MICHAEL J. CASHMAN ’35 was assigned to the Philippine Mission in 1940 to complete his philosophy studies. Before he could be assigned to teach as a scholastic, he wound up under house arrest for two years and then spent two years in Los Baños prison camp. After liberation and a return to New York, he taught at Brooklyn Prep for less than a year. Cancer took his life when he was only 29.

Over the past century, the Philippine Province has grown large and become one of the great provinces in the worldwide Society of Jesus. Sons of Xavier assisted a small mission that was devastated by World War II in its growth to greatness.

JOSEPH ROCHE ’45 was assigned to the Philippine Province for philosophy studies prior to his three-year regency at the Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro. After ordination, he earned a Ph.D. in philosophy at Fordham University. He then spent 30 years in the philosophy department of the Ateneo de Manila and Loyola House of Studies on the Ateneo campus. He was one of the first professors to teach philosophy in Tagalog, the national language. He received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award in 2006 for his teaching, writing, and lectures that promoted the connections between philosophy and theology. He currently lives in the Health and Wellness Center on the Ateneo campus, where President Jack Raslowsky and I will visit him this summer.

BILL McGARRY ’45 spent most of his apostolic life in the Micronesia Mission in parishes on Pohnpei. In between parish assignments there, he served in Manila as President of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and then as Rector of Arrupe International Residence on the Ateneo de Manila campus. After a stint as Episcopal Vicar on Pohnpei, he returned to the Ateneo de Manila for good in 2001 as campus minister and assistant tertian director. He was beloved by the Ateneo students. In his final years, he reconnected with Xavier through its publications and a regular correspondence with Director of Communications Shawna Gallagher Vega. He died in Manila in 2018.

TOM O’GORMAN ’50 was assigned to the Philippines for philosophy studies. For regency he taught at San Jose Minor Seminary in Quezon City. After theology studies and ordination in the U.S., he earned a doctorate in spirituality at the Gregorian University in Rome. He spent the rest of his life teaching at Loyola House of Studies on the Ateneo de Manila campus. He taught several generations of young Filipino and other Asian Jesuits. His last assignment was as Spiritual Father at Arrupe International Residence. He died on November 22, 2021.

ROGER HAIGHT ’54 was assigned to Cebu for philosophy studies. He completed his regency teaching at the Ateneo de Davao, where he also coached the basketball team. After theology studies at Woodstock, he earned a Ph.D. in theology at the University of Chicago. He returned to the Philippines and taught theology at Loyola House of Studies for several years. He had a great influence on a generation of Filipino Jesuits. Haight was the last Xavier alumnus assigned to the Philippines. A prolific author and past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, he is now a visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary.

Over the past century, the Philippine Province has grown large and become one of the great Provinces in the worldwide Society of Jesus, with some dozen outstanding educational institutions and even more outstanding social ministries. Sons of Xavier assisted a small mission that was devastated by World War II in its growth to greatness. And in return, the experience of living and working in the Philippines was a real blessing for Sons of Xavier.

Joseph Parkes, S.J. is the provincial assistant for pre-secondary and secondary education for the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. He is the former provincial of what was then the New York Province, former president of Saint Peter’s Prep and Fordham Prep, and the founding president of Cristo Rey New York High School. In the late ’60s and early ’70s, he completed his regency at the Ateneo de Manila High School in the Philippines.

Prisoners of war on the Bataan Death March.

The Philippines During World War II In December 1941, 10 hours after the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Japanese bombers turned their ire toward another American possession: the Philippines.

A U.S. commonwealth since the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Philippines endured an especially brutal invasion and occupation by the Japanese. Within a month of the invasion, the Japanese had captured Manila, and American and Filipino forces were forced to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula.

After the defeat of Allied forces and General Douglas MacArthur’s escape to Australia, 75,000 sick and starving American and Filipino soldiers were forced to endure what became known as the Bataan Death March, a 65-mile march to internment camps in intense heat. Thousands died along the way, with many more perishing in the camps.

As Americans, the East Coast Jesuits serving in the Philippines suffered a terrible toll throughout the war.

They also displayed tremendous courage. John Fidelis Hurley, then Superior of the Mission, ran a smuggling network that delivered food, medicine, and money to Allied soldiers and civilians being held in internment camps. He also provided shelter to American soldiers who had escaped from the Bataan Peninsula.

Like many other Jesuits, Fr. Hurley ended up in an internment camp. Thousands were imprisoned in such camps in the Philippines during the three years of Japanese occupation. Starvation and disease ran rampant. By the end of the war in 1945, an estimated one million Filipinos had died.

On the Fourth of July in 1946, the U.S. kept the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s promise and established the independent Republic of the Philippines in honor of their bravery during World War II. XAVIER MAGAZINE

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1959

Xavier’s photo staff dries prints for a publication.

C L A S S N OT E S

1948

“Here’s wishing all my classmates a happier year than the one we just had,” writes Vince Vella.

“Hope you stay well and happy.”

1949

John Beglan and his wife, Paquita, have relocated from New Jersey to Florida.

Dr. Tom O’Brien and his wife, Nancy, remain in contact with a number of wives of late Xavier ’49ers, including Jane Bolger (Bill), Bobbi Conti (Steve), Barbara Curran (Paul), Victoria Madaras (Jack), Phyllis McCauley (Dick), and Ann O’Malley (Jim).

1951

Bob Kramer read selections from his translations of German literature at the New York Browning Society’s celebration of National Translation Month.

He is a regular book reviewer for American Book Review and continues to publish his own poetry and literary translations.

James Walsh recently published a book, Encore. A copy now resides in the Meditz Library at Xavier.

1952

Dr. Bob Coughlin, professor emeritus of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Connecticut, writes that he transitioned from playing tennis to pickleball a few years ago: “It has been a great diversion playing outdoors during the pandemic, even in winter when there is no snow. I have been playing in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida with welcoming people and made many new friends. Great substitute for being a spectator at indoor events.” He hopes to meet fellow Xavier alums on the courts soon. Bob can be reached at robert.coughlin@uconn.edu.

Dr. Chester Schmidt enjoyed attending Xavier’s Washington, D.C. alumni reception in December.

Frank Sherry and his wife, Barbara, were delighted when their son, daughter-in-law, and three of their grandchildren drove an RV from Los Angeles to their Rockville Centre home last year. “They stayed for two weeks and enjoyed the marvels of Long Island and NYC,” he said.

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1953

Leo Gafney published his latest book, I Am With You Always, in January. It “explores historic truths of the Gospel in ways relevant to contemporary life.”

1956

Frank Perroni recently published a book, Wisdom for Millennials and Others.

1957

Joseph Juhasz writes that he is “enjoying the wonderful weather here in Boulder, Colorado, where I have lived now since 1974. My family and I are doing well. Enjoying some Facebooking with classmates and schoolmates—and weekly Zoom with Kevin Morrissey.”

1958

Norm Dauerer and his brother, Walt Dauerer ’55, are happily retired and living in southern Dutchess County. They recently enjoyed a small family gathering with their sons.

1959

Dr. John Hackett writes that after losing his wife last year, he moved north of Atlanta to be close to his son and his family.

He is considering moving back to the Seattle area, however, as he misses it very much. He can be reached at jphmdps@earthlink.net.

1960

Bob Albracht spent early 2022 recovering from foot surgery.

Since the fall of 2020, a group of 16 alumni from the Class of 1960 have gathered for monthly conversations addressing issues of social justice and promoting

’58 racial healing. The 90-minute Zoom conversations allow people to reflect on readings, videos, and other media focused on various aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion in an atmosphere that encourages respectful listening and discussion. Regular participants include Barbara Albracht, Tom Archdeacon, George Catalano, John Costigan, Mike Dowd, Dr. Doug Fraser, Roger Kirwan, Connie Malone, Jim Malone, Len Musmeci, Jay O’Brien, Pat Philbin, Bob Scavullo, Pat Stokes, Bob Stump, and Gene Tonry. For more information, contact Bob Scavullo (bobscavullo@gmail.com), Jim Malone (jmalone@rochester.rr.com), or Bob Stump (rwstump@aol.com).

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’62 1. Walt Dauerer ’55, third from right, and Norm Dauerer ’58, second from right, enjoying a gathering with their sons.

2. Ed Grant ’62.

1962

Ed Grant recently retired after 50 years of teaching all subjects (“thanks to Jesuits”), particularly mathematics (“thanks to Finnegan and Collins”) at St. John’s Home, Brooklyn Technical High School, and St. Joseph’s University.

Rocco Iacovone recently won a prestigious Chamber Music America Grant Artists’ grant to present a six-part jazz composers’ residency with his group in conjunction with the Educational Alliance in Lower Manhattan. Earlier this year, his latest recording, After Dark, was released by Unseen Rain Records.

Iacovone’s recordings can be accessed at roccojohn.bandcamp.com.

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’66

Last year, historian and author Rick Geffken helped return a 300-year-old hand-illustrated Jesuit guidebook to Mexico City after discovering it in the Monmouth County Historical Association archives and library in Freehold, New Jersey. The full story of the discovery and transfer of the book appeared in The Two River Times.

William P. Wood writes that his daughter, Meredeth, celebrated her wedding last July at the Church of St. Francis Xavier. “It was a joy to walk her down the same aisle that I had walked down almost 60 years ago for first Friday Masses and really brought home the meaning of the circle of life,” he said.

5.

’66 1. William P. Wood ’63 at his daughter Meredeth’s wedding.

2. J.P. Robinson ’65 and friends.

3. Kathy and Andy Mihalick ’66.

4. Carol and Steve Radice ’66.

5. Edward DeSimone ’66.

1964

Raymond Catanzano is a member of the editorial board of the American Bar Association’s GPSolo Magazine and has written articles on adverse possession in connection with real estate law and the impact of judging moot court competitions on law students and societal needs. He has also been appointed vice chairman of the ABA’s GPSolo real estate section.

F. Paul Wilson recently published his 60th novel, RX MAYHEM, a mystery written under his Nina Abbott pseudonym.

1965

J.P. Robinson writes, “2021 was a memorable year for me, but not a good one! I had five back surgeries, a staph infection, and a lot of complications all the while wary of the virus. Recovery is going

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’65 fine, but slowly. One thing that kept me going was my focus on my annual duck hunt in Arkansas every January. I made it, but it was not easy. I wish to thank all those who prayed for me.”

John Sullivan has retired from teaching and owning two small businesses. He has one son and an 11-year-old grandson. “Doing my best to keep body and soul together...as we all are,” he writes.

1966

Jim D’Agostino, Jr. was elected chairman of Felician University’s Board of Trustees in February. He is the president of Hackensack’s JD Companies, a consortium of companies specializing in commercial and residential real estate, construction, development, management, sales, and leasing services in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. D’Agostino has been active in professional and nonprofit organizations throughout his adult life, including the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, and Boy Scouts of America. He is also a past chairman of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey.

Edward DeSimone spoke about addiction and substance use disorders at the Crime Stoppers National Training Conference and the Metropolitan (Police) Chiefs Association. The Douglas County (Nebraska) Health Department recently asked him to serve on the newly created Opioid Fatality Review Board.

’66 Ray Dittrich reports that his grandson, Alex Sterancsak (one of 10 grandchildren), graduated from Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with a degree in cybersecurity on May 14. Alex has been accepted into a United States Marine Corps program through which he will finish his master’s at Sacred Heart before serving with the Marine Corps in their Cyber Program.

Andy Mihalick and his wife, Kathy, enjoyed a COVID-delayed 50th anniversary trip to Hawaii.

In 2015, Steve Radice retired after a career spent mostly in software technology sales and marketing. He and his wife, Carol, live in Farmingdale, New Jersey, and spend every January and February in Longboat Key, Florida, where they are often visited by their four grandchildren.

1967

Joe Maher writes that 12 members of the Class of 1967 traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for their ninth golf outing. The festivities were scheduled for May 1-5.

1968

Joe Guida is a retired builder living in Germantown, New York. He enjoys hand tool woodworking, joinery, cooking, baking, and reading. He would love to hear from his classmates at joeg964@yahoo.com.

’05

FOLLOWING HIS DREAMS JERMAINE ALEXANDER ’05

BY NICK BARONE ’16

“ XAVIER TAUGHT ME TO TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WANTED TO BE TREATED. … THE SCHOOL TAUGHT US TO LEARN AND GROW FROM ONE ANOTHER.” If Xavier has taught Jermaine

the young Alexander, but his dreams

doing behind-the-scenes work

Alexander ’05 anything, it’s that a Son

went beyond New York City.

on the set of NBC’s La Brea.

of Xavier can set the world on fire.

On 16th Street, Alexander was

In December 2019, Alexander’s

Alexander recently mentored a

love of adventure and dream of living

inspired by the lessons imparted

young Xavier alumnus, thanks to a

abroad brought him to Melbourne,

by Xavier’s veteran faculty.

Australia with his then-fiancée,

mutual connection the two shared

Hearing stories about their global

Taniya, who was raised there. One

experiences fascinated him and

year later, they wed. Another year

inspired him to put himself out

later, they welcomed their baby

there and pursue his dreams.

boy, Roman, into the world.

“Patrick Dormer P’17 opened

“Starting fresh and new was scary,

my eyes and showed me that there

but it was empowering,” he said.

is more than one way to achieve the

“There is a value in being able to share

things you want, and to not take life

stories from afar and to hear the stories

too seriously,” Alexander reflected.

everyone has to tell back at home.”

Another teacher who had a

Alexander is now an account

with Dormer—further inspiring him to help young people achieve their goals.

Through his mentorship, he was able to assist the young man in earning a full ride to college.

“Through brief, limited interactions, I was able to realize the impact I can have on people who need my help,” he said.

And he’s not done yet. As if he

lasting effect on his life was the

manager for an Australia-based digital

weren’t busy enough, Alexander

late, legendary art teacher Renzo

technology consulting company, ARQ

has set a goal to create a small hub

Ventrella ’92. “Ventrella had such

Group. He works with government

to welcome African-Americans

a creative spirit—he taught me

and commercial clients to improve

who visit or move to Australia.

to allow my creative energy to

their technological capabilities. His

flow through everything I do.”

projects have ranged from working

And his creative energy did

on websites and apps to data

flow—through his work and

transformation and cloud migration.

everything he did following

On the side, Alexander brings

his graduation from Xavier.

Alexander went on to study communication and media at Gettysburg College and eventually

his creative spirit to life, working as a screen actor in several commercials and television shows.

His recent work includes a range

received his MBA from Fordham

of Australian commercials, including

University’s Gabelli School of Business.

beverage chain commercials and tech

“Xavier taught me to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. I want Australia to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” Alexander said. “The school taught us to learn and grow from one another—and that’s what I want to do here.”

His advice for alumni of all ages is this: “If you are seeking answers or are unsure of something—someone

software company advertisements.

out there has it and is there to help.

moving up in the business world,

U.S. readers may have seen some

Don’t be afraid to reach out, ask

landing positions at companies

of his work on their screens,

those questions, knock on that

such as Macy’s and VaynerMedia.

most notably a commercial for

door, or send that email. Keep going

Mazda. He has also found himself

and see where you end up.”

The following years saw Alexander

Metropolitan life was good for

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’68 1. Neil Healy and Mathew J. Mari ’68.

2. Kevin Flynn ’67 and Jim Tierney ’68.

3. Dr. Greg LaMorte ’71.

Neil Healy and Mathew J. Mari will soon be launching a podcast called A View from Mulberry Street.

Dr. David McGroarty, his sister Maryrose O’Neil, niece Mary Elizabeth McGroarty, nephew Kevin O’Neil, Jr., and brother-inlaw Dr. Kevin O’Neil tackled the NYC 5-Boro Bike Tour on May 1.

On December 13, 2021, Jim Tierney and Kevin Flynn ’67 enjoyed a mini-reunion at the retired FBI New York City Christmas/holiday party held at Hurley’s in Midtown.

1969

After 44 years, John Billi recently retired from the University of Michigan. His wife, a community pediatrician, will retire in December. They enjoy spending time with their three young grandchildren in Ann Arbor.

1970

Scott O’Connell published his fourth novel and his first science fiction work, Envoy of the Lord, last fall.

Kevin Toner and his wife, Sara, moved to Bonita Bay, Florida last year. “It was bittersweet to give up our NYC apartment after so many years as New Yorkers,” he writes. Sons of Xavier are welcome to visit the Toners in Florida from October to April and in Madison, Connecticut, in the summer.

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’68 Multiple members of the Class of 1970 jointly shared the following reflection: “The Class of 1970 mourns the loss of our brother, Teddy Poppe, and also takes this opportunity to acknowledge the passing last December of Jim Dinneen, S.J. and to recall the life-changing influence he had on so many of us during our years on 16th Street. Fr. Dinneen left an indelible mark as a counselor, confidante, and friend. Herb Quinde recalls, ‘When I got into hot water during senior year, Jim wanted me to stand tall and defend my point of view. Jim was my defense attorney, advocate, confessor, and mentor. When I applied to graduate school not long ago, I had to identify the singular ‘influential’ in my faith journey who taught me what it meant to be holy. The answer came immediately: Fr. Jim Dinneen.’

Francis Piderit relates a real incident: ‘Fr. Dinneen and others conspired to stage my funeral in the student counselors’ offices one afternoon. While waiting for my appointment, I had fallen asleep on the couch, and actually was stretched out. When I came to, I was surrounded by incense, burning candles, and flowers, and thought I had died. My classmates were exploding in laughter, and Dinneen and McGowan were chuckling in the background.’

Dennis Langley writes, ‘What I most remember was his beatific appearance…he just looked like a man who had a joyous love of Christ. The world could use a lot more people like Jim Dinneen.’

’71

There are many other members of our year who recognized the image of Christ in Jim Dinneen. Since the pandemic prevented us from honoring his life and marking his death in December, let this note suffice to express our gratitude.”

1971

Robert “Doc” Hynes is the principal analyst - capital markets for the Federal Housing Finance Agency in Washington, D.C. Doc and Mary Beth are based in Massachusetts and have five children—three Colgate University grads, one Michigan State University grad, and one rising junior at Fairfield University.

On March 2, Dr. Greg LaMorte lectured on ethics and professionalism at the annual meeting of the New Jersey Dental Association.

LCDR Daniel D. Sullivan, USN (Ret.) has retired from his flight instructor job with the U.S. Navy.

He lives in Pensacola, Florida, with his wife, Sam, a fellow Navy retiree.

1972

On December 6, 2021, Xavier dedicated the Dr. Franklin N. Caesar P’00 Conference Room in the Sons of Xavier Center in honor of the longtime English teacher, Higher Achievement Program director, and assistant headmaster. Among the guests were Dr. Caesar’s classmates, Billy O’Brien, Tom Flynn, and

1.

’72 John Garcia and his cousin and godson, Vincent Caesar ’01.

John Vanore and his wife, Jeanne Langdon, recently retired and moved to France with their puppy, Siouxsie Sioux. After several months of searching, they rented an apartment in Thonon-les-Bains, overlooking Lake Geneva. Fellow Sons of Xavier are welcome to come visit. Follow their adventures at airjnjblog.wordpress.com.

1973

Bruce Caulfield is proud to announce that his son, Brian, has been accepted into the Xavier’s Class of 2026. Brian hopes to become a member of the football and rugby teams.

Ray McCarthy lives in Yonkers, where he is enjoying retirement.

Last August, Michael Montelongo was elected to the Board of Directors of Civeo Corporation. He serves on the company’s compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Michael is president and chief executive officer of GRC Advisory Services, LLC, a board governance firm.

Dr. Victor Vallo is the music director and conductor of the newly formed Syracuse Chamber Orchestra, a community orchestra of professional musicians. He is also the new director of the Chamber Orchestra for OASIS, a senior educational institution in Syracuse, and continues to teach music at LeMoyne College.

1974

2.

After 40 years serving in Christian ministry from Australia to Bosnia, Hanoi to Ground Zero, and post-Katrina New Orleans, Rev. Bill Keane retired from full-time pastoral work and is now working on a book touching on his experiences along the way. “With three fine children and three grandkids,” he writes, “life in service to Jesus Christ is truly beautiful!”

1975

Mike Byrne assisted as a deacon at the funeral Mass for John Mason ’58, a fellow deacon in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, on February 18 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Mike and John were both ordained as deacons for the Archdiocese in 2004. During their formation classes, they discovered their common Xavier bond and shared many memories of their respective times on 16th Street.

During class one day, they had a great time comparing John’s senior yearbook from 1958 with Mike’s freshman yearbook from 1972.

Joseph Fama and his wife, Nancy, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in July and the 30th anniversary of the founding of his company, Empire Commercial Services, in October. “Life has been very good, and I was given a great start at Xavier!” he writes.

Jim Lawlor and his wife, Mary, have retired and sold their home in Centreville, Virginia.

They now reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Sons of Xavier

3.

’73 in the area are welcome to email Jim at jlawlor@cox.net.

1976

“A year and a half after my kidney transplant, all is well,” Stephen Bratichak writes. “Please think of being a donor. The world needs it.”

’73 1. Alumni celebrate the dedication of the Caesar Conference Room, named for Dr. Franklin N. Caesar ’72 P’00.

2. Michael Montelongo ’73.

3. Dr. Victor Vallo ’73.

Ed Kowalski reports that the Class of 1976 held its 45th reunion at Xavier in September.

Jim Keenan, S.J., Vin Biagi, S.J. ’67, and Brian Moroney were all in attendance.

1977

“Can’t believe it’s been 45 years,” Robert Flores writes. “I’m hopeful all classmates are well. I’m an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina, and my wife and I are empty nesters. Our two sons live in Boston and Atlanta. No grandkids yet, but maybe in the next couple of years. Regards to Xavier!”

Sean McDonald is the new owner/president of McCarthy Reporting Service, one of the oldest and most respected court reporting and legal video service agencies in Massachusetts.

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’79 Nevio Muirljacic splits his time between Greenwich, Connecticut, and Sun City West, Arizona. Sons of Xavier are welcome to contact him at nevio825@gmail.com.

4.

1978

Daniel Gorman lives in Pearl River, New York. After 29 years of service, he retired from the FBI in 2017, then earned a master’s degree at Columbia University in 2020.

’85 1. Eduardo Sanduy ’79 with his family.

2. Paul Ching ’80.

3. Ken Ng ’80, Pat Yuen ’70, and Kevin Toner ’70 in Florida.

4. Jeffrey Wilkins ’85.

1979

Eduardo Sarduy lives in Milton, Delaware, where he is “contemplating when and where to retire with my better half.”

He reports that he is doing well after two stents and that his daughter is taking the bar exam.

“Greetings, fellow Sons of Xavier,” Jim Scott writes. “My wife, Erin, and I moved to Atlanta 3 ½ years ago, and I have to say it’s been a lot of fun. I try to go and watch our New York teams when they visit (Giants, Knicks, Mets, Yankees).

My company is headquartered in NYC, so I get up often enough to visit family and friends. If anyone is ever in the Atlanta area, give me a shout at jimscott97@gmail. com. Would love to catch up.”

1980

After 14 ½ years working at various banks in Hong Kong, Paul Ching retired in February 2021 and will be repatriating to Brooklyn this year. He plans to continue his pursuit of his current passions, boxing, and pottery.

Thomas Kaufer P’16 became a police officer in 1984, was promoted to detective in 1991, 34

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’80 and retired in 2004. That year, he became a federal court officer at the Eastern District courthouse and was later promoted to supervisor. He is married with three children, including Thomas Kaufer ’16.

Stephen McAllister is celebrating 38 years in law enforcement—26 with the NYPD and the last 12 with the Floral Park Police Department, where he serves as police commissioner.

He has six grandchildren.

Ken Ng recently spent time with Kevin Toner ’70 and Pat Yuen ’70 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Arthur T. Walsh has been appointed chief deputy county executive of Nassau County, New York. Previously, he served as general counsel and corporate secretary for the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation.

1983

Rick Calero is head of banking and lending at BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He recently joined the Fordham University Board of Trustees.

1984

Andrew Corrigan recently celebrated his 23rd year as an independent financial advisor by opening a second office on Long Island.

Five years after retiring from the New York City Emergency Medical Service, Eric Wakeham is returning to work at the Northeast

’80 Center for Rehabilitation and Brain Injury in Lake Katrine, New York.

1985

John Bivona is the FBI’s Lead Attaché to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

On January 2, John Pucciarelli was promoted within the Department of the Navy civilian service and assumed a dual role as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel and the Deputy Commander, Navy Personnel Command. The Bureau of Naval Personnel is responsible for policy development and strategic design while Navy Personnel Command handles the implementation and operational execution of the U.S. Navy’s manpower and staffing plans. In this role, John is the principal advisor and second-in-command to the Admiral, overseeing human resources functions for our nation’s 346,200 active duty and 57,000 selective reserve Sailors.

The core functions of Navy Personnel Command include staffing assignments, workforce development, promotions and advancement, personnel data quality management, military service records maintenance, and customer service support to each and every sailor and their families.

After 19 years in the semiconductor industry, Jeffrey Wilkins began a new career in the aerospace industry. He lives in Sonoma, California, and works at Collins Aerospace as their site senior quality manager.

’65

RIGOR AND RESILIENCE DR. ROBERT POSTERARO ’65

BY NICK BARONE ’16

“ I LEARNED THAT IF YOU SET RIGOROUS STANDARDS FOR YOURSELF, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK. THAT’S WHAT XAVIER DOES FOR YOUNG MEN.” Dr. Robert Posteraro ’65 has been inhaling the 16th Street atmosphere since the day he was born. His father, Dr. Anthony F. Posteraro ’34 P’63 ’65 ’70, practically bled maroon and blue and exposed him to all things Xavier before he could even walk.

From football games to parades to military reviews, there’s nothing Posteraro didn’t see before he started his Xavier career.

“My father was stationed on Tinian and Saipan during World War II,” said Posteraro. “While he was stationed, he heard a fellow officer say, ‘The best damn high school in the United States is Xavier High School. If I have a son, that’s where he is going to go.’ My father told him that he was a Xavier grad and learned that the other officer and he had been contemporaries at Xavier, although they didn’t know each other at the time. They ended up becoming friends for life. Dad had three sons, all of whom graduated from Xavier; the other guy had all daughters.”

Posteraro traveled to 16th Street from Larchmont. Spending his mornings and afternoons on the New York, New Haven and Hartford trains helped him maximize his time to study for the seemingly endless amount of exams ahead of him.

“Looking back, I can’t believe I got through four years of a Xavier education,” Posteraro laughed. “It’s an education that can’t be beat. You learn a lot. I learned that if you set rigorous standards for yourself, you can accomplish a lot more than you think.

That’s what Xavier does for young men.”

“Xavier set such a strong foundation,” he said. “[The curriculum] was eclectic—I was able to go anywhere or do anything I wanted to after graduation.”

He filled his days on 16th Street with the Glee Club, Sodality, and with writing an article or two for the Xavier Review. And thanks to the likes of math teachers Anthony Baragona and William Thompson, Posteraro developed an adoration for the subject.

“I was fascinated with their ability to explain the subject to us,” Posteraro reflected. “Baragona had a love for the New York Giants. If they won on Sunday, we wouldn’t have an exam the following Monday. I spent lots of Sundays in front of the television doing ‘homework’ for Baragona.”

Though it wasn’t apparent at the time, Posteraro’s time at Xavier served as a catalyst for his eventual career as a radiologist—and later as a professor.

Posteraro excelled in math and AP physics—taught by Rev. Robert Lynch, S.J. His love of physics was the catalyst that put him on the road to becoming a radiologist.

Posteraro went on to Fordham and then to Yale University, where he earned his M.D. He pursued fellowships at Duke University Medical Center and Yale New Haven Hospital and eventually earned an MBI (Master of Biomedical Informatics) from Oregon Health & Science University.

The ensuing years saw Posteraro practicing radiology full-time. After residency and a fellowship in chest radiology, he joined the radiology faculty at Texas Tech University

School of Medicine, where he rose to the rank of professor and chairman of the department. He later joined a private practice group. In 2009, a friend approached him about teaching healthcare administration at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, a place he has come to adore and call his home. Posteraro serves as a professor in the Department of Healthcare Management and Leadership, where he teaches research methods, statistics, and informatics.

His energy and motivated spirit have made him a popular, passionate educator. Following his initial interview at Texas Tech, he was asked how long he planned to continue teaching.

Posteraro’s response: “When it stops being fun, I’ll let you know.”

The military education and training he received at Xavier was also useful to him later in life. Posteraro was an officer in the Army Reserves for over 24 years, rose to the rank of colonel, and was commander of the 829th Station Hospital. Under his command, the unit earned the 807th Medical Brigade’s Best in Brigade award.

For the past several years, Posteraro has battled inclusion body myositis, a chronic, progressive muscle disorder that has left him without the strength to lift his left forearm or his legs.

His hands fatigue if he types more than two lines in an email, requiring him to use a speech processor to dictate his words on his computer.

As he faces such a debilitating disease, anyone would question how he carries on. Posteraro’s answer

is simple—as long as his mind is there, he’s perfectly happy.

“Everything I do, from the simplest task, takes three to five times longer than it should,” he said. “On the other hand, it still gets done and my mind still works. To me, that’s a blessing.”

Posteraro spends his free time sharpening his mind; productivity and curiosity are his driving forces. He spends his days dabbling in Italian, Russian, French, Spanish, and in The New York Times puzzle game that has taken the world by storm—Wordle.

When he’s not filling Wordle boxes, he’s teaching 50 students—all of whom he loves, and who love him in return. He teaches his classes from his lift chair at home and, with the help of his wife, Elaine, he makes the most of his restrictions.

“I love seeing a student on their first day of classes not knowing the subject matter and then seeing their progression by the time they take a final,” he said.

Posteraro follows the Xavier tradition of teaching rigorous courses, encouraging and supporting his students to go beyond what they think they can accomplish. He combines this with his parents’ (both were teachers) model of care and concern for students every day. He believes in them, and they believe in him.

“In this day and age, we need smart, thoughtful, and critically thinking people,” Posteraro said. His goal is to do as much as possible to add more of those people to the next generation.

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’86 1986

Peter Chmiel has launched a new business, Go! NFT Yourself.

The company enables artists and brands to unlock the value in their IP and create new revenue streams selling NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

Hugh Golden, a former Xavier rugby player, reports that his son, Hugh Xavier, recently took up the sport. They recently attended the inaugural professional rugby game in Austin, Texas. During a youth clinic held before the game, Hugh began a conversation with one of the players, who said he had just arrived in Austin from New York City. “You went to Xavier, didn’t you?” Hugh immediately asked.

The player, Chris Mattina ’10, replied that he had, and he and Hugh shared a big hug. “I told Chris, of course, now he knows he has family in Austin,” Hugh writes.

Thomas Fletcher is in his 28th year with the Albany Police Department, where he serves as a sergeant.

After 30 years with the NYPD, the final two as New York City’s 44th Police Commissioner, Dermot Shea retired from the force on December 31. After a few weeks of vacation, including a trip to Grenada with his wife, he started a new role as president of commercial property management for Related Companies.

1987

Jim Creighton was happy to gather with his Xavier brothers at February’s Beefsteak Dinner.

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’87 his 17-year-old son, Ryan, and 15-year-old daughter, Lilly (who join his four older children), and celebrated his re-election as Town Councilman and appointment as Deputy Supervisor in the Town of Cortlandt, New York.

He chairs the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce’s Government Action Committee.

Jim recently celebrated his 35th reunion with his ’87 classmates.

Sean Kelly is celebrating 10 years of owning his independent insurance agency, The Insurance Outfit, in Chester, New Jersey.

His company focuses on auto, home, business, health, and life insurance. Alumni with insurance questions are welcome to email him at sean@theinsuranceoutfit.com.

1988

After 30 years in public education, Peter Caruso is retiring from Mesa Public Schools’ Skyline High School where he served as English department chair, service learning coach, and head swim coach. He plans to continue teaching as an adjunct instructor at Mesa Community College and Scottsdale Community College and may return to Mesa Public Schools this fall as part of the retired teacher program. Peter lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife, Carrie, and their children.

John Lictro recently passed the FINRA Series 24 General Securities Principal Exam and was promoted to serve as a General Securities Principal at Pareto Securities, Inc. in Midtown.

4.

’87

’88

5.

’88 Dan Sheehan recently celebrated his 25th year at Pfizer with a promotion to National Account Director in the company’s Payer and Channel Access group, overseeing U.S.-based business in Medicaid. He is happy to connect with younger alumni pursuing careers in the pharmaceutical industry. He can be reached at daniel.c.sheehan@pfizer.com.

Pat Steffens P’11 ’12 ’16 ’20 enjoyed the Annual NYPD Steuben Association Oktoberfest with his sons, Pat Steffens ’11 and Marty Steffens ’16, and Sean Finnerty ’00. While there, they ran into Dermot Shea ’86, then serving as Police Commissioner.

Alan Szydlowski has joined Citigroup as a senior vice president in the Risk Chief Operating Office.

1989

Charles Messina has written and co-produced a musical, The Wanderer, about the life and music of rock ‘n’ roll legend Dion DiMucci.

It premiered its pre-Broadway

1. Chris Mattina ’10 with Hugh Golden ’86 and his son, Hugh Xavier, in Texas.

2. Jim Creighton ’87.

3. Sean Kelly ’87.

4. Peter Caruso ’88.

5. Marty Steffens ’16, Pat Steffens ’88 P’11 ’12 ’16 ’20, former Police Commissioner Dermot Shea ’86, Sean Finnerty ’00, and Pat Steffens ’11.

’79

A FAMILY’S LEGACY HENRY FEENEY ’79 P’21

BY SHAWNA GALLAGHER VEGA

“ [MY FAMILY] KNEW THE VALUE OF A JESUIT EDUCATION. THEY WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND XAVIER—THE PINNACLE OF A JESUIT EDUCATION.” The Feeney family’s Xavier story began, as most Xavier stories do, with the love and sacrifice of hard-working parents.

“I was one of four children of Irish immigrants coming to America in the 1950s,” Henry Feeney ’79 P’21 said of his parents, Michael and Helen Feeney P’79, who hailed from Galway and Donegal, respectively.

“They knew the value of a Jesuit education. They worked hard to make sure I was able to attend Xavier—the pinnacle of a Jesuit education.”

Their son made the most of his time on 16th Street, embracing every academic and faith formation opportunity he was offered. “First and foremost, it laid the foundation for me becoming the person of faith that I am today,” he said of his time at Xavier. “I credit many of the teachers and administrators at Xavier for helping me achieve my goals— from Fr. Keenan and Mr. Gregory for teaching me the core values of discipline and the science and history department for forming the most wellrounded education. Whether it was challenging myself physically in the gym with Mr. Carpenter, many great moments attending most football games and watching Mr. Galbraith and Carpenter coach a passionate football program, or mentally in science and bio with Mrs. Lamour

or Mr. McLoughlin, or stimulating history discussions with Tom O’Hara … I also have many fond memories in the library with Ms. Salvati, who really taught me how to research and form some great writing skills. It made it a pleasure to come to school.”

Even as a teenager, Feeney knew he would enter the maritime industry.

The Brooklyn native earned his first license shortly after graduation and went on to a 42-year maritime career, including the last 21 years as a Staten Island Ferry captain.

His son, Luke Feeney ’21, has followed his father’s example in every way, soaking in the Jesuit education that has meant so much to generations of his family.

“From birth, we always wanted Luke to follow in my footsteps and join the Xavier family,” Feeney said. “I constantly relayed stories about my years at Xavier to Luke. It was just the natural progression of events that he would want to go to Xavier. We were very blessed that he was chosen to be a part of the Xavier family. His time at Xavier was truly a gift—forming friendships that will truly last a lifetime.

Whether on the lacrosse field or in the classroom, I believe his time at Xavier was an incredible experience.”

Luke is now a freshman at the Webb Institute, a small college in Glen Cove dedicated to naval architecture

and marine engineering. Earlier this year, he passed his captain’s license exam with the U.S. Coast Guard.

“I am proud he is following in my maritime footsteps, but taking it to the next level,” Feeney said. “His education at Xavier has helped to make him the wonderful man for others that he has become, both academically and spiritually.”

As Henry Feeney approaches his retirement in 2024, he is particularly reflective about—and grateful for—his family’s lasting connection to Xavier.

“I often look back at my time at Xavier and the solid foundation formed to pursue my passion,” he

said. “I was truly blessed to do exactly what I wanted to do with my life professionally and hope to continue to enjoy life on or near the ocean for many years to come with the love of my life, Pamela, of 33 years, and to enjoy Luke’s laughs and smiles. I am truly blessed. I think we all are.”

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’90

’91 run at the Paper Mill Playhouse on March 24. To learn more, visit thewanderermusical.com.

4.

In January 2021, Mark Morison was named head of the daily production team in the newlyformed content operations group at Bloomberg Television.

1990

’92 1. Patrick Coniconde ’90.

2. A promotional illustration for WFAN’s Tiki and Tierney, hosted by Tiki Barber and Brandon Tierney ’91.

3. John Regan ’91, COL John Giordano, USA (Ret.) ’91, COL Rod O’Connor, USAR ’91, COL Ed McGoldrick, USA ’91, SFC Peter Garcia, USA ’91, and COL Joe Degliuomini, USA ’91.

4. Alex Valich ’92, right.

Patrick Coniconde was recently recognized for 10 years of service at Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, California, where he works as a senior production designer for the Apple Online Store.

In December 2021, Francis Creighton was named a Top Lobbyist by The Hill.

COL Doug LeVien, USA was asked to deliver remarks at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

“Twenty years later, the 9/11 terrorist attacks have begun to slip from memory and history— as we who lived through that day make way for generations to learn about it. This was an era before social media, and it has been dimmed in public consciousness by waves of new disasters, issues, and devotions,” he said that day. “We will never forget and will always reflect and teach future generations.”

1991

Captain Brian O’Neill recently celebrated 26 years with the FDNY. 38

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3.

Anthony Freire is a professor at New York University, where he teaches graduate courses in the applied psychology department. He is the owner and clinical director of the Soho Center for Mental Health Counseling and recently received the Human Rights Leadership Award from the Manhattan Borough President’s office.

COL Rod O’Connor, USAR was recently promoted to Colonel in the Army Reserves and assumed command of the 151st Legal Operations Detachment at a ceremony hosted in Arlington, Virginia. Several of his Xavier classmates—SFC Peter Garcia, USA, COL John Giordano, USA (Ret.), COL Ed McGoldrick, USAR, John Regan, and COL Joe Degliuomini, USA attended.

Others affiliated with Xavier attended the ceremony remotely.

After nine years on the national scene at CBS Sports Radio and CBS Sports Network, Tiki and Tierney— hosted by Brandon Tierney and former New York Giants star Tiki Barber—returned home and joined the WFAN lineup on January 3.

Brandon is also broadcasting St. John’s University basketball games and hosting the Red Storm Report on MSG in addition to coaching baseball, basketball, and football for his 7-year-old son, Colton, and 5-year-old daughter, Kinsley. He also has a book in the works.

’91 1992

Sean O’Mara lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “We are overjoyed to announce the adoption of our son’s wee baby sister, who we have had placed with us since birth,” he writes. “She has brought a sparkle and a smile to our lives in these most trying times.”

Last August, Jimmy Ryan was promoted to Sergeant of Police with the North Charleston (South Carolina) Police Department.

Alex Valich just wrapped his first season co-hosting and producing the Bodega Boarder Crew surf talk show for Vans Channel 66 in Los Angeles.

1993

J.C. Bender recently completed his MBA with focus area specializations in strategic innovation and business analytics at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business.

Patrick “Tubz” Tubridy works in the entertainment industry, including as a SAG-AFTRA actor.

He recently joined RE/MAX Elite in Rockaway, Queens, and continues to work with Charles Ruterberg Realty in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He writes, “Some New Yorkers want to be in Florida. Some Floridians want to be in New York.

I’m happy to help them both.”

1994

Andrew Garcia recently participated in his first 100-

mile ultramarathon. “I made it through 62 miles before having to call it off due to injury,” he reports. “I am enthusiastic about giving it another try in 2022.”

1.

1995

Last summer, John Fernandez was elected to the board of the U.S. Chess Federation, the governing body for chess in the United States.

U.S. Chess boasts more than 93,000 members nationwide and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

1996

After 20 years of service, John Creighton retired from the NYPD in July 2021.

He lives in Manhasset.

David Geaney joined Barnet Products as chief operating officer in December 2019. Barnet is a supplier of specialty ingredients to the cosmetics industry.

Timothy Sommella will be the 1st Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard National Security Cutter Charles L. Calhoun homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. Named for the first Master Chief of the Coast Guard, the warship will be christened this July and will perform global operations in support of the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Defense from Africa to the Arctic to the South Atlantic and Eastern Pacific.

Joe Tully was recently elected to the partnership of Alston & Bird LLP. His practice focuses on complex commercial and securities litigation. He looks forward to seeing fellow members of the Xavier Bar Association in 2022, especially in person.

1997

Rev. Jared J. Brogan serves as the Director of Worship for the Diocese of Paterson. He is pursuing a Licentiate in Sacred Theology with a specialization in sacramental theology at the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

’99 Kyle Judge works in the music business as an executive and manager of such notable acts as Young Devyn (signed to 4th & B’way/Def Jam Records), Dru Oliver (Grammy-nominated vocal producer and platinumselling songwriter), and Lyrique J (platinum-selling songwriter on Chris Brown’s Indigo album). He is also the executive producer of a project by Young Devyn titled Baby Goat, which was released last summer on 4th & B’way/Island Records, and the forthcoming Baby Goat 2, to be released on 4th & B’way/Def Jam Records this spring.

After 10 years as an ocean marine cargo underwriter at TT Club in downtown Jersey City, John P. Murillo has moved on to Tokyo Marine America, also located in Jersey City, as the ocean marine cargo underwriter for the New York/New Jersey region.

1998

Charles Larkin and his wife, Nadine, reside in County Sligo, Ireland. Charlie works as director of research at the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath.

1999

1. Francesco Soru ’99 with Pope Francis.

Francesco Soru writes, “On Saturday, November 13, I had the honor of meeting Pope Francis while I was in Rome. My uncle, a 30+ year journalist covering the Vatican for Reuters, was honored with the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius and naturally, my entire family flew to Rome to celebrate this achievement with him. We were all lucky enough to greet the Pope twice, once before the ceremony and once afterwards. Not only was he a kind and welcoming man, but he had a great sense of humor as well, responding to my telling him ‘Sono stato educato dai Gesuiti’ (‘I was educated by the Jesuits’) with ‘Poveretto’ (‘You poor thing’) with a wink and a smile.

He then came back to me (after greeting my cousin) and shared a joke about the order in Latin before re-telling it in Italian, so that we could all understand. It made me proud yet again to be associated with Xavier and the wonderful Jesuit tradition that comes with it.”

2000

Alex Dabagh is the founder and creator of aNYbag, a company that repurposes plastic bags into reusable totes. The company has XAVIER MAGAZINE

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been profiled by various media outlets, including Business Insider.

1.

John Khinda recently played the part of Goldor in the independent film Donut Kid. For more information about John’s career, visit johnkhinda.com/news.

2001

’07 2.

Hans Augustave became a member of the Director’s Guild of America in January.

On the heels of his Harlem International Film Festival win for his short film Before I Knew, he has begun developing several projects that examine the need for vulnerability and healing among men in the Black community. His Brooklyn popup sober dance party, Reprieve, is in its third year of operation, and he recently collaborated with Recovery Centers of America on a New York Fashion Week event.

2003

David del Cuadro-Zimmerman is currently serving as the brigade operations officer for the 128th Aviation Brigade at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

’10 3.

2004

After serving as an enlisted member of the Army for 11 years, Julio Duran was appointed as a Warrant Officer One on February 16.

MAJ Sean McSherry, USA was selected for a Program Management position in the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps in 2021.

2005

’13 1. CPT Michael R. Nilsen, USA ’07 with his wife, Christina, and daughter, Faith Marie.

2. Patrick Nilsen ’10.

3. Scott Midgett ’13.

In March, C.J. Slicklen and his family moved to London, where he is supporting Brookfield Asset Management’s European expansion in the multifamily sector. “Our sons, Charlie, 3, and Austin, 1, are excited to see the double decker buses and hopefully pick up a British accent along the way.” Sons of Xavier in London are welcome to email C.J. at cjslicklen@gmail.com.

2006

Mike Patti is currently living in Long Island City, Queens. He 40

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is the co-head of a real estate sales and advisory team that services all five boroughs as well as the Hamptons, Upstate New York, and Connecticut.

2007

Seamus Campbell is running for Democratic District Leader/ State Committee Member for Brooklyn’s 52nd Assembly District.

CPT Michael R. Nilsen, USA is attending The Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to earn his master’s degree and receive his promotion to Major in the U.S. Army.

Christian Seabaugh is celebrating more than 10 years as an editor at MotorTrend. He recently led the first-ever electric off-road crossing of the United States for a MotorTrend feature and documentary series. Christian and his team left Nags Head, North Carolina, in a Rivian R1T electric pickup truck on July 17 and traveled to Port Orford, Oregon, via the Trans-America Trail, arriving on August 29.

2008

Andrés Cerpa’s second book of poetry, The Vault, was longlisted for the 2021 National Book Award and named one of best books of 2021 by The New York Times.

Kevin Keenan earned a Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State for his service as a Special Agent MEDIC. His next tour will be at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

2009

Peter Kouretsos lives in the Washington, D.C. area, where he works as an analyst supporting civilian and military leaders in the Department of Defense. He promises to visit 16th Street soon!

2010

Matthew Hickey is always looking to build his network in architecture, engineering, and cryptocurrency. He currently manages facade restoration projects at FSI

Architecture. He can be reached at matthewhickey06@gmail.com.

Patrick Nilsen was accepted to the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School and started the MBA program with the Class of 2023.

2011

Brian Leary lives in Breezy Point with his wife, Erin. Brian is a court officer for the NYS Courts, and Erin is an accountant.

Brian Mastro recently moved back to New York to begin a new job as a weather producer and meteorologist for the new Fox Weather platform.

2013

John Castillo was recently promoted to legislative assistant for Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08). “Some of the issues I will be covering are national security, defense, and veterans issues,” he writes.

Cormac Leddy graduated from the St. John’s University School of Law in May 2020 and passed the New York State bar exam in October of that year.

Scott Midgett has established himself as a successful DJ in Chicago. “I’m a regular at most of the top-notch clubs around the city and very active with many clients for private events as well,” he reports. “In addition to that, I just started this year as the official jumps coach for DePaul University Track & Field. It’s a Division 1 program that I was part of as an athlete as well.”

2014

After four years of service in New York state government, Aidan Hughes accepted a role as Clerk Secretary: Public Diplomacy and Outreach Officer at the Consulate General of Ireland New York.

Edward McCarthy graduated from Syracuse University in 2018.

He earned his MBA from St. John’s University and currently works for the New York Yankees.

Things change over time.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: XAVIER HALL OF FAME

But the heart and soul of Xavier endure.

Nominations are open for individuals to be inducted into the Xavier Hall of Fame.

All nominations are due by September 15, 2022.

Please consider leaving a legacy at Xavier.

Include Xavier in your will or trust, or designate Xavier as a beneficiary of an IRA or insurance policy. Your investment in Xavier students and faculty will pay dividends. Thanks to you, our 175-year history will endure for generations to come.

To become a member of the Larkin Legacy Society, please notify the Advancement Office that you have included Xavier in your estate plans. The society honors the legacy of John Larkin, S.J., who founded Xavier in 1847.

For more information, please visit Xavier’s planned giving website, xavierlarkinsociety.org.

The Larkin Legacy Society

The honorees will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Dinner in fall 2023. The Hall of Fame nomination criteria, nomination form, and a list of all Hall of Fame members can all be found on the alumni tab of our website at www.xavierhs.org.

Please email the completed nomination forms to Claudia Tierney P’20 at tierneyc@xavierhs.org.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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1.

2.

’15

3.

’17 be coaching soon-to-be Major League draft picks, many of whom compete for the top baseball colleges in the NCAA,” he writes.

5.

4.

’17

2017

’20

’18 6.

2015

’19 7.

’20 1. Michael Martell ’15, left.

2. Isaiah Blake ’17.

3. Francis McVeigh ’17, center.

4. John Hartofilis ’18 with Koby Altman.

5. Christopher Glynn ’20.

6. Ryan Messer ’19.

7. Mark McGrade ’20 with his mother.

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Michael Martell is bowling with the Professional Bowlers Association and running his own business. “My best finish as a touring professional is 13th at the 2019 USBC Masters, and my best finish on the regional pro tour is 2nd (7 times). I am currently running a bowling pro shop called 39Boards Pro Shop inside AMF Babylon Lanes, located in West Babylon, New York. When I am not traveling competing, this is my passion,” he writes.

“Additionally, I am a three-time Team USA Member (2018, 20202021). My ties to bowling began when I was very young, and it is something I will forever cherish.

Xavier taught me so much about professionalism and character, and I truly enjoy being able to embody those assets in my everyday life.”

Matthew Rienzi is an assistant baseball coach at St. Joseph’s University in Brooklyn, taking over the catchers, recruiting, and analytical breakdown of opponents for the D3 program.

He is also joining the coaching staff of the Ocean State Waves (New England Collegiate Baseball League) as a bullpen coach. “I will

Isaiah Blake is a history teacher at a New York City high school. “I am currently teaching AP U.S. History and Global History,” he reports. “I am always reflecting on my time on 16th Street while in the classroom!”

Mario Cimino recently helped launch Happy Grub Instant Pancake Mix. Rory Kinsella recently accepted a position in Northrop Grumman’s Future Technical Leaders Program.

Francis McVeigh was recently promoted to the rank of Corporal in the United States Marine Corps while serving with the Tactical Training Exercise Control Group in Twentynine Palms, California.

In November, Brandon Sapienza was hired by Bloomberg, where he works as a breaking news editor covering finance and global events.

2018

Shortly after becoming a varsity basketball coach at Xavier in October, John Hartofilis started an internship at MSG Networks. He was able to meet former Xavier freshman basketball coach Koby Altman, president of basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers, courtside before the Knicks vs. Cavs game.

2019

Christian Batchez is a student at the College of the Holy Cross. He co-created the Who is Worcester art installation that aims to inspire student interest in the Worcester community.

After his Xavier graduation, Jack Byrne started Sidetalk, a street show on Instagram (@SidetalkNYC).

“It’s a high energy, one-minute street show that captures the true spirit and energy present within the city,” Byrne said of the show, which had more than 1.4 million followers by late April. “I have received feature stories in New York Magazine, Forbes, The New York Post, and many other publications.

I was also recently nominated as an ‘independent creator of the year’ by the YouTube Streamy awards, YouTube’s biggest award show.”

Ryan Messer made the falconry team at the United States Air Force Academy in March 2021.

Since then, he has given 200+ hours of community service to the Air Force and Colorado Springs area.

2020

Christopher Glynn is a full-time employee of Solar Electric Systems, Inc., a Local Union No. 3 contractor.

Mark McGrade is a student in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, having transferred from Iona College. He is looking forward to going to Sea Trials for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps this summer with his classmates.

1.

2.

3.

4.

HALL OF FAME DINNER

October 29, 2021 • Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers

5.

6.

1. Robert Genco ’82 and Tom Weatherall ’82. 2. Cadet Colonel Giuseppe Quatela ’22 with his parents, Frank and Antoinette Quatela P’22. 3. Members of the Xavier Regiment. 4. President Jack Raslowsky with 2021 Hall of Fame inductees Dr. Jim Morgan ’82 P’12, Hank Woehling ’55, Rich Nolan ’83, Dan Rodriguez ’58, Mike Puglisi ’68, and emcee Michael Gargiulo ’77. 5. (Standing) Kelli Herd, Jim Keenan, S.J., and MaryAnne Sweeney. (Seated) Ellen Cunningham P’12, Dr. Jim Morgan ’82 P’12, and Noreen Connolly. 6. Zach Presutti, S.J., Kevin Spinale, S.J., Jack Raslowsky, and Thomas Feely, S.J. 7. John Medina ’83 and Hank Woehling ’55. 8. Valerie and Mike Puglisi ’68.

7.

8.

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1.

2.

3.

4.

BEEFSTEAK DINNER

February 18, 2022 • Xavier High School

5.

6.

1. Michael Juszczak ’09, history teacher Chris Stevens ’83, Jimmy Stec ’09, and Michael Dedza ’09. 2. Tom O’Hara ’69 P’04 ’06, Jim Keenan, S.J., Dr. Franklin Caesar ’72 P’00, and Tim Tweedy ’82. 3. Director of Alumni Relations Zane Massey ’96 P’22, Malik Fisher ’17, Teddy Boateng ’15, Associate Director of Admissions Marvin Thomas ’96, and Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25. 4. Liam Coles ’15, Oliver Kuczynski ’15, Daniel McLaren ’15, and Ryan McCallion ’15. 5. Phil Whalen ’74, Neil McCarthy ’74, Kevin McLaughlin ’74, Tim Crowe ’74, Brendan Crowe ’78, and Robert Vaccaro ’78. 6. Dorrian Dixon ’99, Kevin Reinhart ’99, and Ali Campbell ’99. 7.

Brian Donnelly ’02, Joe Tully ’96, Thomas Fitzgerald ’96, Brendan Loud ’98, and Kenneth Marino ’95.

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7.

1.

’21 1. Robert Betsais ’21.

2021

Robert Betsais has continued his rugby career at Fairfield University. “This past season as a freshman, I started every game. At the end of the season, I was awarded Second Team All-Conference for the Liberty Conference,” he writes. “I was also selected to the National Collegiate Rugby All-Star Team.”

“After playing volleyball with Julie Teller and Greg Stelzer ’11 for Xavier’s first-ever team, I wanted to continue playing volleyball as much as I could, so I decided to try out for the club team at Holy Cross,” Joseph Rowdis writes. “I made

the team after tryouts, and we have been practicing since October, even now. Since December, we started playing other teams (for a scrimmage) and recently, we started playing in round-robin tournaments against men’s club teams from local universities. This will lead to potentially playoffstyle tournaments and other matches in the future. … I have had so much fun being on the club volleyball team this year, and it has helped me enjoy my time at Holy Cross overall—one of my favorite experiences.”

June 2010 was as difficult as my time on 16th Street was incredibly life-giving to me,” he reflected.

At the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, he moved back to the classroom as a theology teacher at St. Teresa’s Academy, also in Kansas City.

He remains actively involved with Esperanza International in Tijuana and has been on their Board of Directors for 10 years.

“I really enjoy being back in the classroom,” he said. “To this day, I often look back to my days on 16th Street with much joy.”

Former Faculty Notes

ANTHONY SOOHOO, S.J. After completing his doctoral studies at New York University and working at St. Ignatius Parish in Manhattan, Anthony SooHoo, S.J. moved to Rome to begin the next chapter of his Jesuit mission.

Currently, he is a member of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies faculty at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, one of the world’s top biblical institutes of higher learning.

GREG HARKNESS After leaving Xavier, former Dean of Academics Greg Harkness moved to Kansas City to become the principal of Rockhurst High School for nine years.

“My decision to leave Xavier in

STAY CONNECTED TO #SONSOFXAVIER.

His students come from more than 60 countries to learn about the Bible; when they graduate, they return to their home countries to teach in seminaries and universities.

SooHoo teaches classes in the ancient history and archaeology of Mesopotamia and Egypt as well as languages such as Biblical Aramaic and Akkadian cuneiform.

His courses help students understand the historical and cultural context in which the Bible was written and transmitted so that they can become better interpreters of Scripture.

When he’s not teaching, SooHoo helps out at the Oratorio San Francesco Saverio del Caravita, which has a weekly Mass for the English-speaking community in Rome.

“One of the joys of being in the Eternal City has been welcoming former students and friends from Xavier who have come to visit Rome as pilgrims,” SooHoo said.

Former Faculty Notes concerts, and operas transport him beyond the daily humdrum.

Xavier, of course, has been one of the many places where Nilles has done God’s work on Earth. “Ignatian spirituality, as lived at Xavier, heals, consoles and leads us to gratitude for the many blessings we have been given,” he said. “Many Xavier men, women, and of course students have been mentors, friends, and guides to show me the way on this earthly pilgrimage. There are too many to be mentioned here, but I offer my thankful prayers to all of them.”

AL NILLES What does legendary French and German teacher Al Nilles do with his free time now that he no longer takes the Staten Island Ferry to Xavier every morning?

“How do I fill those idle hours meaningfully?” he asks.

“I should not have worried, because at this point in my life, I wish the day had 36 hours.”

Family takes up much of Nilles’ time. He and his wife, Alice, have spent 54 years together in marital harmony. “I cannot adequately express my gratitude to her for putting up with me,” Nilles reflected. Their son, Paul, lives in Ohio with his wife and works at Ohio University Airport in Athens.

Paul has his own small airplane on which he works tirelessly to keep it in good shape. The family often meets in New York, Ohio, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin—home of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Their other son, John, and his family live in Florida, so Nilles devotes many hours to communicating with them via 46

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email, video calls, and of course, visiting them as often as he can. “I have three grandsons—Andrew, who is 11, and the identical twins, Luke and Ryan, who were born on Christmas Day in 2014.

When we meet, they run me to a frazzle, playing and chasing me.”

Speaking of running, Nilles is still active, and had many good races in 2021—in all five boroughs. “I am still a member of my Staten Island Running Club and of the New York Road Runners. Lately, though, I have cut back and run at an easier pace.”

His interest in aviation is still going strong—he often visits aircraft museums, occasionally flies in small airplanes, and he recently spent a week in Oshkosh at the Experimental Aircraft Association.

There and elsewhere in the U.S., he has flown in many different types of aircraft—ranging from World War II bombers to ultra-lights.

Other hobbies that occupy Nilles’ time include photography, traveling, gardening, visiting museums, and attending classical

music concerts. “I mostly take outdoor pictures which brings me in contact with the beautiful works of our Creator,” he said.

“Carl Sagan’s ‘Blue Marble’ is a miracle indeed—not only do I roam the metropolitan area for my shots, I also travel across our great country,” Nilles added, “especially the Rockies, where inspiration and nature compel me to take far too many photographs.”

He spends hours cataloging and saving them on digital media.

When (if) he has spare time, he takes to reading—mostly nonfiction—and surfing the web for news and relaxation. “Television no longer uses much of my time.”

Gardening is another one of his many hobbies. “I witness countless miracles when tiny seeds blossom into beautiful flowers and vegetables. Equally exciting is beauty created by human hands, which abound in the many forms of almost transcendental art.

Human imagination at its best can almost be otherworldly,” he said. Visits to museums,

BOB AND MAUREEN REINHART When Maureen and Bob Reinhart ’69 P’94 ’99 retired in 2019, they had set their sights on three things: time with grandkids, time to travel, and downsizing by securing a co-op to buy and renovate.

Travel has been going well for the pair. They cruised the Danube and the Rhine from Budapest to Amsterdam and visited Bob’s godfather in Florida; then they and the rest of the world took a break.

“That gave us time to find our forever home and renovate it—a bumpy journey during the pandemic, but helped by our attorney Robert Kurzatkowski ’04,” Bob said.

In the fall of 2021, they started up again, celebrating their 50th anniversary with a first-class reprise of their honeymoon in Virginia; then they were off to Kansas City, Nashville, and St. Louis, with time to visit Greg Harkness. This year, they have journeyed to Central California, Sedona, and Phoenix, checking in with another former faculty member, Deena Sellers, while there.

Next up are Alaska, England, Ireland, Florida’s Space Coast, and visits to Greg Belli ’69, St. Augustine, and family there. Past that, they will be cruising the lower Mississippi from New Orleans to Memphis, and visiting the German Christmas Markets from Berlin to Prague. “Bob has us booked through 2023…so far,” said Maureen.

But the joy of being together, watching their four grandchildren grow and having the flexibility to do so has been the best part of retirement for the Reinharts.

years, including our visits back after we moved, and especially Breakfast with Santa. I’m also so grateful to be able to see my friends from Xavier and pick up right where we left off. Xavier is a special place and I have no doubt that the personal and professional connections I

“Liam, Daniel, Shane, and Katherine are fun to be with and they seem to enjoy time with Granny and Grandpa as well,” the two reflected.

“Life has changed, but certainly not ended,” Bob said.

EILEEN O’NEILL CARTY When talk turns to the history department at Xavier through the years, Eileen O’Neill Carty is a name that always comes to mind.

Carty taught history at Xavier from 2003 to 2015. After 15 years of living and working in New York City, she and her husband, Gerry, made the decision to move to Flourtown, Pennsylvania for a different pace of life.

“As hard as it was to leave Xavier, it was the right decision for my young family at the time,” she reflected. “I always said I wished I could have packed up

forged there will last a lifetime.”

Her kids are getting older and thriving in their schools, with their friends, and with their activities in Pennsylvania. Ellen, her oldest, is now 13 and entering high school in the fall; Niall is 11 and in the fifth grade; and Sarah is 9 and in the third grade. Between swimming, baseball, Irish dance, volleyball, soccer, and Gaelic football, they stay very busy.

She looks forward to visiting Xavier again soon now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted. “I am always rooting for Xavier and keep on top of the latest and greatest things going on there. Keep marching!”

Former students and colleagues can contact Eileen at cartye2015@gmail.com.

Xavier and taken it with me!

I have found a new home in Pennsylvania, but Xavier will always remain close to my heart.”

Carty started working at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in the fall of 2015 and is now in her seventh year at the school. Gwynedd is an all-girls Catholic school run by the Sisters of Mercy. Carty started in the history department there, serving as department chair before making the shift into administration. She became dean of student affairs in 2019. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Educational Leadership at Villanova University.

She keeps in regular contact with her friends from Xavier and, prior to the pandemic, visited Xavier with her three kids when traveling back to see family in New York.

“I love that my kids have such fond memories of Xavier over the XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Milestones

Anna Pietrzak and Jimmy Ryan ’92

Emily Kelly and Daniel Haber ’11

WEDDINGS

Jimmy Ryan ’92 married Anna Pietrzak at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 15, 2021—945 days after proposing at the 2019 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Charles Larkin ’98 married Nadine Shannon on January 16, 2021, at Holy Trinity Church in Ballisodare, County Sligo, Ireland.

Andrew Troisi ’99 married Kelli Latchem at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park on September 11, 2021. Rev. Anthony Andreassi officiated.

Peter Troisi ’02 served as best man and Edward Carroll ’99, 48

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Greg McGovern ’05 and Deanna Simone

Andrew Troisi ’99 and Kelli Latchem

Bryan Fryer ’99, and James Reilly ’99 were groomsmen.

Nicholas Martinez ’04 married Annika Lescott at the Church of St. Francis Xavier on September 11, 2021. Kenneth Boller, S.J. presided over the ceremony.

MAJ Sean McSherry, USA ’04 married his wife, Laura, in May 2021.

Greg McGovern ’05 married Deanna Simone on February 11.

Daniel Haber ’11 married Emily Kelly at Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Georgia on September 25, 2021.

Kyle Stelzer ’13 and Kelly Walsh

Charles Larkin ’98 and Nadine Shannon

Annika Lescott and Nicholas Martinez ’04 with celebrant Ken Boller, S.J.

Brian Leary ’11 wed Erin Tacopina on October 1, 2021.

Conor Leary ’15 served as best man and Sean Strongreen ’10, Matt O’Connor ’10, and Joe Bellettiere ’11 numbered among the groomsmen. Jimmy Morgan ’14, James McCool ’11, Taylor Conlon ’10, Tom Welsh ’10, and Tim Crockett ’08 were guests.

Kyle Stelzer ’13 married Kelly Walsh at Fordham University Church in December 2021. The couple met at Fordham eight years earlier during their freshman year of college.

BIRTHS

Hank Woehling ’55 welcomed a great-grandson, Kevin Angelito Woehling, in February.

Erin Tacopina and Brian Leary ’11

Bob Steeves ’64 welcomed his fifth great-grandchild on December 22, 2021.

Conrad Tridente ’66 and his wife, Jackie, welcomed their fifth grandchild, Beckett Walsh Tridente, on August 20, 2021.

Beckett was born in Maine and joins four other Tridente grandchildren—his 2-year-old brother, Easton Arthur Tridente; Mattingly Tridente Fahey, 12, and Richard Ryan Fahey, 14, of Massachusetts; and Brendan Michael Blazier, 15, of New Jersey.

Anthony Barricelli ’74 welcomed his second grandchild, Anthony, on March 9, 2021.

UPCOMING EVENTS GRADUATION AT ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL June 9, 2022 Watch live at saintpatrickscathedral.org/live

Samuel James Scott, son of Julian Robert Scott ’06

Apollo Giovanino Scalercio, son of Christian Delgado-Scalercio ’96

175TH ANNIVERSARY NEW YORK TOUR: Blew Smoke, Brooklyn June 16, 2022 175TH ANNIVERSARY NEW YORK TOUR: Rory Dolan’s, Yonkers June 23, 2022 175TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES: Service at New York Common Pantry July 28, 2022 JERSEY SHORE RECEPTION August 11, 2022 QUOGUE RECEPTION August 25, 2022

Will Fallon ’07 with his wife, Hermione, and son, Theodore

Owen, Zachary, and Makenzie Grace, great-grandchildren of Bob Steeves ’64

Joseph Fama ’75 and his wife, Nancy, welcomed August Fair Halsey, their third grandchild and first granddaughter, in May 2021.

Julian Robert Scott ’06 and his wife, Kaylee, welcomed their son, Samuel James Scott, on April 22, 2021.

Samuel joins his big sister, Marguerite.

Christian Delgado-Scalercio ’96 and his wife Nina welcomed their second child, Apollo Giovanino Scalercio, on August 14, 2021, in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Frank Zito ’06 and his wife, Madeline, welcomed a daughter, Carina, on February 19.

Kieran Wilhelm ’01 and his wife welcomed their second child, Isabelle Catherine Wilhelm, on December 16, 2021.

Julio Duran ’04 and his wife welcomed a daughter, Nora, on August 8, 2021.

Will Fallon ’07 and his wife, Hermione, welcomed a son, Theodore, in February 2020. They live in London.

John Kahaly ’11 and his wife, Rachel, recently welcomed their first child, Charlotte.

175TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES: Anniversary Exhibition September 8, 2022 ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE October 15, 2022 TURKEY BOWL November 24, 2022

Watch live at xavierhs.org/livestream

175TH ANNIVERSARY GALA December 3, 2022 To register and view the latest event updates, visit xavierhs.org/events.

XAVIER MAGAZINE

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In Memoriam Alumni

Joseph Allocca ’35, 11/3/21 Oscar Fissore ’36, 7/11/05 John V. Caffrey ’38, 11/1/21 John “Jack” Kaske ’42, 6/21/21 Deacon John Maloney ’42 , 3/7/22 Dr. Michael Mastrangelo ’45,

4/18/21

John “Jack” McGoldrick ’45,

6/28/21

Rev. Robert McGuire, S.J. ’45,

10/19/21

Rev. Joseph Minturn ’45, 2/19/19 Robert White ’46, 3/2/20 Paul Hurley, Jr. ’47, 8/26/21 William Brady ’48, 10/3/21 William Haid ’48, 5/1/21 James Fullam ’49, 8/24/21 Eugene Faber ’50, 1/22/21 Henry Lavery ’50, 1/14/22 Rev. Thomas O’Gorman, S.J. ’50,

11/22/21

David Long ’51, 5/28/20 Walter Misdom ’51, 9/1/21 Edward DeLamater ’52, 5/28/15 Ronald Cobert ’53, 6/6/19 Thomas Donohue ’54, 8/21/21 Thomas Zoeller ’54, 1/26/22 John Gallagher ’55, 6/19/21 COL F. Paul Spera ’55, 8/18/21 William Gatti ’56, brother of

Joseph Gatti ’58 and former Xavier president Rev. Daniel Gatti, S.J. ’59, 1/8/22 Jerome Harkins ’56, 2/25/22 Msgr. Thomas A. Modugno ’56, 1/13/22 Charles Thomas ’56, 2/26/22 Thomas Donnelly ’57, brother of Samuel Donnelly ’51† and William Donnelly ’54†, 2/10/22 Alan Nasser ’57, 1/11/22 Francis Ruth ’57, 2/26/22 50

XAVIER MAGAZINE

Carl Valentino ’57, 11/9/21 Gerard Feeney ’58, 7/9/21 John Javora ’58, unknown George Theologus ’59, 5/4/21 Francis Fallon ’60, 12/21/21 Robert Galligan ’60, 1/8/22 Dr. Robert Weierman ’60,

10/21/21

John Booth ’61, 7/1/21 John Cummings ’61, 1/7/05 Edward R. Zampella ’62,

cousin of Arthur Zampella ’67, Edward Zampella ’73, and Walter Zampella ’76, 1/20/22 Hon. John Finn ’63, 9/19/21 John Mikos ’63, 11/11/21 Michael Nealis, D.M.D. ’64, 7/18/21 Anthony Quaglieri ’64, 6/23/21 Richard Saladino ’64, 8/7/21 Herbet Hugo ’65, brother of Bryan Hugo ’66, 10/7/21 James LaCorte, Esq. ’65, 12/22/21 Kenneth Torre ’67, 9/5/21 Frederic Wheeler ’67, 8/27/21 Douglas Burke ’68, 6/21/21 Terrence O’Rourke ’68, 3/6/20 Joseph Trank, Jr. ’68, 11/16/21 Thomas Viscelli ’69, 12/15/21 Denis Smith ’71, brother of Vincent Smith ’67, Cornelius Smith ’69, and Padraic Smith ’79, 8/29/21 William McDonnell ’72 , 12/12/20 James Stewart ’72, 4/19/21 Edward Bailey ’73, 12/8/21 Robert Daly, Esq. ’73, 4/16/20 Dr. John C. Koscica ’73, 7/1/21 Michael Smith ’76, 1/16/22 William Staranka ’76, 7/1/21 Peter Matera ’78, 11/25/21

Thomas Moreo ’85, brother of Peter Moreo, Jr. ’77 and James Moreo ’82, 12/30/21 Robert Granato ’86, 6/24/21 Christopher Murtagh ’95, brother of Brendan Murtagh ’04, 10/8/21 Alexander K. Nuñez ’04, son of former staff member Melba Nuñez P’03 ’04 ’06 and brother of Luis Nuñez ’03 and Nicholas Nuñez ’06, 7/30/21

Parents

Betsey Langley P’70, mother of Dennis Langley ’70, 9/25/21 Edward T. Coyne, Sr. P’70 ’72, father of Edward Coyne, Jr. ’70, Peter Coyne ’72, and Paul Coyne ’72, 9/16/21 COL Herbert H. Schader, USA (Ret.) P’71, father of John

Schader ’71, 12/6/21

Virginia Caesar P’72 ’81,

mother of Dr. Franklin Caesar ’72 P’00 and Francis Caesar ’81 and grandmother of Nicholas Caesar ’00, 8/17/21 Susan Calangelo P’74, mother of Rich Calangelo ’74 and aunt of Devin Waney ’17, 1/25/22 Jozefa Kulpa P’75, mother of John S. Kulpa ’75, 2/26/21 George Evans P’78 ’80 ’81 ’84, father of Timothy Evans ’78,

William Evans ’80, Thomas Evans ’81, and Francis Evans ’84 and grandfather of George Evans ’24, 9/26/21 Segundo Porras P’79 ’80, father of Cornelio Porras ’79 and Fernando Porras ’80, 12/1/21 Judy Kane P’80, wife of Thomas Kane ’57 P’80 and mother of Thomas Kane, Jr. ’80, 12/29/21

William Maher P’80, father of

Thomas Maher ’80, 2/17/22 Patricia Geraghty P’81, wife of Ronald Geraghty ’50 P’81†, mother of Ronald Geraghty, Jr. ’81, and grandmother of Timothy Gannon, Jr. ’23 and Jack Geraghty ’23, 1/4/22 Charles Marquardt P’82, father of Charles Marquardt ’82, 1/27/22 George J. Brecht P’83, father of Gregory Brecht ’83, 1/18/22 Eileen Olshey P’83, mother of Neil Olshey ’83, sister of Frank Lynch ’52† and Kevin Lynch ’61, and grandmother of Stephen Ryan ’19 and Thomas Ryan ’21, 10/2/21 William R. Johnson P’84 ’87 ’90, father of James Johnson ’84,

Robert Johnson ’87, and Eugene Johnson ’90, 6/27/21 Frances Tuseo P’86, mother of Frank Tuseo ’86, 7/19/21 Mary Riordan Wilhelm P’87 ’92 ’01, daughter of Thomas

F.X. Riordan 1912†, mother of Matthew Wilhelm ’87, Damian Wilhelm ’92, and Kieran Wilhelm ’01, and grandmother of Nathanael Wilhelm ’23, 2/18/22 Donna Cognata P’99, mother of Dominick Cognata ’99, 7/23/21 Stanislaw Gebka P’09, father of James Gebka ’09, 1/7/22 Michael Fuller P’10, father of Jesse Fuller ’10, 7/26/21

Spouses

Patricia Mulvihill, wife of Peter

Mulvihill ’52†, 1/30/22 Annette Garafola, wife of Larry Garafola ’58, 9/5/21 Carol Ann Hedden Hackett, wife of Dr. John P. Hackett ’59, 9/19/20

Nancy Ruconich, wife of John

Ruconich ’61, 10/13/21

Gemma Sullivan, wife of

Thomas Sullivan ’62, 10/25/21 Jude Campbell, wife of Tom Campbell ’64, 9/2/21 Jeanne Kuklin, wife of Steven Kuklin ’73, 2/16/22 Katherine Tattam, wife of Timothy Tattam ’76 and sisterin-law of Kevin Tattam ’72, 8/24/21 Karen Blaine, wife of Alexander Blaine ’79, 10/27/21

Faculty/Family

Br. Theodore C. Bender, S.J., former Xavier staff member, 2/7/22 Peter Bertolotti, brother of Fr. David P. Bertolotti ’78, 8/4/21 Rev. James J. Dinneen, S.J., member of the Xavier faculty from 1965-1980, 10/23/21 Elizabeth Gorski, wife of former Vice President for Advancement Joseph Gorski, 3/1/22 Philip Mead, father of math teacher Cindy DeRose, 1/26/22 Robert Meyer, former staff member, 1/29/22 Daisy Nowbath, mother of Assistant Director of Technology Freddy Nowbath, 12/11/21

Children

Michael Lacovara, son of Philip

Lacovara ’60, 2/25/22

Lindsey Whalen, daughter of

Philip Whalen ’74, 12/12/21

XAVIER MAGAZINE

51

BAC K S TO RY

A Senior’s Ref lection

By EDDIE YOUNG ’22

Xavier has always been an essential aspect of my life and it continues to be. I remember going to playoff football games held at Mitchel Field as a child—and although people only knew me as Mr. Young’s son, they embraced me as another member of the Xavier community. Regardless of the score, parents, faculty, and family members cheered and appeared to me as one big family. As I got older, I came to realize that Xavier truly is one big family, filled with generations of men from all different backgrounds.

When the time came to decide where I was going to high school, I was set on Xavier. The interactions I had with students annually on the CFX Mexico trip, which I started attending in the second grade, made it apparent that it was the right place for me. In each small group I was a part of on the trip, I was amazed with the way students spoke and reflected on the interactions they had with the local people. Year after year, as the week progressed, a shift occurred—first in perception, then in language. “Us and them” increasingly became “we.” Students recognized their shared humanity with the people with whom they worked to build homes in the intense heat.

To see people undergo that change, let alone high school students, had a significant impact on me and helped me to see that Xavier was somewhere I could go to develop myself intellectually and academically.

I later realized after many lectures from Mr. Raslowsky that students on each of those CFX Mexico trips were living out the principles of the Grad at Grad. Open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice are more than just words; they are a challenge to live a particular way. My expectations for Xavier students were high, and over the course of the pandemic, my expectations were met and then some.

When I look back to how we responded to the pandemic I am beyond impressed, but truthfully, not surprised. In the midst of all the chaos, we did what we thought was necessary with the wellbeing of the students at the center. As a Xavier student during the shutdown, I witnessed the level of attentiveness that my peers and teachers brought to every class even though we were remote.

The realization for me came when Xavier switched to a hybrid schedule in September 2020. I was one of the students who had to come in every day during the hybrid schedule, and although it was challenging I was not alone. I bonded with my fellow soccer, track, and rugby teammates and other student-athletes who were commuting every day to sit in the gym to attend online classes just to make it to practice. We persevered through the craziness of remote learning, even in the gym.

Knowing that we were going through unprecedented times together helped us to overcome the obstacles that came with going to school during the pandemic.

As we transition back to normality, I am appreciative of not only the students’ response but the faculty and staff’s response to the pandemic. Over the past two years, the Xavier student body has been thanked numerous times by the administration for their perseverance in the face of adversity.

The Dean of Students set dates for the gradual removal of pandemic restrictions, if the entire student body worked to keep the numbers down. Every goal was achieved, and the school was able to adjust efficiently. Living through the pandemic as a Son of Xavier solidified my perception of who Xavier students really are—resilient, adaptable, committed to the common good.

This year, the 175th year of Xavier, has illuminated many archival stories and accounts of Xavier’s amazing history. The constant switches from mandates and regulations over the past academic year have been rather seamless. The Xavier community as a whole has inspired each other to keep marching forward, and it has been wonderful to be a part of such a historic year.

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XAVIER MAGAZINE

From the Archives

1938

Until his death in March at the age of 98, Deacon John Maloney ’42 remained deeply grateful for the Xavier scholarship that set him on a path to a fulfilling life of service to others.

Born in Harlem to John Maloney and Margaret Morrissey Maloney P’42, young John excelled at his elementary school, St. Joseph’s, and earned scholarships to several high schools. In a letter dated June 4, 1938, Xavier Headmaster Thomas Coffey, S.J. informed John that he had beaten out 800 competitors to win the full-tuition Mrs. Mary O’Beirne Scholarship. “I hope that you will be happy at Xavier and will profit by your good fortune,” Fr. Coffey wrote. John saved the letter all his life.

After graduating from Xavier, John earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Joseph’s Seminary and a master’s degree in social work at Fordham University, where he was named the outstanding student in his class. A lifelong social worker, he worked with street gangs and later rose to executive positions at CYO and various childcare agencies. In 1973, he was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of New York and elected Councilman for the Town of Clarkstown, New York. He would become the longest-serving deacon of the Archdiocese as well as Clarkstown’s longest-serving Councilman. John continued his service as a deacon, which brought him great joy, well into his later years, bringing Communion to the homebound and those in a local correctional facility and nursing home every Sunday. He also served as chaplain for the correctional facility and the Nanuet Fire Engine Company.

Through it all, he never forgot Xavier.

He took pride in making annual gifts to his alma mater, culminating in a gift directed toward financial aid in the final year of his life.

And John Maloney’s Xavier legacy continues— shortly after his death, his daughter, Joan Moran, honored her father with a five-figure gift to the school that changed his life.

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