Xavier Magazine: Summer 2026

XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL

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

SUMMER 2026

XAVIER RUGBY AT 50

SUMMER 2026

Benjamin Dirks ’26, Daniel Stevens ’27, and Xavier Zaballero ’27 sing the opening number of Guys and Dolls during the Xavier Dramatics Society’s spring musical production of the Broadway classic.

In This Issue 2.

From the President

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News from 16th Street

16. Xavier Rugby at 50 22. Bringing the Constitution to Life 26. An Enduring Brotherhood 34. Sons of Xavier 52. Back Story

SUMMER 2026

Xavier High School Jack Raslowsky P’16 President Kim Smith Headmaster Shawna Gallagher Vega, APR Vice President for Communications and Marketing Editor, Xavier Magazine Contributors Ralph Dinielli Michael LiVigni P’21 Michael O’Brien ’19 David Orlando ’17 Jennifer Reeder Astrea Slezak Photography Kaija DeWitt-Allen Harisch Studios Troy House P’25 Michael Marmora Reena Rose Sibayan Mark Wyville Design Erbach Communications Group How to Reach Us Xavier Magazine 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011 Email: news@xavierhs.org

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 Members of the 1985 national championship-winning rugby team.

Sustainability In keeping with Xavier’s commitment to sustainability, this publication is printed on FSC-certified paper.

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/// FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Community Grounded in Love

Dear Sons of Xavier, Parents and Friends, I am beginning this letter in early May from Tynantown on the 6th floor of the Lynch Building, named in honor of John Tynan, S.J., Xavier’s 24th president, who served from 1946 to 1951. Fr. Tynan moved the Jesuit scholastics to this space during his tenure. The whys and wherefores of that move, and the exploits of countless regents who lived here, are best left to another time and another author. I suspect most of that history is lost to time.

I often come to Tynantown to write. I have a second office here: no computer; plenty of books, including those by Xavier’s theological triumvirate—John Courtney Murray, S.J. 1920, Walter Burghardt, S.J. ’36 and Roger Haight, S.J. ’51; and a phone with an unpublished line. While the distractions are lessened, I am surrounded by the sounds of Xavier life. This morning the raucous

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cheers emanating from the Commons Gym for the faculty-student pickleball tournament. A few days ago, it was the spirited sounds of the Regiment on the C Building roof, the X-Squad and the Raiders, literally just a few feet from my window, and the Drum Corps rhythms drifting up from Tirelli Quad reminding all that they are back, and back with a vengeance.

Life on 16th Street is always filled with great sights and sounds, never more so than spring. In the last few weeks we have had senior conversations, the Holocaust Studies Dinner with outstanding student presentations, Regimental awards, our celebration of the Ascension, and literally dozens of games and meets.

The spring sports season drew to a close on Saturday, June 6. By 5 p.m. that day, the varsity rugby team captured the state championship. About three hours later at Fordham University, the varsity baseball team captured the CHSAA AA-2 championship, and the post-game celebration continued until the skies opened up. The rain came down like holy water blessing our efforts that day.

The reunion season began as it always does with our Golden Knights. John Kapp ’48 P’77 was the senior alumnus with us and there was a great collection of men who graduated 50+ years ago. Msgr.

Bob Thelen ’63, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, celebrated Mass along with Fr. Dan Murphy ’65, a priest of the Diocese of Paterson and a member of the Campus Ministry team at Xavier. The opportunity to join our prayers that morning with the prayers of Xavier’s Sons past and to come was once again a gift: God’s grace made real. The 50th and 60th reunions followed as did the 50th anniversary celebration of Xavier rugby. Tom O’Hara ’69 P’04 ’06 shared wonderful reflections on Xavier rugby, recognizing

in a particular way the Outlaws from the first two seasons who launched this great Xavier tradition.

A Xavier rugby photo essay joins stories on brotherhood and our year-long celebration of the U.S. Constitution in this magazine. Mike LiVigni P’21’s article on the Constitution beautifully captures the work of the history department, their commitment to quality engagement in and out of the classroom and their work to form engaged citizens who can actively take part in our democracy. In these divisive times, we need our students to lean in so they are well-equipped to “transform the world for God’s greater glory.” The work of the history department is a source of pride for us all in helping our students to do so. (And yes, in one history classroom staffed by a distinguished alumnus from 1983, shoes still do, occasionally, fly.)

For many years, the Xavier graduation is followed soon thereafter by Jesuit ordinations. Ordination day is always a day of joy. There is a beauty in the music and the ritual of this sacred liturgy. This year was especially so as we celebrated the ordination of John Pignone, S.J. John did his regency at Xavier—part of a long line of distinguished Jesuit regents on 16th Street—Novak, Fitzpatrick, Keenan, Boller, Biagi, Schineller, Hevern, SooHoo, Baker, Casals, Said, Leeper, and hundreds of others. He taught religion, negotiated the COVID craziness, and with great enthusiasm coached freshman football when sports began again. John served Xavier well. As he begins his priesthood, I am confident he will serve the Church with distinction. Ad multos annos, Fr. Pignone.

Many of our gatherings this spring began with Mass. I always delight in praying with you. As I was doing my final edits on this letter, I joined the Class of 1967 for Mass in the chapel. Vin Biagi, S.J. ’67, their classmate, celebrated. Deacon Frank Orlando ’67 assisted. Their cadet colonel, Joe Garvey ’67, pulled it all together as he has done for so many years. We were 12 in number. The class gathers several times each year. Numbers vary. The annual June gathering is to remember their dead. A list of deceased classmates was passed around so that we each read names.

All that is highlighted and celebrated in this magazine happens in community, is made possible by community, and is done to build a community grounded in love, sent forth to spread God’s love and “to transform the world for God’s greater glory.” May it be so.

This simple gesture of giving voice to a name and collectively holding the memory of those lost was deeply moving. Nearly 60 years after graduation everyone is still remembered. What a blessing this is.

What a comfort. What encouragement.

I’ve been praying a lot about sentire cum ecclesia, a principle that St. Ignatius explores in the Spiritual Exercises. Sentire cum ecclesia: to think, feel or perceive with the church. Like many things related to St. Ignatius and the Jesuits, the phrase means different things to different people. For some, it is a rigid set of rules demanding strict adherence. For others, it is an invitation to a union of hearts. I am drawn to the latter and to the core of the gospel message which is, I believe, at the core of the thinking of the Church. The core of that message is love, and love is made real in community, which brings me back to where I began, with the Xavier Golden Knights. Msgr. Bob Thelen reminded us in his homily, “No one is saved alone. We are saved in community, or we are not saved at all.”

All that is highlighted and celebrated in this magazine happens in community, is made possible by community, and is done to build a community grounded in love, sent forth to spread God’s love and “to transform the world for God’s greater glory.”

May it be so. Happy summer.

Jack Raslowsky President

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NEWS FROM 16TH STREET

A Weekend in the Wilderness In April, a group of students—including Tyler Macia ’26, above—spent a weekend in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest as part of Xavier’s Wilderness Retreat. Building on the work of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, students sought to experience God in creation.

“Nature is a place that provides one with true solitude and tranquility. Sitting in my chair and writing in my journal by our cabins provided me with a comfort that can’t be attained anywhere in the city, no matter how hard you try,” Macia reflected. “Nature should be seen as a calming place that we can escape to whenever life’s burdens become too much for us to bear, and when we might need a moment to stop. A moment to take in what’s around us.”

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NEWS AND NOTES

On February 6, New York welcomed its newest archbishop, Ronald Hicks, with a Mass of Installation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Members of the Xavier community were honored to attend events marking the occasion, including the Mass at St. Patrick’s and a festive reception at the New York Hilton Midtown. Luke Paone ’29 and his family (including his mother, Dr. Kerri Paone P’29, principal of Staten Island’s Notre Dame Academy Elementary School), were invited to shake the new archbishop’s hand on the altar during the Mass of Installation. Cadet Colonel Daniel Zaletofsky ’26 and his mother, Jane Zaletofsky P’26, above, also joined President Jack Raslowsky and Vice President for Communications and Marketing Shawna Gallagher Vega at the Mass and were among those who welcomed Archbishop Hicks at the New York Hilton Midtown.

Sixteen alumni—including Dr. Kwame Ohemeng ’96, an anesthesiologist and Xavier trustee, above—visited Xavier to speak to the junior class during Career Day on March 2.

The popular event highlighted various career paths and culminated with an alumni panel featuring Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25, Liam O’Hara ’04, Timothy Farrer ’05, Dennis Dunne ’14, and John Hartofilis ’18.

Colonel Thomas Pike, USA (Ret.), Xavier’s Senior Army Instructor, published Eyes of the Sphinx: Tet 1968 in Quang Tri City, a book about the pivotal Vietnam War battle, in January. Pike drew on declassified satellite imagery, his distinct perspective on the Tet Offensive from the North Vietnamese point of view, his extensive experience as an intelligence officer, and his multiple trips to Vietnam over the past 30 years in his writing.

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Eighty-eight members of the Xavier community shaved their heads to benefit childhood cancer research at the annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser on March 13. More than $24,000 was raised for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, with Sean Delvi ’28 leading the way with a personal total of nearly $13,000.

The Xavier Regiment once again marched up Fifth Avenue at the 265th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.

The following day, cadets completed their four-hour JROTC Program for Accreditation inspection. Months of dedicated preparation resulted in a grade of 96% and the Regiment’s continued status as an Honor Unit with Distinction.

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During Holy Week, 10 students followed in the footsteps of St. Ignatius Loyola as part of Boston College’s AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) program, a project of the university’s Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies. Students completed a pilgrimage on the Camino Ignaciano in Spain, visiting St. Ignatius’ birthplace as well as Manresa, Montserrat, and other notable sites, concluding their time in Barcelona. They were accompanied by Headmaster Kim Smith, Dean of Faculty Evan Bernstein ’04, and Pat Nolan, S.J., director of vocations for the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.

Director of Athletics Dominic DeFalco ’10 joined the NYU Langone Health SiriusXM sports medicine radio show in March to mark National Athletic Training Month. He spoke with Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, team orthopedic surgeon for the New Jersey Devils, Dr. Dennis Cardone, Xavier’s medical director, and Matt Manu, a certified athletic trainer, about the critical importance of athletic trainers, physicians, and Xavier’s successful partnership with NYU for student-athletes.

How did you come to serve as a Xavier trustee?

director of vocations lives with us, too.

That’s easy. When the Jesuit provincial appointed me as the superior of the Xavier Jesuit Community in 2024, I became an ex officio member of the XHS board.

weekday liturgies and with the students

How does your board service strengthen the relationship between Xavier High School and the Xavier Jesuit Community, and between Xavier and the province? How would you like to see both relationships grow?

Q&A

WITH TOM BENZ, S.J.

As superior of the Xavier Jesuit Community, Tom Benz, S.J. is a familiar figure on 16th Street, often celebrating Masses and engaging with students, faculty, and staff. He also plays a pivotal role in the leadership of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus as provincial assistant for international ministries and for safeguarding. Now in his second year as a Xavier trustee, he sat down with Xavier Magazine to discuss the fruits of that work.

What is your favorite part of board service?

Xavier is immersed in its Jesuit, Ignatian mission. I enjoy being part of a board that gets it and that refers to the school’s mission statement often. Board members value the history of the institution and work hard to put the mission into action in our own day with all its opportunities and challenges. Our board functions at a high level because of the expertise, commitment, and collaboration of alumni, past parents, friends of Xavier, and Jesuits.

Of course, I also enjoy participating in various Xavier events and liturgies and encountering teachers, staff, and students whenever I can. Presiding at the 2026 Father-Son Mass was a special privilege.

I was somewhat surprised to be assigned to the facilities committee of the board, but with the Jesuit community occupying the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors of the Kane building, that provides a concrete connection between the school and the Jesuits on some very practical matters. Right now we’re in the midst of a collaboration of the board, the administration, the Jesuit community, the student environmental committee, and St. Francis Xavier parish to bring composting to the 16th Street complex in the spirit of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.

On a governance level, the by-laws of the board call for the provincial or his representative to serve on the board. I fill that representative role for the provincial.

The board chair and the president have an excellent relationship with the provincial’s assistant for pre-secondary and secondary education, but I am also in a position to foster communication between the province and the board.

Next year we’ll increase the number of full-time Jesuits in the school from three to four. Still, there are 10 other men in the community involved in a whole range of ministries who are seen mostly at the President’s Dinner and for Advent and Lenten Reconciliation services. I’d like us to identify additional opportunities to interact with Xavier students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Finally, in addition to having a vocation promoter in our community like every Jesuit community has, the province’s

He is working with Campus Ministry on involved in Boston College’s AMDG program, and he hosted Xavier students for the June 2026 priestly ordination

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of John Pignone, S.J., who was a regent at Xavier.

Xavier is immersed in its Jesuit, Ignatian mission. I enjoy being part of a board that gets it and that refers to the school’s mission statement often.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

My own relationship with Xavier began in the spring semester of 1991 when I was a second-year Jesuit novice. I was assigned to work at a parish-based immigration center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and live in the Xavier Jesuit Community. Often my days began with Mass in the high school chapel. I returned in the summer of 1993 to teach in what was then called the “Pre-Prep” program as preparation for my regency at Saint Peter’s Prep (where Jack Raslowsky was then principal). Years later, while I was in Chuuk, Micronesia (2014-2020), I came to appreciate how consistently Xavier High School in New York City supports Xavier High School in Chuuk through financial and other means, such as the April 2026 dress down day to help Xavier Chuuk rebuild after a recent typhoon.

I’m proud, too, that the number of Xavier faculty and staff who have spent some time serving in Micronesia is on the rise!

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/// NEWS FROM 16TH STREET

34 Students Confirmed on Ascension Thursday Joy rung through the Church of St. Francis Xavier on Ascension Thursday, May 14, as 34 Xavier students were received into full communion in the Catholic Church.

After completing the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at Xavier, the students celebrated their sacraments with Bishop Edmund Whalen, Vicar General for the Archdiocese of New York, presiding.

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On May 24, the University of Scranton awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, to President Jack Raslowsky to mark his decades of leadership in Jesuit secondary education.

Raslowsky is shown above with fellow honorees Vincent Reilly, an attorney, Dr. Donna Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and University of Scranton president Joe Marina, S.J.

The annual Xavier Educator Awards—a celebration of excellence in middle school teaching—returned on April 14. Michael Bardo ’12, an English teacher at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy, was among the honorees, marking the first time a Xavier alumnus has been recognized. Markentz Louis ’29 nominated Bardo for the prize.

Members of Xavier’s admissions, advancement, and communications and marketing teams were featured speakers at two conferences this winter. At the CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference in Seattle in January, Director of Annual and Planned Giving Brian McCabe P’23 ’30 hosted a breakout session about cultivating young alumni engagement, while Vice President for Communications and Marketing Shawna Gallagher Vega and Associate Directors of Communications and Marketing David Orlando ’17 and Astrea Slezak delivered a presentation about heritage branding.

Gallagher Vega, Orlando, and Slezak presented again at the New York State Association of Independent Schools Advancement and Communications Conference in early March, where Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Luciano Lovallo joined them to discuss the critical partnership between school communications and admissions teams. Vice President for Advancement Shane Lavin ’03 also presented at the conference, hosting a session about alumni relationships and giving.

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Student Writers, Artists Shine in Lexicon

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Collection of works 2 by0Xavier2 High6School Students

Xavier’s longstanding literary and art journal, Lexicon, published its latest edition in May. “There’s an implicit undertone within the chaos of this edition, and if we put on our meta-analysis goggles we’ll find what makes this publication so incredible: the synthesis of countless stories, backgrounds, and attempts at each literary form compiled into one high school’s magazine,” wrote co-editor Thelonius Bennett ’26, bound for Williams College. “In this year’s Lexicon there are war stories, fantasy adventures, haikus, and sprawling meditations just as in Xavier there are people from Sunnyside, Tribeca, Flatbush, and Yonkers.”

SCAN BELOW TO READ THE ISSUE

Varsity baseball enjoyed a triumphant season, defeating Monsignor McClancy to win the CHSAA AA-2 championship on June 6. Shortly before their win, Coach Rich Duffell P’93 ’99 was named the league’s Coach of the Year, and Chase Buckley ’26 and Ian Remor ’26 were named to the league’s first team.

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/// NEWS FROM 16TH STREET

The Photo of the Year: A Novel View of the City In May, students, faculty, and staff continued their annual tradition of selecting the Photo of the Year from submissions taken by Photography Club members. Bennett Rallo ’29 earned top honors, with Caleb Soo ’26 and William King ’27 taking second and third place, respectively.

“I took this photo at Valentino Pier in Brooklyn,” Rallo explained. “I was inspired to go there and shoot photos because it is really close to my neighborhood, Carroll Gardens, and I wanted to represent the whole city from my perspective with one photo. I took photos of cars, the Statue of Liberty, and more, but this really stood out to me. Thank you to everyone who voted for me!”

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Block X Awards

Xavier High School and the Church of St. Francis Xavier hosted “Twilight of the Idols,” a solo art exhibition by religion and art teacher Nick Leeper, S.J., from May 9-29. Coverage of the exhibition appeared in the National Catholic Reporter.

May arrived with very welcome spring weather and a celebratory Teacher Appreciation Week. Events included a breakfast sponsored by the Board of Trustees, lunch courtesy of Xavier parents, doughnuts from the President’s Office, and even a visit from Mr. Softee, a gift from the Headmaster’s Office.

On May 12, three seniors earned Xavier’s storied top honors at the Block X Awards.

Joseph Calabrese ’26 won the Bernard M. Moynahan ’30 Scholar-Athlete Award, Shiro Quigley ’26 won the Rev. Edward J. Spinello, S.J. Award for Co-Curricular Activities, and John Tully ’26 won the Gerard J. Werckle Award, which recognizes a senior who exemplifies Christian service.

The Block X Awards have been a Xavier tradition since 1941.

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/// NEWS FROM 16TH STREET

WHAT WE’RE READING Cindy DeRose Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy “The novel follows Franny Stone as she convinces a fishing crew to let her follow the last migration of Arctic terns across a rapidly changing world. Part adventure story, part mystery, and part meditation on loss and survival, the plot slowly reveals Franny’s past while building real suspense about where the journey will end. I loved how completely the story pulled me in and how deeply the characters stayed with me.”

Margaret Gonzalez P’24 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans “It is done through letters and emails and at first I did not think I would like that style, but it is one of the most beautiful and well-written books I have ever read. The way you get to know the main character is so unique, and she is a fantastic person. I was truly sad when the book ended. I highly recommend it!”

Dr. Amelio D’Onofrio, Xavier’s Director of Student Mental Health and Wellbeing, delivered a presentation titled “Managing Adolescent Suicide in Schools: Thinking through Pre- and Postvention Strategies” to the Westchester County Psychological Association and the New York State Psychologists in March. In May, he presented again at the spring conference of the American Psychological Association Division for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology in Toronto. His topic was “The Poiesis of Encounter: Reclaiming the Ontological and Mystical Heart of Psychotherapy.”

Eleanor Hawkes The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver “It was a really interesting look into Protestant missionary movements in Africa, told through the lens of five family members, each with a distinct voice. I love Barbara Kingsolver and this just added to my list of her great novels.”

Steve Noga A Radical Faith by Eileen Markey “Eileen Markey tells the story of the Maryknoll nun Maura Clarke, originally from Rockaway. Sent to Nicaragua and ultimately El Salvador, Maura committed herself to serving the poor and siding with them. She modeled a faith that does justice, a faith that ultimately led to her assassination by El Salvadoran death squads in 1980.”

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On May 16, Xavier’s robotics team continued its dominance at the annual New York/New Jersey Autonomous Robotics Tournament. Led by Gabriel Krause ’26, Xavier Zaballero ’27, and Panagiotis Kokolis ’27, student participants scored an average of 1,036 points, the third-highest average in the United States this year. The Xavier team (which also included Jack Barry ’27, Eric Colon ’27, Preston Martin ’27, and Brandon Sumba Lopez ’27) won first place overall and first place, seeding round.

Read more at xavierhs.org/newsroom

ADDITIONAL NEWS Xavier hosted 20 math teachers from 12 schools across the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus on January 23.

The professional development day, known as 123 AMDG, provided opportunities for teachers to share ideas and elevate their teaching practice.

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On February 25, Dr. Anthony Marx, president and CEO of the New York Public Library and former president of Amherst College, served as the keynote speaker during St. Peter Claver Day, an annual celebration of diversity and diverse perspectives.

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Students studying financial literacy through the Common Cents program visited the New York Stock Exchange on April 2. They also spent time at the 9/11 Memorial and Federal Hall during their excursion.

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Dennis Le ’26 served as the student speaker at the Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s 49th Annual FRIENDS Gala on Tuesday, May 12, at Cipriani 42. A Bronx native, Le will study mechanical engineering at Manhattan University this fall.

Xavier’s Shakespeare Festival returned for the third consecutive year in late April, filling Keenan Commons with the sights and sounds of the Bard’s works, acted out by students, faculty, and staff.

(To read the 2024 Xavier Magazine cover story about the inaugural Shakespeare Festival, click here.)

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Nine art prints created by art teacher Billy Maloney ’01 were chosen to be featured at an international print fair, Paper Positions Berlin 2026 in Germany. The exhibition ran from April 30 through May 3.

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History teacher Nick Grant earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University in May.

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The JV lacrosse team won the CHSAA A championship on May 21, overcoming a 5-0 deficit to defeat Monsignor Farrell, 7-6.

On June 5, the University of Scranton honored the late Tom Gibbons P’28 with a Frank O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award during the university’s reunion weekend.

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XAVIER RUGBY AT 50

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Ever since then-head football coach and athletic director Jack Galbraith ’61 asked Tom O’Hara ’69 P’04 ’06 to spearhead a rugby program on 16th Street in 1976, Xavier rugby has had a proud history. The Outlaws, as the earliest players named themselves, progressed from being a new team with no budget to winning the national championship in 1985. And again— rebranded as the Knights—in 1993, 2007, and 2010.

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Along the way, Xavier’s rugby program has become a model nationally, sending its players to myriad college programs, Major League Rugby, the USA Eagles, and the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame.

The Knights have won countless regional and New York state titles (defeating Fordham Prep for their most recent state title on June 6) and inspired lasting, generational bonds between teammates.

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On May 1, members of the Xavier rugby community came together at Buckley’s to celebrate 50 years of heritage, hard work, and brotherhood. May the sport continue to flourish on 16th Street for another 50 years and beyond.

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BY MICHAEL LIVIGNI P’21

n an era marked by political polarization and rapidfire news cycles, Xavier’s history department made a deliberate and ambitious choice: to place the United States Constitution at the center of the school’s intellectual life. When tasked with selecting Xavier’s 2025 all-school summer read, rather than choosing a traditional novel, faculty members designed a yearlong, cross-disciplinary initiative that invited every student— freshman through senior—to engage directly with the nation’s founding document.

The idea emerged after years of discussion about how to implement a meaningful all-school read from a historical perspective. As department chair James Costa ’02 explained, the challenge was finding a text that could transcend the wide chronological and thematic range of Xavier’s history curriculum.

“We really struggled with that,” Costa noted. “But Pat Dormer, a member of the department, said, ‘You know what, every kid should just have a copy of the Constitution. That should be the all-school read.’ And that was the one idea that we all got excited about.”

A Living Document Across Disciplines What distinguished the initiative was not simply the selection of the Constitution, but the department’s insistence that it function as a living document—one that could be revisited, applied, and debated across courses and grade levels.

In freshman ancient history classes, Costa focused on the connections between the Constitution and early legal systems.

“When I taught Hammurabi’s Code or the Roman Twelve Tables,”

he explained, “my classes had a lot of success comparing some of our amendments to these law codes. We asked, ‘What makes a law code stagnant? What makes our Constitution flexible and living?’”

The discussions prompted by these questions led the students to a deeper examination of the document, which, while ever-present, often remains hidden from everyday life.

Dr. Stephen Haller ’05 similarly integrated the Constitution into his AP World and AP European History classes. Whether examining English constitutionalism or the French Revolution, he used the document as a reference point: “When we talked about the demand

by French revolutionaries for a constitution, we asked, ‘What does our Constitution do, and how could the French benefit from a constitution for their country?’”

The themes of the Enlightenment, the intellectual frame for the writers of the U.S. Constitution, are a normal part of the sophomore Global Studies curriculum, which focuses on Western Civilization.

In my sophomore classes, students read the works of Enlightenment philosophers, then compared the writings of John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Thomas Hobbes to the Constitution drafted by the Founding Fathers. I made clear to my students that the American Revolution and the writing of our Constitution did not happen in a vacuum; Philadelphia was considered an enlightened city, and our founding fathers were well versed in the conversations happening across Europe that led them to a new, and in many ways, experimental form of government.

For Edward Young P’20, who teaches both freshmen and seniors, the Constitution served as a conceptual bridge between vastly different courses. In Global 9, it framed the long historical XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Fordham University professor Dr. Robert Hume kicks off the Constitution Speaker Series on September 17, Constitution Day.

History teacher Chris Stevens ’83 lectures on the Articles of Confederation in January.

development of legal systems; in comparative government, it all-school read was not for students to memorize clauses of the became a lens for analyzing how societies institutionalize political Constitution, but to use the Constitution. “It’s not necessarily values. “What’s the place of the rule of law in a society?” he asked something to memorize, but something to reference, to think about, his students. “And what are the consequences when the rule of law is and to apply,” Costa said. either not applied or applied unevenly?”

This philosophy manifested in a range of classroom activities.

Chris Stevens ’83, a teacher of United States history, said that In advisement sessions, students reflected on which amendment although teaching the Constitution and the rights it protects is a held the most personal significance, often connecting constitutional normal part of the junior-year rights to their own family histories. curriculum, he was excited that “It just made the Constitution In an era marked by political the department chose one of much more alive this year,” Costa the founding documents of the polarization and rapid-fire news cycles, observed.

United States as the all-school Joseph Sweeney ’85 P’23 saw a Xavier’s history department made a read. “Doing an all-school similar shift in his American history deliberate and ambitious choice: to place read of the Constitution is classes. Students increasingly the United States Constitution at the awesome,” Stevens said. “I applied constitutional reasoning to think the Constitution is a great center of the school’s intellectual life. both historical and contemporary basis for hope in the world. It is events. “I have kids recognizing the reason why immigrants want to come to the United States to live when the Constitution has been violated,” he said, and noted that a quality of life based on the principles the Constitution establishes. students now question executive war powers and congressional Our students need to know those principles.” authority with a level of sophistication he has not seen in decades.

For Stevens, teaching the Constitution speaks to the need Sweeney emphasized that the department’s aim was not to instill competent citizenship in our students. “One of our ideological conformity, but intellectual formation. “Our goal is not to responsibilities is to make the boys competent by the time they get them to think one way or another. What we’re trying to do is to graduate, and they need to be competent citizens. If they are going provide them with the rules the Constitution lays out for us.” Haller to have rights, they need to know what those rights are. If they don’t agreed and added, “We hear that the Constitution is being trampled, know what their rights are, they can be taken away.” but people say these things without referring to anything in the text, a text we should all be familiar with. Using the Constitution as a tool this year was a way for us to confront this and have our students ask, From Text to Practice: Engaging Students ‘What are the questionable actions being taken by a governmental The department’s approach emphasized active engagement rather official? Are they really trampling the Constitution? What does than rote memorization. Costa underscored that the goal of this 24

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the Constitution actually say? Is it being trampled, or is the document allowing for an expanded interpretation?’”

A Community-Wide Effort Beyond the classroom, the initiative extended into a robust Constitution Speaker Series featuring faculty presentations on topics ranging from the Electoral College to the balance of powers in the modern presidency. Costa described the collective effort with pride: “Everyone in the history department has contributed. These stand out because they showcased department expertise and the issues that we address in our classrooms.”

The project reaffirmed a core element of Xavier’s educational mission: the formation of informed, thoughtful citizens. As Haller put it, “Being acquainted with our founding documents is a good part of that.”

While the Constitution has always been the bedrock document in my AP United States Government course, this year, I invited my students to attend each Constitution Speaker Series event offered by the department. It was a great way for them to see the Constitution from different angles. Each of the lectures examined the document from unique perspectives, and these ultimately gave the students a more in-depth understanding of the document.

Professor Robert Hume, vice dean for faculty affairs and professor of political science at Fordham University, kicked off the speaker series with a discussion of the Supreme Court and his research on how justices reach decisions together. However, the bulk of the speaker series was delivered by members of the history department during community period presentations. For example, Stevens lectured on the founding debates surrounding the formation of the document; John McGoldrick gave a presentation on Catholicism and the Constitution, focusing on the work of John Courtney Murray, S.J. 1920; Costa gave a presentation on the ancient legal systems and the Constitution; I lectured on the expanding power of the Executive Branch from the founding of the Republic.

Pat Dormer P’17, Pat Mahon ’04, and Steve Haller presented about citizenship and distributed voter registration packets to seniors.

Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age One of the most significant outcomes of the initiative has been its impact on student discourse. In Xavier’s Civic Forum—where students debate contemporary issues—faculty observed a noticeable

increase in thoughtful, respectful engagement.

Students with sharply differing viewpoints “are absolutely engaged with each other, and respect and laugh with each other,” Sweeney noted. “It’s great to see kids doing what our Congress should be doing…engaging in constructive debate.”

Costa sees this as central to the Constitution’s purpose. “The Constitution was meant to be a shield against extreme partisanship,” he explained.

“When partisanship is at its extreme, this document is what we go back to.”

Edward Young echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that constitutional study helps students recognize patterns across time. “There are very few constitutional crises that are new,” he said. “They’ve taken different forms over the course of our long history, but no situation is entirely brand new.” Young noted that one of the beauties of the document is that it provides a framework with which to deal with these crises, whether they are 250 years old or 25 days old.

Looking Ahead If there is a single takeaway from the year, it is not one lesson or activity, but a habit of mind. The Constitution became not a unit, but a constant—a document students returned to again and again as new questions arose.

“The idea that we keep going back to was the purpose of this,” Costa reflected. Stevens agreed. “We don’t want this to be a one-off. Our focus doesn’t always have to be limited to the text of the Constitution. It could be voter registration, evaluating where different candidates stand during an election cycle, or the issues confronting us as a nation. I think we will have a continued commitment to civics and to fostering an understanding of what being engaged means, and of the responsibilities of being a citizen in a democratic republic. Being a citizen of a country like ours comes with just as many responsibilities as rights,” Stevens said.

In a time when civic discourse often feels fractured, Xavier’s experiment offers a compelling model: anchor students in a shared text, challenge them to interpret it thoughtfully, and— most importantly—teach them to engage one another with rigor and respect.

A graduate of the University at Buffalo and Fordham University, Michael LiVigni P’21 is a history teacher and co-director of student activities. He served as Xavier’s 54th headmaster from 2006-21.

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AN ENDURING

BROTHER

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RHOOD

BY MICHAEL O’BRIEN ’19

An archival image of a reunion of Xavier alumni, including Tom Cody ’70 and Al Fernandez ’70.

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The Class of 1949 (joined by then-President Daniel Gatti, S.J. ’59) at a reunion hosted at the home of the late Jack Madaras ’49.

F

or many Xavier students, friendship doesn’t begin with conversation. It begins with proximity—shared uniforms, shared classes, shared sports teams. Something physical. Something immediate.

For Dr. Franklin Caesar ’72 P’00, one of those early moments is still vivid nearly 60 years later.

It was only days into his time at Xavier when a classmate from his circle—Bill Foley ’72—invited him somewhere unexpected: Playground Nine in Stuyvesant Town. Caesar didn’t even know the place existed.

“It’s 10 minutes from here,” Foley told him.

“Willis Reed is coming.”

Caesar thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t.

When they arrived, the park was packed.

And then, improbably, Willis Reed—the New York Knicks legend—showed up. For a group of teenagers in their first week of high school, it felt unreal. A moment suspended somewhere between myth and reality, unfolding on a neighborhood basketball court.

And then, in a detail that still makes Caesar laugh, Foley challenged Reed to a one-on-one game.

He, of course, got schooled, but it wasn’t about winning. It was about shared experience that instantly became part of their group identity, especially as both Caesar and Foley were four-year members of the basketball team.

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Steve Anderson ’72, Dr. Franklin Caesar ’72 P’00, Tom Flynn ’72, and Bill O’Brien ’72.

That early immersion in sport, in shared intensity, became the foundation of something else: routine.

After practice, Caesar and his teammates would go out together—sometimes to Blimpie’s on Sixth Avenue, sometimes to a nearby pizza shop. They ate, talked, and traveled home in the same rhythms of the city. The bonding didn’t happen in speeches or ceremonies. It happened in repetition.

That pattern repeats across generations.

F

or Dr. Thomas O’Brien ’49, friendship at Xavier became inseparable from perseverance itself. After his freshman year, O’Brien’s family moved from Bayonne to the Jersey Shore, leaving him with a daunting choice: transfer schools or endure a grueling commute into Manhattan each day.

Determined to remain at Xavier, he chose the latter, waking before dawn to catch the Jersey Central train, a ferry into the city, and the subway uptown in time for class. Along the way, he found companionship in the late Paul Curran ’49, whose family spent much of the year in nearby Red Bank. The two traveled together each morning and often relied on one another during severe winter storms that stranded commuters.

“Paul would invite me down to their home on Bank Street to stay overnight until the storm was over,” O’Brien recalled, “so that sort of cemented our relationship.” What began as shared geography

Bill Grubb ’62 shared photos of Richie Pollio ’62, Bob Gibbons ’62, Larry Kennedy ’62, and Grubb himself with their 1962 prom dates.

evolved into a lifelong friendship—one O’Brien later credited with helping cement his enduring connection to Xavier. In 2013, he endowed a Xavier scholarship in Curran’s memory.

Friendship on 16th Street has long been shaped by the city itself—by the distances students travel and the rituals that emerge from crossing boroughs together. For Jack Molinelli ’64, that bond centered on Walter “Wally” Jedrych ’64, whom he met in Robert Lynch, S.J.’s physics lab.

Jedrych lived in Jamaica, Queens; Molinelli in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. “The subway was the link that allowed us to spend time together outside of Xavier,” Molinelli recalled. Their shared fascination with amateur radio soon turned those commutes into adventures. The two spent weekends building equipment, transporting antenna parts across the city, and experimenting with electronics together.

“Imagine two adolescents wrangling multiple 10-foot sections of conduit on and off crowded subway cars,” he remembered. “That was us.”

The friendship ultimately helped shape Molinelli’s career in engineering, but its meaning deepened after graduation. At the height of the Vietnam era, Jedrych joined the military and was killed in a training accident over Europe. Decades later, his loss remains vivid. “Here I am, a retired engineer, writing about a long-gone friend from 60 years ago,” Molinelli reflected. “To me, that speaks volumes about the bond we developed at Xavier.”

Xavier has a way of bringing people together not because of what makes them similar, but because of what they share in values, discipline, loyalty, ambition, and respect.”

—Panayoti Athineos ’21

T

hat same widening of experience through friendship appears in other forms as well.

For Thomas Cody ’70, his bond with Al Fernandez ’70 became an informal education in cultural immersion.

Growing up on the West Side of Manhattan, Cody was already accustomed to a diverse urban landscape, but time spent with Fernandez’s family brought that familiarity into sharper focus. “I was immersed in this Cuban family life,” Cody said. “His mother would be making coffee, his stepfather cooking, and it just became part of the rhythm of being there.”

Cody later reflected that Xavier itself mirrored that openness: “There was no separation. It was just a nice easy flow of people, backgrounds, and experiences.”

Like Cody and Fernandez, there are plenty of Sons of Xavier—such as Bill Grubb ’62—who point XAVIER MAGAZINE

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Eric Gutiérrez ’02, Ariel Guerrero ’02, and Joseph Jean-Baptiste ’02 at Gutiérrez’s 2012 engagement party.

to differences in background as a catalyst for learning more about people unlike themselves.

“Larry Kennedy’s dad was Fordham University’s attorney and he came from a very patrician family. All of his sisters went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan. The Convent girls did not associate with Xavier guys. Larry’s parents’ condo was double the size of my parents’ three-bedroom row house,” Grubb recalled. “Bob Gibbons’ dad was a judge on Long Island, and they lived in a beautiful home in Nassau County, while Richie Pollio lived on the West Side of Manhattan with his dad and an aunt or two. He was an only child, and his mom died in childbirth. His dad was a butcher who owned a shop in the Village.

Richie and I were the blue-collar kids, while Bob and Larry were the white-collar kids, and no one cared. All that mattered to us was making each other laugh.”

Grubb’s core group from the Class of 1962 may have differed greatly in socioeconomic standing, but one constant remained: “We were learning to be men for others in 1958-62 before the phrase was even coined by Pedro Arrupe in 1973. We had a great four years.”

Differences as a path to building friendship can also be seen through the experience of Panayoti Athineos ’21 and Chirag Chadha ’21.

“On paper, we didn’t necessarily fit the mold people might associate with a traditional Xavier story,” Athineos said. “I’m Greek Orthodox. He’s Hindu. We both come from diverse backgrounds and

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Bob Steeves ’64 and Dr. Frank Bremer ’64 as Xavier seniors.

families that weren’t part of the Catholic tradition that defines the school’s identity. And yet, none of that mattered. Xavier has a way of bringing people together not because of what makes them similar, but because of what they share in values, discipline, loyalty, ambition, and respect. ... It’s been a friendship that I’ve cherished and valued.”

For Eric Gutiérrez ’02, the friendships he formed at Xavier were intentional, rooted in spaces designed for students to recognize both difference and common ground.

One of those spaces was the Diversity Club, where he first connected with Ariel Guerrero ’02 and Joseph Jean-Baptiste ’02. What began as meetings organized around shared experience quickly became something enduring, shaped as much by personality as by purpose.

“We met at Xavier, but the Diversity Club was really where everything started to click,” Gutiérrez recalled. “It gave us a place where we didn’t have to explain ourselves in the same way—we just understood each other.” That early sense of recognition carried beyond the club itself, shaping study sessions, hallway conversations, and eventually life after graduation.

Even as careers and families pulled them in different directions, their relationship remains anchored in that original space of mutual understanding. “It wasn’t just that we became friends,” Gutiérrez said. “It’s that Xavier gave us the

Members of the Class of 2017 on a post-graduation trip.

environment where that kind of friendship could actually form.”

O

n 16th Street, friendships have often formed not simply through shared classrooms, but through the smaller communities students choose to join.

For two members of the Class of 1964—Bob Steeves ’64 and Dr. Frank Bremer ’64—the debate team became one of those spaces.

Their friendship has endured far beyond graduation. Steeves served as best man at Bremer’s wedding and became godfather to his oldest child. Now, more than 60 years after their Xavier graduation, the two still speak regularly.

Bremer remembers their bond developing even though Xavier initially placed them in different academic tracks. “Though we didn’t share classes, we became friends,” he wrote. Their common ground emerged through debate, student activities, and long years of shared milestones. “We have remained close over the years,” Bremer reflected, “including sharing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.”

For Matt Anticev ’17, Matt Baker ’17, Tom Burns ’17, Frank Daly ’17, Nick Gonzalez ’17, Mike Hay ’17, Rory Kinsella ’17, Jack Manzo ’17, August Nastasi ’17, Chase Rohal ’17, and Mike Schiavello ’17, the freshman football and rugby teams opened the door to lasting bonds, especially as Anticev and Manzo took to the field on opposite teams in Major League Rugby.

Marlon Hosang ’87 P’28, Alan Antaki ’87, and Paul Mattiola ’87.

“Going to watch Jack and Matt play rugby was one of the coolest experiences ever. You’re watching two of your closest friends from forever…and you know the effort they put in, you know the grind that they put into it, you know how much it means to them,” Gonzales shared.

You don’t realize the delayed impact of relationships and lessons learned until years later. It can just dawn on you. You’re doing something very routine and then something hits you: I remember this from Xavier.”

—Marlon Hosang ’87 P’28 He added that it’s not just his former classmates who have forged an unbreakable bond; it’s extended to their families as well.

“We’ve gone on trips together with our families,” Gonzales said. “One time we actually all went to a water park together and have even gone to places like Costa Rica. I think the bonds we formed with each other formed with the parents. So when we’re home, I don’t just make an effort to see my friends, I make an effort to see their parents as well. We’ve become so close with them.”

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Neil Healy ’68 and Bob Grant ’68, then and now.

“You don’t realize the delayed impact of relationships and lessons learned until years later. It can just dawn on you,” said Marlon Hosang ’87 P’28, who counts his friendship with fellow class chair Paul Mattiola ’87 and their fellow Xavier brothers as influential in his life. “You’re doing something very routine and then something hits you: I remember this from Xavier, I remember this from this classmate,” Hosang explained.

He added that life’s milestones have provided ways to stay in touch and keep friendships going strong, as the Class of 1987 shares in joys and grief together.

“We share good news, sad news, anniversaries, celebrations, milestones, things of that nature,” Hosang said. “We’re going to have a little gettogether next week, and we organize it through the WhatsApp chat. It’s a testament to the Xavier experience that we manage to not just keep in touch, but get even closer today.”

S

triking one of the rarer intersections of post-graduate life and the continuation of a strong sense of camaraderie formed at Xavier is the friendship of Neil Healy ’68 and Bob Grant ’68, who also shared a relationship in the professional world.

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“We parted ways for college but kept in touch and ended up living in Haight-Ashbury in a large house we shared with New York friends and California natives,” Healy recalled. “We got into filmmaking and made a film together in 1972 called Auguries of Innocence.

Coincidentally, as time went by, we both worked for ABC Television—he as an editor, me as a cameraman and photojournalist. Over our careers, Bob worked for ABC on everything from the NFL to the PGA Tour, winning three Emmys along the way. I expanded into writing and won Emmy recognition twice for writing documentary series. We live in Southern California; our families and friends are close. We speak all the time and play golf several times a year.”

Kenneth Marino ’95 also counts among those who have carried a Xavier presence into every corner of his professional life.

“My boss at work is Xavier Class of ’87. I’m currently on the board of Cristo Rey Brooklyn. Seven or eight of us, including the board chair, are Xavier folks, so it’s pretty much ubiquitous in every aspect of my life from family, work, friendship, philanthropy,” Marino said. “It’s not coincidence. It really boils down to the ethos of the type of student Xavier makes.”

Like Marino, who has developed close relationships with many Sons of Xavier long after graduation, there are myriad close friends—such as

These Sons of Xavier’s stories of friendship point to the enduring power of brotherhood and camaraderie that so often begins on 16th Street and lasts a lifetime.

Jack Mahon ’63 and Tom Lydon ’63— who cemented their friendships long after leaving 16th Street.

“Myself and Tom Lydon ’63 of Kingsbridge, Bronx, were only casual acquaintances at Xavier— Tom outgoing and a star captain of the track team and an officer in the Regiment, myself shy and a member of the debate team who graduated as a sergeant,” Mahon said. “Within 10 years of graduation, we became each other’s closest friends after a chance conversation at a Beefsteak Dinner in 1968 or 1969, where Tom asked when I had graduated and I pointed out we were pictured on the same page of the Class of ’63 yearbook! That moment led to more time together, including Shakespeare in Central Park, and eventually Tom getting to know my younger sister Jane. Tom and Jane married in 1976.”

Whether it’s been through the screen of a WhatsApp group, the lived memory of meeting a legend at a Stuyvesant playground, or on the golf courses of Southern California, these Sons of Xavier’s stories of friendship point to the enduring power of brotherhood and camaraderie that so often begins on 16th Street and lasts a lifetime.

Thomas Chau ’95, Ken Marino ’95, and Michael Ferretti ’95.

Michael O’Brien ’19 is a writer and graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

Chirag Chadha ’21, Panayoti Athineos ’21, and Kory Sam ’20 outside the Boston College Ireland office in Dublin.

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SONS OF XAVIER

Harry Waterson ’55, an inveterate collector of Xavier memorabilia, recently donated a glossy still of the 1936 Xavier rifle team that he purchased on eBay to the Xavier Archives. The photo, shown above, features team members after they won the Hearst Trophy, a national marksmanship competition.

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CLASS NOTES

1.

1955

Jim O’Connell recently reflected on the brotherhood he and classmates Ed Handler, Joe Robinson, and Dan Wilson shared throughout their time at Xavier, West Point, and beyond.

“We were joined [at West Point] by John Ello ’54, Gene Flannery ’56, and Tom Kopp ’56.

Our classmate Tom McGarry graduated in 1963. Eight members of the Corps of Cadets together. Best wishes to all as we approach our 75th anniversary of arriving on 16th Street in 1951.”

1957

Dr. Joseph Juhász writes that he is “continuing to exist in my townhome, living by myself at the current age of 88.” He is also enjoying his two young grandsons. “All is well with me, everything considered...same with my family. Regularly in touch with my friend Kevin Morrissey.”

1958

Bob Vecchiotti, Pete Hoffman, and Barry Ryan are enjoying a stimulating book club.

1959

On January 21, Fordham University held its 2026 Long Island Presidential Reception, where Daniel Gatti, S.J. was honored with the Nicholas O’Neill Memorial Award in recognition of his service to the university.

2.

1960

’59

Dick Seif reports that his son, Rick, has been promoted to vice admiral in the U.S. Navy and assumed the positions of commander of submarine forces and commander of the Allied Submarine Command.

1962

The Class of 1962 held its 26th annual reunion in early January at the Old Town Bar and Restaurant. In attendance were Phil Ambrosini, Steve Arlinghaus, Tom Callahan, Ed Grant, Tom Harvey, Joe Librizzi, John Muccini, Lou Nunez, Bob O’Brien, Ken Padgett, Len Picariello, Rich Pisano, John Signorini, Tom Sullivan, and Fred Theemling. “Great was the spirit, the camaraderie, and the service,” Ambrosini writes.

Phil Ambrosini and Richie Battaglino ’67 P’96, a recent inductee into the Xavier Hall of Fame, both grew up in SoHo. After many years, they reestablished contact in late 2024. “Lots of long phone conversations ensued. Finally, at the tail end of 2025, we were both in the Tri-State area, and the opportunity to get together presented itself. I met up with Richie and his lovely wife, Margaret, for dinner at Tiro a Segno in the ‘old neighborhood.’

It was truly a memorable evening and another instance of the strength of the Xavier bond,” Ambrosini writes.

’62 Rocco Iacovone, a distinguished saxophonist and composer, has long been known as an éminence grise of the New York downtown jazz scene. A longtime Unseen Rain artist, Iacovone started the subsidiary Silver Horn Records to showcase his own work as well as recordings from his associates worldwide in the realm of new jazz/improvised music. Cover art features the works of his wife, Xavier art teacher and improvisational painter Denise Fusco Iacovone. Iacovone’s latest release, Live at Mountain High, recorded in Alaska, and other works are available at silverhornrecords.bandcamp.com.

1964

Dr. Francis J. Bremer recently co-edited The Oxford Handbook of Puritanism as well as an edition of Plymouth Colony governor William Bradford’s writings. He is also working on a biography of Bradford. His first book, The Puritan Experiment: New England Society from Bradford to Edwards, was issued this spring

by Brandeis University Press in a completely revised edition on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its first publication.

3.

’67 1. Daniel Gatti, S.J. ’59, center, with Fordham Alumni Chapter of Long Island president Philip Cicione and Fordham University president Tania Tetlow.

2. The Class of 1962 at their annual reunion.

3. George Shevchuk ’67 and his wife.

1967

George Shevchuk directs the church choir at a Ukrainian Catholic church in Florida and sings with the Venice Chorale.

During tax season, he volunteers with AARP to help local residents prepare their tax returns.

Indicates a photograph

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CLASS NOTES Challenges & Celebrating Our Greatest Achievements (an anthology published by Drexel’s Black Alumni Council).

1.

1969

2.

’73 3.

’70

Lieutenant Colonel Bob O’Grady, USA (Ret.) and Dr. Greg Belli enjoyed a Florida reunion while O’Grady was visiting to see his granddaughter play in the NCAA softball tournament.

Belli said the trip’s highlights included a nighttime satellite launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Starlink, an after-hours tour of the Blue Origin manufacturing facility at Kennedy Space Center (joined and arranged

by Charles Belli ’71), a visit to the Warbird Air Museum, and a few stouts at a local Irish pub.

Chris Roman and his wife, Diana, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a weeklong trip to Madrid. They always look forward to seeing Sons of Xavier visiting Las Vegas. Roman is an external affairs consultant for several companies in Nevada.

1974

1970

’76 1. Patrick Yuen ’70, Ken Ng ’80, and Kevin Toner ’70 in Florida.

2. Larry Harris ’73.

3. Mike Butler ’76.

Patrick Yuen, Kevin Toner, and Ken Ng ’80 recently enjoyed time together in Bonita Springs, Florida.

1971

Anthony Flood writes that his book, Christian Individualism: The Maverick Biblical Workmanship of Otis Q. Sellers, is in the interior design phase and is expected to be published this year by Atmosphere Press.

1973

Joel Allegretti recently published a collection of short stories titled Let’s All Be Happy Today.

Larry Harris is one of several Drexel University alumni whose stories make up the second volume of A Legacy to Share: Navigating Life’s

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Phil Whalen proudly reports that the School of the Holy Child in Rye named a digital arts suite in their new building in memory of his daughter, Lindsey Marie Whalen, an alumna of the school’s Class of 2012. Lindsey was a social media guru and influencer. “The suite’s function was something she would have been pleased to use.

She would absolutely have loved its purpose and use for the students,” Whalen writes.

1976

After traveling almost nonstop during their first two years of retirement, Mike Butler and his wife, Ginny, have settled in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Butler is active with

the Charleston City Rowing Club and the Charleston Men’s Chorus in addition to volunteering for Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews.

Dr. Philip Hanrahan has worked at an internal medicine practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1995. He received an Air Force scholarship to medical school and spent four years on active duty at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, prior to moving to Charlotte. Hanrahan left the service with a rank of major. His classmate Carlos Rodriguez was already living in Charlotte and was kind enough to help smooth his way there with good advice about the area, and they keep in touch regularly.

Hanrahan also keeps in close touch with classmate Fernando Alonso, who moved from New Jersey to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, after seeing pictures Hanrahan posted on social media.

“I have several patients with Xavier ties here in Charlotte,” Hanrahan writes. “No plans to retire at this point. I enjoy the practice of medicine too much.”

1977

Mark Costello recently came out of retirement a second time to support the global executive at Dentons with strategy execution and client development.

In preparation for his 50th reunion in 2027, Luis Morales plans to launch a podcast to mark the anniversary. Recordings will begin soon, and distribution will begin in the fall. Morales would like to talk to as many classmates as possible for the podcast.

He can be reached by email at lmorales425@gmail.com or by text at 646-210-7064.

1978

After 30 years in education, Gary Nielsen retired this spring.

Beefsteak Dinner January 30, 2026 Xavier High School

1.

3.

2.

4.

6.

7.

8.

5.

1. Jason Gordon ’94, Bill Reidy ’94 P’27, David Lopez ’04, Arturo Conde ’94, and Mike Avalos ’94. 2. Sandro Iannuzzi ’10, John Iannuzzi ’52 P’03 ’10, and Nicholas Iannuzzi ’03. 3.

James Costa ’02, Danny Perez ’02, Michael Trizzino ’10, Greg Cherchione ’10, and Michael Coraizaca ’09. 4. Alexis Rosales-Hernandez ’17, Nick Barone ’16, and Anthony Barone ’19.

5. Miggy Gutierrez ’06 and Jennifer KennedyOrlando P’21. 6. Will Gushée ’20, Adam D’Souza ’20, Isaac Daudelin ’20, Harrison Wang ’20, Samuel Holert ’20, Andy Knowles ’20, and Michael Tenam ’20. 7. Frank Musso ’73, George Febles P’83 ’88 ’90, and Jose Saa ’76 P’05 ’11. 8. Andrew Olsen ’08, Pat Dormer P’17, and Steven Delianites ’08.

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3.

1.

2.

3.

4.

The Cashin Conversation March 24, 2026 New York Stock Exchange

6.

1. Former CNBC correspondent Bob Pisani speaks with moderator Paul Enright ’91.

2. Daniel Cashin, Art Cashin III, Nathalie Renaudin P’29, Narlan Reme ’29, and Peter Cashin. 3. John Burke ’07 and Jonathan Dimola ’07. 4. Panayoti Athineos ’21, Chris Athineos P’21, and Mark Mongelluzzo P’25. 5.

Dan Violante ’03 and Jan Andrew Galvez ’03.

6. Mike Tierney ’69, Brendan Bruder ’68, and Bob Pisani. 7. Kim Smith and Kevin McCann P’23 ’24. 8. Stephen Day ’14, James Amodeo ’12, Jake Nicholson ’12, and Marco Raffa ’14.

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8.

7.

5.

1.

Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala

2.

April 24, 2026 583 Park

3.

5.

4.

6.

7.

8.

1. Mike Barbieri ’80 P’10 and Carmela Barbieri P’10. 2. Claudia Joyce P’22 ’24, Jim Hederman, S.J., and James Joyce P’22 ’24. 3. Xavier’s young musicians entertain the crowd. 4. Angela Williams P’26 and Thomas Fitzmaurice P’26. 5. Michael Puglisi ’68, student speaker Lawrence Huang ’26, and Vivian Liao P’26. 6. Emcee Mike Rizzo ’10 and auctioneer Sarah Silverstein. 7. Megan Correira, Daryn Johnson, Pat Drennan P’16, and Scott VandeVoort. 8. Student social media correspondent Sebastian Gomez ’27 interviews Paul Scariano ’90 P’19 ’21 ’23 ’25 and Andrew Scariano ’21.

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/// ALUMNI PROFILE

Frank Dorritie ’64

BY MICHAEL O’BRIEN ’19

I

f music is born from moments of inspiration, then for Frank Dorritie ’64, 16th Street was where a lifelong passion first found

its rhythm.

A nine-time nominee and two-time Grammy winner for his work as a producer and former chair of the recording arts department at California’s Los Medanos College, Dorritie has clearly struck the right chords for success in the industry. But long before the accolades, he recalls his high school years as the period when he first fell in love with listening to and composing music.

There was music around my house all the time, but I never considered it seriously until I went to Xavier and I joined the Drum and Bugle Corps.”

Calling Xavier “the spark from which the music grew,” Dorritie said that while he grew up around music, his experience as a student ultimately led him to pursue a career in the arts.

“My father was a bartender, but he also did part-time work as a singer, and my mother was a big fan of Broadway,” Dorritie said. “So there was music around my house all the time, but I never considered it seriously until I went to Xavier and I joined the Drum and Bugle Corps.”

Dorritie said the “foundation” for his career came from the instruction he received from Jim Donnelly, a World War I veteran who taught him “how to hold a horn and make a sound,” as well as Xavier’s active Drum Corps culture and frequent performances.

“If you say Xavier High School to somebody in New York City, their mental picture is the

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Regiment,” Dorritie said.

That’s why Dorritie and fellow alumni felt a pull to help the Drum and Bugle Corps return to 16th Street a few years ago. He met with school leadership in 2023 and proposed a plan to rebuild the program through alumni fundraising and instruction.

“You just have to give us half a dozen students, and we will give you a drum line, and that Regiment will be in step on Fifth Avenue,” he remembered saying.

The revived program began with five students and has since grown to 15.

Even though he lives on the West Coast now, Dorritie has returned to Xavier on several occasions to meet with music teachers and their students and even give advice to the student band.

He’s been pleased with what he’s seen, especially since his work as a professor and beyond can be traced back to the strong intellectual curiosity he developed at Xavier.

“Most people who take music in a high school context are not really going to become musicians per se, but it’s a great activity intellectually because it will set you up for an ability to think in the abstract and an ability to comprehend relationships numerically, in a sense, and also to be able to improvise on the spot,” he reflected.

Dorritie also noted that the most crucial lesson he learned at Xavier didn’t even have to do with music.

“The one thing I will say when people ask me, ‘What’s the one thing you took away from Xavier?’—and I think this is important—is

vocabulary. It was the most important thing, and I probably didn’t even realize it until much later on,” Dorritie said. “It can shape anyone’s life in any career. It doesn’t matter if you’re in music, medicine, sports, journalism, or whatever field you choose. Your ability to comprehend vocabulary, and specifically the nuance of words, is essential.”

So the next time you see Xavier’s Drum and Bugle Corps marching down Fifth Avenue, tight in their formations and precise with their notes, know that while he might not be there in person conducting, Frank Dorritie has left an indelible mark on one of the school’s most recognizable and public outfits.

CLASS NOTES

1.

2.

’82

’86

4.

3.

’84 1979

Chris Perini, Dr. Chris Young, and Dr. John Young ’77 reunited in Naples, Florida, in March to discuss old times.

1982

Ike Okeke writes that his daughter, Olivia, recently secured a position with the New York City Council working as the communications director and media specialist for Kamillah Hanks, council member for the 49th District.

5.

’85 teacher for his local YMCA’s after-school programming.

Giancarlo Malchiodi recently retired after 30 years as an English teacher at the largest high school in America. He is blessed to have survived two bouts of Stage 4 cancer and has now lived three years with no evidence of the disease.

1986

Patrick Cancilla celebrated 25 years at Patek Philippe, the last family-owned Genevan luxury watch manufacturer, on February 20.

Tony Boehm, Chris Fox, and Tommy Gargotta got the band back together! Hidden Scream was originally formed in 1984.

They recorded an album and released it in January, playing a live show that same month at Berlin NYC. “A documentary of the whole process is coming soon.

Rock on and keep marching, Sons of Xavier!” writes Boehm.

1985

1988

1984

Teig Keenan-Hunt was hired and promoted to serve as a

Carlo Rubino recently retired from the Chicago

’90 Police Department after 21 years of service. He will relocate to Dallas soon.

6.

1989

The Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court recently appointed Judge Christopher Spataro to chair the Alternative Dispute Resolution committee of judges across the State of Indiana.

1990

Ray Lustig and his band Manicburg, which includes classmate Rob Salmon, did a showcase tour of three cities in Italy with radio and television spots. Lustig’s solo album Semmelweis, a choral operatheater work inspired by the story of a 19th-century medical visionary known as the “savior of mothers,” was released on the Sono Luminus label on April 17.

’88 1. Ike Okeke ’82’s daughter, Olivia, with her boss, New York City Council Member Kamillah Hanks.

2. Hidden Scream, a band composed of members of the Class of 1986.

3. Patrick Cancilla ’84.

4. Giancarlo Malchiodi ’85.

5. Manicburg, a band featuring Ray Lustig ’90 and Rob Salmon ’90.

6. Carlo Rubino ’88.

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1.

Golden Knights Luncheon

2.

May 1, 2026 Xavier High School

3.

4.

5.

1. Brian McCabe P’23 ’30, Harry Waterson ’55, and Matteo Clementi ’28. 2. Teddy Nam Kim ’26, Shane Lavin ’03, John Kapp ’48 P’77, Jack Raslowsky P’16, and Joseph Calabrese ’26. 3. Msgr. Bob Thelen ’63, Joseph Rescigno ’63, Mike Ford ’63, John Dalessio ’63, and Pete Canning ’63. 4. Ken Boller, S.J., Fr. Dan Murphy ’65, and Joseph Calabrese ’26. 5. Peter Marzullo ’72, Don Gross ’72 P’03, Daniel Zaletofsky ’26, Vincent Doyle ’72, and John Moccia ’72 P’05 ’08.

6. Teddy Nam Kim ’26, Kathy Concannon, and Kevin Cuddihy ’64. 7. Deacon Frank Orlando ’67 and Dr. John Murray ’67.

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7.

6.

CLASS NOTES

1.

2.

’90 3.

4.

5.

’92 Anton Parmach and Francis Creighton warmly welcomed John McNally, his wife, Aurora, and their daughter, Mariana, to Washington, D.C., in March.

1991

Colonel John Giordano, USA (Ret.) currently serves as the chief of current operations at the Defense Information Systems Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.

1992

Rich Lustig’s punk rock band Beer Drinking Fools recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a lively show at their old stomping ground, Otto’s Shrunken Head.

1993

Dan Castle recently traveled to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Galilee. He also recently published A Modern Day Parable: Reflections on Faith, Love & Life, a series of stories that uncover key lessons he’s learned.

’94

’93

’93 Major General Bernard J. Harrington, USA visited Xavier in February to celebrate his latest promotion. On February 13, he addressed the Regiment. The following day, he joined with friends and family for a promotion ceremony in the Student Chapel of Our Lady. Harrington is the Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington.

1994

Elliot Han met up with science department chair Daryn Johnson, Director of Annual and Planned Giving Brian McCabe P’23 ’30, and Michael McCabe ’30 at the 2026 Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track and Field Championships at The Armory in New York on Sunday, March 1.

1996

Michael Comeau works as director of content for a New York-based financial services

6.

’96 company. He also runs an independent marketing consultancy and has been a ghostwriter for three bestselling authors. In November, he will run his second TCS New York City Marathon.

Dr. Zane Massey P’22 received his doctoral hood during a ceremony at Saint Peter’s University on May 11.

Jack Raslowsky was among those in attendance. Massey earned his doctorate in educational leadership after defending his dissertation in October 2025.

1. Anton Parmach ’90, left, and Francis Creighton ’90, right, with Aurora McNally, John McNally ’90, and Mariana McNally in Washington, D.C. 2. Daryn Johnson, Elliot Han ’94, Brian McCabe P’23 ’30, and Michael McCabe ’30.

3. Rich Lustig ’92.

4. Dan Castle ’93.

5. Friends of Major General Bernard J. Harrington, USA ’93, celebrate his latest promotion at Xavier.

6. Dr. Zane Massey ’96 P’22 and his family.

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CLASS NOTES

1.

3.3.

2.

’97 6.

’06 7.

1997

’99

John Murillo recently moved to Distinguished Programs (a national insurance program manager and MGA) as regional vice president, working to start and build their ocean marine program. With 18 years of ocean marine experience, Murillo adds a strong focus on customer service and relationship building, particularly in the southeast U.S. and New York City metro areas.

1999

’07 8.

Robert Toomey enjoyed a full-circle moment on the ice this season when he ran into Xavier’s assistant hockey coach, Frank McGady, who serves as vice-commissioner for the New Jersey Youth Hockey League—the very league where Toomey coaches his daughter Katie’s team. The two reunited when McGady officiated one of Katie’s championship games.

2000

’09

1. John Murillo ’97.

2. Frank McGady with Robert Toomey ’97 and his daughter, Katie.

3. Kevin McCabe ’03, left.

4. Dr. Jonathan DePierro ’04.

5. Will Cahill ’06.

6. Ed O’Callaghan ’87 P’17 ’20, Ryan Patrick Woerner ’06, and Michael Nash ’04.

7. Major Michael Nilsen, USA ’07.

8. Captain Nicholas Pope, USMC ’09.

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John Lustig’s latest animated short film, I Beg Your Pardon, has been screening at festivals worldwide, including France’s prestigious Annecy Festival and Canada’s Ottawa International Animation Festival.

2003

Kevin McCabe received the Humanitarian Award at the 29th Annual Teddy Dinner, the marquee event of the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation, on November 20, 2025. McCabe lives in Poland and provides

4.

’03

5.

’06

’04

communications support for the Ukraine Children’s Action Project. He has traveled to Ukraine many times.

Sean McDonough passed the WSET Level 2 course in wines with distinction, receiving 98 points. He is currently pursuing level 3 studies through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust at the International Wine Center in New York.

2004

Dr. Jonathan DePierro was recently promoted to the rank of full professor with tenure in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

2006

Will Cahill lives in Vermont with his wife and children and works as a fraud detection and national security officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additionally, he serves in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a master sergeant and is the brigade fire support NCO for 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). He also teaches OCIA at his parish.

Ryan Patrick Woerner, Ed O’Callaghan ’87 P’17 ’20, and Michael Nash ’04 took in the St. John’s vs. Georgetown game courtside at Madison Square Garden in early March.

O’Callaghan is currently the lead partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel’s Washington, D.C. office,

while Woerner serves as executive vice president and general counsel at Bayonne Drydock and Repair Corporation, one of the nation’s largest government vessel repair facilities.

2007

Major Michael Nilsen, USA, is currently serving as aide-decamp to the 3-star general who commands the United States First Army at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. The First Army is the oldest and longest-established field army of the United States Army. Nilsen transferred to this assignment from Germany, where he had spent three years with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a unit that provides lethal forces capable of rapid deployment throughout the European theater.

2009

John Parisi recently left his role as a USDA consumer safety inspector to co-found U.S. AgriDocs, a technology company focused on modernizing food safety compliance for meat and food processing facilities.

Built alongside a USDA plant operator, the platform digitizes HACCP plans and regulatory recordkeeping to help facilities stay organized, audit-ready, and focused on producing safe food. Parisi is excited to remain in the food safety industry while working to bring practical innovation to the field.

Captain Nicholas Pope, USMC has been stationed in Germany since January 2025.

1.

2.

50th Reunion

2.

May 1, 2026 Xavier High School

3.

4.

5.

6.

1. John Anticev ’76, Mark Castel ’76, and Leo Gorynski ’76. 2. Gerard Machado ’76, Mark Collins ’76, David Jackson ’76, and Robert Perello ’76. 3. Matthew Ferguson ’76 and his wife, Lori. 4. Mark Hallinan, S.J. ’76 celebrates the 50th reunion Mass.

5. Kevin Randolph ’76 and Gordon Beattie ’76. 6. Members of the Class of 1976 and their guests.

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CLASS NOTES

UPCOMING EVENTS

1.

2.

4.

ROCKAWAY RECEPTION Kennedy’s July 13, 2026

JERSEY SHORE RECEPTION

’17

’18

3.

Belmar Fishing Club July 16, 2026

WEEHAWKEN RECEPTION Home of Jack and Sarah Raslowsky P’16 July 22, 2026

SAG HARBOR RECEPTION Home of Bree Sheahan and Scott Twibell ’92 July 23, 2026

WESTHAMPTON BEACH RECEPTION

Westhampton Country Club August 13, 2026

CAPE COD RECEPTION Black Cat Shack Out Back August 15, 2026

9/11 25TH ANNIVERSARY VIGIL MASS Church of St. Francis Xavier September 10, 2026

ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE Xavier High School October 17, 2026

TURKEY BOWL

Floyd Bennett Field, Aviator November 26, 2026 SCAN FOR THE LATEST EVENT UPDATES

’22 1. First Lieutenant Kraig Puccia, USA ’17. 2. Andrew Salmieri ’18 and his mother, Lea. 3. Giuseppe Quatela ’22 in rural India. 4. Zane Massey II ’22 and his mother, Dr. Alexandria Massey.

2010

Ryan Cuffe has been appointed as director of parking and transportation at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders and one of the New York region’s premier sports and entertainment venues. In this leadership role, Cuffe oversees the planning and execution of transportation and parking operations to support events while coordinating complex logistics across parking facilities, transit services, and pedestrian operations to ensure safe and efficient access for fans and guests.

Patrick Nilsen currently works in financing advisory and restructuring at Greenhill & Co., Inc., a leading investment banking advisory firm.

2012

Thomas Roemer writes that his daughter Claire completed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March. She has now been in remission for over two years.

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’22

Jacob Nicholson was promoted to vice president, enterprise risk management officer at

Metropolitan Commercial Bank in New York City.

2016

Noah Nicholson was recently promoted to detective with the New York City Police Department.

2017

During the summer of 2024, while in law school, Kraig Puccia completed an internship with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) at Fort Drum in Watertown, New York. He applied to the JAG Corps in the fall of 2024 and was accepted in January 2025. Puccia graduated from law school in May 2025 and subsequently passed the bar exam. He left for the U.S. Army Direct Commission Course on January 6, 2025, and finished the course on February 28. “As I am writing this, I am at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School for the United States Army in Charlottesville, Virginia. I was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant on February 27, 2026. I look forward to getting to my first duty station at Fort Hood in Austin, Texas, sometime in June. Thank you, Xavier, for the

opportunities that were given to me while there from 2013-2017.”

2018

Andrew Salmieri and his mother, Lea, recently closed on a condo in New Jersey, making them first-time homebuyers.

“Proud to have come a long way from a struggling single mother family to this,” Salmieri writes.

2022

Giuseppe Quatela recently graduated from Georgetown University with a dual degree from the McDonough School of Business and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He plans to work in investment banking in New York. “My experiences have shown me the great value in intercultural learning and immersion and effective ways to approach geopolitical issues facing our world today.

My time at Georgetown and Xavier, with foundations in the Jesuit teachings, inspire me to go out into the depths of the world and use my gifts to help others,” he writes.

In May, Zane Massey II graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in mechanical engineering.

1.

2.

60th Reunion

3.

May 1, 2026 Xavier High School

4.

1. Stephen Gregg ’66, Larry Lauricella ’66, Dan Mantle ’66, and Ron Rivera ’66 P’90 ’96. 2. Andy Mihalick ’66 and Dr. Edward DeSimone ’66. 3. Members of the Class of 1966. 4. George Pilchta ’66, Ken Boller, S.J., and John Maloney ’66.

5. Conrad Tridente ’66 and Kevin Sexton ’66.

5.

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2.

3.

5th-45th Reunions 1.

May 29-30, 2026 Xavier High School

6.

7.

5.

1. The Class of 1986 and friends. 2. Bob Robotti ’71, Michael Mondaruli ’71, and James Carriero ’71. 3. Ben Damptey ’96, Michael Knowles, and Maggie Murphy Stockson. 4. John Frank ’71 and Carolyn Calzavara. 5. Salvatore Hoo ’96, Dee Kittany, and Austin Ingenito ’96. 6. Members of the Class of 1981. 7. Tom Kelly ’96, John Koch ’96, and Michael Romero ’96.

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MILESTONES

Sons of Xavier at the wedding of Lieutenant Patrick Danylchuk, USN ’13 and Dr. Annie Choi.

Michael Chillo ’15 and Janine Acciarito.

4.

Caitlin and Reid Sessa ’06 with their family.

Weddings

On June 28, 2025, Lieutenant Patrick Danylchuk, USN ’13, married Dr. Annie Choi on Long Island. Present at the wedding were John Castillo ’13, Jack Fitzpatrick ’13, Nick Turturro ’13, and Joseph Danylchuk ’15. Danylchuk and his wife reside in Jacksonville, Florida.

Michael Chillo ’15 married Janine Acciarito on January 24, 2026. Vincent Apicella ’15 and Anthony Chillo ’15 served as best men, with Joseph Garthaffner ’15, Nicholas Gutilla ’15, Michael Maher ’15, Ed Poccia ’15, Andrew Poccia ’18, and Vincent Tozzi ’15 serving as groomsmen.

Births

Dan Cuoco ’55 recently welcomed his first great-grandson.

Leonard Alfano ’69 welcomed his sixth grandchild on December 19, 2025.

“Future Son of Xavier? Fingers crossed!”

Vincent Balardi ’80 welcomed his second grandchild, Emilia Frances Dunn, on December 10, 2025.

Al Ragone ’06 and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their second daughter, Nina Ragone, on November 19, 2025.

Reid Sessa ’06, his wife Caitlin, and sons William, Colin, and Grant welcomed identical twins Henry James and Finn Hayes in February.

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When you give to Xavier, you change lives.

Your generosity fuels everything that makes a Xavier education exceptional. That’s why so many alumni, parents, and friends choose to give—because they know their support makes a real difference.

The Annual Fund The Annual Fund powers every part of the Xavier experience: scholarships, athletics, activities, and the exceptional teaching that brings our mission to life.

Capital Gifts Endowed scholarships, endowed programs, and campus renovations strengthen Xavier for generations.

These investments shape our longterm future and expand what’s possible for our students.

Every gift matters.

Every gift changes a life.

Learn more at xavierhs.org/giving.

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In Memoriam Alumni

Dr. Benzon Dy ’00, 1/24/26

David Mahoney ’48, 4/25/26

Robert Caridi ’04, brother of Daniel Caridi ’01, 2/27/26

Carmine Cardone ’50, 4/11/26 Francis Dunn ’51, 3/6/26 Michael Tita ’51, 10/27/18 James Mahaney ’53, 1/10/26 Joseph DeFoe ’56, 4/5/26 Francis Nostrame, Jr. ’56, 5/11/25 Lawrence Dwyer, Sr. ’57, 3/16/26 Robert Weiss ’57, 5/10/26 Ralph Bauer ’58, 3/20/26 Ronald Bruniger ’58, 5/23/24 Edward Delaney ’58, 8/17/22 Michael Kehoe ’58, 8/13/25 Edward Keeshan, Jr. ’60 P’98, father of John Keeshan ’98, 5/7/26 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Oliver, USAR (Ret.) ’60, 1/11/26 John Bradt ’61, brother of Kevin Bradt, S.J. ’65† and cousin of Joseph Bradt ’59† and William Bradt ’63, 1/16/26 Dennis Hand ’61, 5/10/26 Charles Fitzpatrick ’62, 12/28/25 Bartholomew Dixon ’63, 1/11/26 Andre Smith ’63, 1/27/25 Raymond Lustig ’64 P’90 ’92 ’00, father of Raymond Lustig ’90, Richard Lustig ’92, and John Lustig ’00, 4/21/26 Rev. Frank Wallner, Jr. ’64, 9/6/25 John Roll ’65, 8/13/25 Major Alexander Wojcicki, USA (Ret.) ’65, 7/22/25 Lieutenant Commander Daniel Sullivan, USN (Ret.) ’71, 12/26/25 Steven Tuccio ’71, 1/30/21 Audie Serrano ’75, 1/24/26 Thomas McBride ’76, 2/23/26 Bhrett Pizza ’76, brother of Bradford Pizza ’75, 5/16/26

Johnny Driza ’16, 2/10/26

Parents Patricia Dillon P’79 ’82, mother of Sean Dillon ’79, Donald Dillon ’82, and Scott Dillon ’82, 1/21/26 Aurea Ramos P’74, mother of Jose Ramos ’74, 3/13/26 Catherine Maher P’83, mother of Patrick Maher ’83, 11/25/24 Daniel Maher P’83, father of Patrick Maher ’83, 1/23/23 Eileen Creighton P’87 ’88 ’90 ’96, mother of James Creighton ’87, Daniel Creighton ’88, Francis Creighton ’90, and John Creighton ’96, 4/23/26 Richard Scholz P’89, father of John Scholz ’89 and R. Douglas Scholz ’89, 12/16/25 Tai-Hong Han P’94 ’96, father of Elliot Han ’94 and Edward Han ’96, 9/19/25 Dr. Jayne Rivas Robertson P’99 ’03, mother of Luke Robertson ’99 and Mark Robertson ’03, 12/18/25 Lisa Maruffi P’20, mother of Christopher Maruffi ’20, 1/28/26 Lawrence Morton P’25, father of Lawrence Morton ’25, 11/26/25 Chelsea Ferrette P’29, mother of Andrew Getsinger ’29, 4/26/26

Spouses Barbara Ann Curran, widow of Paul Curran ’49†, 5/8/26 Linda Kehoe, widow of Michael Kehoe ’58†, 10/30/25 Barbara Canning, wife of Peter Canning ’63, 12/11/25

John Prenderville, Jr. ’77, 5/15/26 George Sumberaz ’83, 2/21/26

Family

Alfonso DiStefano ’84, 5/21/26

Donna Vincent, sister of Steven Vincent ’75, 5/13/26

Gregory Alvarez ’93, 12/31/25

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BACK STORY

A Brotherhood of Boroughs Without Borders, 50 Years Strong

BY THE CLASS OF 1977

One earns a fine education at Xavier, with its low profile on 16th Street in Chelsea. God, family, and country are the foundations upon which the famed educational institution is built. But what we have learned is that “family” is not just genetic or created via legal vows; it’s forged by experiences, friendships, and camaraderie.

We have also learned that Xavier somehow does become part of one’s DNA. In the fall of 2018, a group of us gathered in an Italian restaurant in the Village (kind of like back in the late 1970s) and learned that our friend, classmate, and maybe the best among us had ALS. His name was Michael DelTerzo. The band was back together for the most important of reasons—reasons learned at Xavier.

We originated in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan and via Fordham, the Bronx. We found common ground on 16th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. In 1973 a football field in Wurtsboro, New York, served as the backdrop for a friendship that now spans decades. Two 13-year-olds—Luis Morales from Elmhurst, Queens, and Frank Piscitelli from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn—met during football camp.

Even earlier than that, in 1964, when the Beatles were playing at Shea Stadium and the New York World’s Fair was in full swing, Edwin Crocoll and Randy Caruso built a bond that carried them through grammar school and Xavier. Rene Mack found common ground and safety in groups on the infamous IRT Lexington Avenue Subway (now the 6 train) when he spotted Ed Crocoll in a Xavier jacket and pocket patch. Living only a few blocks from each other, they quickly became good friends and commuted to school together for four years.

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These groups started to share experiences, concerts, and classes, and small circles of friendships became a large Xavier Venn diagram. Soon Stefano Rosic and Jim Wartski, both from Whitestone, and Nevio Murljacic of Astoria were in the fold, and Michael DelTerzo and Jack Young (both future doctors) were added to the group’s diverse friendships, interests, and explorations of the city and beyond.

Meanwhile, Mike Gargiulo, from Peter Cooper Village, was at Fordham Prep. He transferred to Xavier in his sophomore year, quickly connecting with the rest of the group via JROTC and football, which was a very tight brotherhood.

From blackouts to the bicentennial, from the Son of Sam to the Yankees winning the World Series, from endless concerts of legendary bands to ski trips and socializing in the Village, these friendships grew tighter throughout the 1970s. Much of it centered around Michael DelTerzo, who lived steps from Washington Square Park.

In the fall of 1977, most of us went to NYU (not hard to get into then and affordable—imagine?). We would still see each other, but we all moved on with careers, some marriages, children, relocating to different cities and always saying, “We’ll catch up soon and have a good time then.” But it was Michael DelTerzo (now Dr. DelTerzo) who really was the glue that kept us in touch, even when serving in Operation Desert Storm on the other side of the world.

Forty-one years after graduation, in that Italian restaurant in the Village, Michael told us he had ALS. And he told us what to expect. We had no idea. What we did know was that it was our calling to step up and be there for Mike and his family. After a few gatherings in New York, Rene, Luis, Jack, Nevio, and Ed started driving down regularly to visit Mike in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Frank would fly in from California, Randy from Florida, and Stefano drove from North Carolina. We all found a purpose. We leaned on the values Xavier instilled in us. As Mike grew weaker, we think he knew he was making the group stronger. Sure, we talked about the “glory days,” recounted stories forgotten that made us laugh till we ached, ate a little too much, drank a little too much, and yes, cried. Mike passed during COVID, on September 11, 2020. The funeral was via Zoom.

Now, every year, this band of Xavier ’77 brothers gets together in a place to celebrate Mike, life, and each other and not say “we’ll get together soon.” The soon is now. We also stay in touch throughout the year. First it was in Washington, D.C., then Nashville, Savannah, and on to San Diego. We are 18 going on mostly 66. The natural chemistry of the group is undeniable, the conversations real, sometimes even mature, and we all know that coming up on 50 years since we were on 16th Street, we will all be there for each other, until the last man is standing.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

1922

On the occasion of Xavier’s 75th anniversary, the school produced the Diamond Jubilee medal shown above, a recent gift to the Xavier Archives from Harry Waterson ’55. “The medal itself is very enigmatic,” he said. “It is unsigned, the edge is plain, and it is not collected in any public collection I have looked at.” The medals were a happy addition to the Diamond Jubilee festivities, held from December 4-10, 1922, which included an alumni reception and reunion, the performance of a play, and daily Mass, culminating in a Sunday service celebrated by Patrick Hayes, Archbishop of New York.

Varsity rugby ended its 50th season on a high note, clinching the New York state title with a 44-19 victory over Fordham Prep on June 6. Read more about Xavier rugby on page

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