Jaynotes Fall-Winter 2013 - Jesuit Home

Transcription

The Magazine of Jesuit High School of New Orleans
VOL. 39 | FALL/WINTER 2012
Making
History
Retif Oil Brings Home First
American Legion World
Series Championship
Since 1960
INSIDE
2012 Alumnus of the Year • Remembering Mr. Steckel • Essays on Race • Swim Team Wins State
Jaynotes, the magazine about
Jesuit High School of New Orleans, is
published twice a year by the Office of
Institutional Advancement. Opinions
expressed in Jaynotes are those of the
individual authors.
3
25
President
Rev. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76
[email protected]
Director of Institutional
Advancement
Thomas V. Bagwill II
[email protected]
Director of Communications
Pierre DeGruy ’69
Jaynotes Editor
[email protected]
Director of Alumni Affairs
Mat Grau ’68
[email protected]
28
48
34
Director of Special Projects
Br. William Dardis, S.J. ’58
[email protected]
Creative Director
Meghan Weaver
[email protected]
Executive Development
Coordinator
Krista Roeling
[email protected]
LEF Coordinator
Logan Diano
[email protected]
WHAT’S INSIDE
Alumni Events & Social Media
Coordinator
Wendy Schneider
[email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator
Marilyn Beauford
[email protected]
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
An Olympian Reunion 15
Homines Pro Aliis Honoree 16
Back to Banks & Homecoming 17
Latin Mass, Revisited 18
Teacher Testimonial 22
New Faculty 2012 - 2013 43
Mothers Matter 44
Marketing Jesuit 45
Making Jesuit Special 46
Medallion Stories 52
IN EVERY ISSUE
President’s Message 2 Perfect Eloquence
Where Y’at 7 Blue Jays here, there, & everywhere
Bib List 14 Baby Jays
In Memoriam 20 Remembering our loved ones
Annus Mirabilis 23 Mining the depths of Jesuit’s archives
Flying with the Jays 28 The latest achievements in sports
Principal’s Corner 42 At Manresa, faculty retreat
Articles, photographs, and
Where Y'ats may be submitted
to [email protected], or mailed to:
Jaynotes, Jesuit High School
4133 Banks Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Contact info and address
changes should be emailed to
[email protected], or call
Jesuit’s alumni office at (504) 483-3838.
ON THE COVER
Retif Oil players hold aloft their championship
trophy after winning the American Legion World
Series last August, the first such title for a
Jesuit-based team in 52 years and only the
school’s third since 1946.
w ww.je su it nola .org | 1
Dear Blue Jays:
This issue of Jaynotes features stories
about two momentous events — one
that happened recently, the other having
occurred some 50 years ago. The recent
event is the cover story about Retif Oil,
with an all-Blue Jay roster of players,
winning the American Legion World
Series in Shelby, NC last August. It was
only the third time in 80 years that a
Jesuit team has captured such an elusive
honor, proving that winning the Legion
World Series is most difficult, not just
for Jesuit but for any of the 1,900 teams
competing in this popular summer league.
The event of long ago is of much greater
historical significance: the integration
of Jesuit High School on September 4,
1962. To commemorate the upcoming
50-year anniversary of this event, its
aftermath, and the changes it brought,
Jesuit alumni were invited in the previous
issue of Jaynotes to submit “Essays on
Race.” Blue Jays responded to the call. In
this issue, five such essays are presented
for your consideration. The five alumni
essayists span 60 years at Jesuit with the
eldest having graduated in 1944 and the
youngest from the Class of 2003. These
five alumni share personal reflections
about their own unique experiences,
incidents, situations, attitudes, and
circumstances regarding race and being
Blue Jays. We hope to include additional
essays in future issues of Jaynotes.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
CLARIFICATIONS
An editing error during the
production of the 2012 President’s
Report resulted in an incomplete and
misleading chart that listed the Top
Classes by Number of Donors. The
correct chart appears here.
Additionally, there was an omission
in the list of benefactors in the Class
of 1965. The Anniversary Club should
have included Dr. & Mrs. Bernard
Pettingill, Jr.
Coincidentally, Mat wrote the cover story
about Retif Oil winning the World Series.
Long before Retif swept the American
Legion’s state and regional tournaments,
Mat had made vacation plans for a week
long August visit with his daughter Erin,
her husband, and their two children.
The family had recently moved from
Orlando to Charlotte, NC. When Retif
A NEW LOOK FOR JAYNOTES
This issue of Jaynotes offers something old,
something new, and something borrowed
that is blue. The magazine itself has a
new look — the first redesign in eight
years. The new Blue Jay that sits atop
the masthead and is perched at the end
of articles is actually a vintage blue jay,
borrowed from the school flag that has
been displayed at graduation for more
than 75 years. At Jesuit, looking ahead
always means appreciating the past.
earned a spot in the World Series with
seven other teams, Mat could hardly
pass up the opportunity to count himself
among the Blue Jays rooting for Retif.
The Series took place in Shelby, which is
only an hour’s drive from Charlotte. Mat
was there for all five games Retif played,
including the rain-delayed championship.
(The championship game remains
available for online viewing on ESPN3).
Somehow, Mat also managed to spend
time with his grandchildren and complete
the paternal task of painting several rooms
in the family’s new home. Now, there’s a
true Blue Jay.
Pierre DeGruy ’69
Editor
TOP CLASSES BY NUMBER OF DONORS
Grad
Donors Year
1985
93
1992
85
1960
83
1963
80
1979
77
1991
77
1998
77
2005
76
1956
75
1962
73
1969
73
1959
72
1987
72
Totals
1,013
Living
Grads
Alumni
226
234
231
233
188
226
185
210
233
240
215
218
235
237
266
266
113
152
160
181
176
195
138
171
238
242
2,604
2,805
Percent Donating 41%
37%
44%
43%
33%
36%
33%
29%
66%
46%
41%
52%
30%
28.5%
Total Amounts
$189,183
$27,275
$33,000
$48,252
$59,347
$95,469
$18,457
$4,438
$49,847
$42,349
$52,086
$44,868
$51,648
$716,219
FROM THE EDITOR
“Essays on Race” was conceived by Mat
Grau of the Class of 1968, who is close
to celebrating 40 years at Jesuit High
School. During that time, Mat has served
in various capacities: English teacher,
assistant baseball coach, student activities
director, admissions director, and his
current position — alumni director. In
2004, Mat and I were collaborating on an
article about the legacy of John Paquette
’25, who died in August of that year. He
had retired after serving 75 years as Jesuit’s
registrar. In our research, we discovered
Mr. Paquette’s “Principal’s Diary,” a ledger
filled with his hand-written notations
about various school matters. The diary
was essentially the “official record” of all
things Jesuit, his own blog of a bygone
era. Mr. Paquette’s entry on September
4, 1962 about Jesuit’s official integration
(the image is included on page 41) was
so nonchalant and matter-of-fact that
immediately, Mat’s curiosity (and mine,
too) was piqued. In 2004, Mat was
already talking about using the Paquette
diary entry as a launching pad for a
commemoration of Jesuit’s desegregation.
Mat’s vast institutional knowledge of
Carrollton and Banks, coupled with
unbridled enthusiasm and love for his
alma mater (his colleagues and classmates
know him to bleed blue and white),
make him perfectly suited to be the point
person to coordinate the various activities
recognizing the 50-year anniversary
of Jesuit opening its doors to AfricanAmericans.
2 | FALL/WINTER 2012
Aiming at Perfect Eloquence
T
ry this for a thought experiment: You’re shopping
at Best Buy or some other such emporium. There
you learn that you’re the ten billionth customer
and that you are given — absolutely free — a
time machine. Confident that the Joneses will now have to
keep up with you, you take this new device home. After a
few awkward mishaps, you break down and read the manual,
quickly mastering the machine’s ways and means.
As one does, you then take a tour of Jesuit schools
throughout the last four and a half centuries. You visit the
first school, in Messina, Sicily, founded in 1548. You check
out the Collegio Romano, started a few years later and still
continuing as the Pontifical Gregorian University today. You
stop by the Collège de Clermont, later the Collège Louis-leGrand, shortly after its foundation in Paris in the early 1560s.
Your journey brings you to Jesuit schools in Germany, Brazil,
and India as you make your way across the centuries.
Let’s also suppose that after negotiating some linguistic
niceties, you ask the Jesuits teaching there what they’re
hoping to see in their students. I suggest that an answer you
would often hear would be eloquentia perfecta.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Eloquentia perfecta. Perfect eloquence. We continue to seek
this goal in our early-21st-century students at Carrollton and
Banks.
Training the young in the art of rhetoric has been a key
element of education as far back as the Athenians of the 5th
century B.C. Even today — with rhetoric including not only
speaking skills but also competencies in print, broadcast, and
Internet media — one can’t argue with eloquentia as a right
and proper aim of education. The ability to state one’s case
well and to persuade others of it makes for a successful person
in any society. From its start, Jesuit education has sought to
foster eloquence in its students, but so too has just about
every other system of education throughout history. But what
does this term mean in our Jesuit context?
As a Jesuit school, we’re aiming at perfect eloquence.
Eloquentia perfecta isn’t just “really, really clever eloquentia.”
It carries a moral and religious component that goes beyond
mere skill. Eloquentia perfecta certainly entails being able
to say something well; but more importantly, it is having
something worth saying. Thus, for instance, Adolf Hitler
possessed considerable eloquence; he could and did persuade
and motivate people in ways that changed history. But I
suggest that his eloquentia was mighty far from perfecta.
Eloquentia perfecta demands a worthy goal toward which the
eloquence is directed. This goal is not just a purpose that is
worthy of our best efforts; it is a purpose that elevates and
even sanctifies our best efforts.
Thus, the end to which Hitler
directed all his oratorical skills
was such as to make his powers
of speech into highly effective
agents of evil. In that case, one
could speak of his rhetorical
prowess as actually being
eloquentia defecta.
What, then, is the aim of the
eloquentia in Jesuit education?
As in all other matters, it is the
greater glory of God and the
good of souls. Our rhetorical
skills are oriented to the one perfect goal: God Himself.
Like all other created goods, they should bring ourselves and
others closer to that God. Jesuit education can readily impart
rhetorical techniques; but our greater challenge is to direct
those tools to the praise, reverence, and service of the One
Who is perfection and Who offers the grace that perfects us.
Thus, permit me to suggest some criteria to evaluate both the
content and the manner of our eloquentia. [Please know that
I am very aware that these call me to an ever more serious
examination of my own conscience, communication, and
conduct.]
• Do I serve truth by what I say and write?
• Do I aim at building up or edifying others in my
communication?
• Is what I say or write likely to inspire others to be nobler
and better persons who are more faithful, hopeful, and
loving?
• Do my words encourage others in facing the challenges
of striving to live a moral life?
• Does my approach to communication seek not simply to
convince the mind but also to convert the heart?
• Does my communication come from a convinced mind
and converted heart in myself?
• Most importantly, does the life I lead bear witness to my
words?
May all our words and works reflect the Word of God —
alive and active in our minds and hearts.
Rev. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76
President
“DOOKY” CHASE ’67
HONORED AS 2012 ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
E
dgar L. “Dooky” Chase III — a 1967 graduate of Jesuit High
School and a distinguished education, business, and civic
leader whose significant accomplishments have benefitted
universities and corporations, public boards and commissions,
and numerous charitable and non-profit organizations — is
the school’s 2012 Alumnus of the Year.
Chase received the award, formally known as the F. Edward Hebert
Award, at Homecoming Mass for Jesuit alumni on Sunday, October
21, 2012 in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on the
school’s campus. Following Mass, Chase was congratulated by
many fellow Blue Jays at a jazz brunch and reception in the
Student Commons. The award, which is actually a handsome
plaque, is given annually to an outstanding alumnus for his
achievements and notable service, either to Jesuit or the
community at large, and in many instances, to both.
“Dooky has provided extraordinary and generous service
in a remarkably diverse array of fields such as education,
business, finance, the military, philanthropy, and civic
affairs,” said Jesuit president Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald,
S.J. “Dooky has consistently and assiduously used the
best of his Jesuit education to promote the good of
others, ethical decision making, and service of God.
His selfless and humble spirit marks him as a true man
for others.”
When Chase was informed of his selection
as Jesuit’s 55th Alumnus of the Year, he
was characteristically humble. “I
am honored to follow in the
Clockwise from left: Following Homecoming Mass on October 21,
2012, Trevor Chase, Jr. gives his grandfather a “middle high five”;
Chase is congratulated by Tom Casey ’48, who was Alumnus of the
Year in 1979; Chase is the guest of honor at a Morning Assembly.
footsteps of the previous recipients of this award because they
are all eminent men of great accomplishments,” said Chase. “I
am blessed to be among them and I will always stand tall being
recognized as a Blue Jay.”
After his graduation in 1967, Chase continued his education
with the Jesuits at Loyola University of New Orleans, where,
in his senior year, he served as the first African-American
president of its student body. In 1971, Chase earned a business
55
Blue Jays honored as
Alumnus of
the Year
1958 Edwin W. Toribio ’34*†
1959 Leo B. Blessing ’27*
1960C. Ellis Henican ’22*
1961 Robert A.
Ainsworth, Jr. ’27*
1962 G. Gernon Brown ’20*
1963 John C. Paquette ’25*
1964 Leon Sarpy ’24*
1965 Henry P. Dupre ’25*
administration degree. He was subsequently awarded a
fellowship to study at Columbia University in New York, where
in 1973 he earned his MBA.
He also had enlisted in 1971 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S.
Marine Corps, where he was a disbursing officer on the East
Coast. Following his honorable discharge in 1976 with the rank
of Captain, he joined Price Waterhouse & Company as an audit
senior. His work required splitting time between assignments in
1966 Charles L. “Pie”
Dufour ’21*
1967 Joseph G. Vath ’34*
1968 A. Louis Read ’32*
1969 Robert R.
Barkerding, Sr. ’34*
1970 Moon Landrieu ’48
1971 Peter P. Finney, Sr. ’45
1972 James E. Fitzmorris, Jr. ’39
1973 Clayton J.
Charbonnet ’38*
1974 Joseph S. Childress ’35*
1975 William R. Brown, Jr. ’29*
1976 Clement
Betpouey, Jr. ’24*
1977 Joseph W. McCarron ’37*
1978 Charles I.
Denechaud, Jr. ’31*
1979 Thomas A. Casey, Sr. ’48
New Orleans and New York auditing Fortune 500 companies
such as IBM, Exxon, and Bristol-Myers.
In 1979, Chase began his law studies at Loyola University’s
School of Law, earning his juris doctor degree in 1983. Over
the next six years, Chase worked primarily for two companies
— Louisiana Land & Exploration Company (LL&E), where he
was responsible for filing financial reports with the Securities and
Exchange Commission; and, at Cox Communications, where as
a senior administrative manager, he supervised five departments.
In 1989, Chase moved into the education arena, joining Dillard
Chase currently serves as a member of eight different boards,
commissions, or non-profit organizations, including the New
Orleans Museum of Art; the Friends of Lafitte Corridor; New
Orleans Greenway Project; the Public Belt Railroad of the City
of New Orleans; City Park Improvement Association; and, the
Counselor Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of
Jerusalem. He also currently serves as the chairman of the boards
of the City of New Orleans Employees’ Retirement Plan and
Odyssey House Louisiana. He recently stepped up as chairman
of the board of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
“I am so proud of Jesuit, its graduates, and
its current students. Jesuit is where I learned
first-hand how to be a man for others.”
University as dean of its business division, whose graduates
he helped place in top jobs. As dean of the private historically
black liberal arts school located in the Gentilly section of the
city, Chase also expanded the university’s academic programs by
creating dual majors in foreign languages.
When Hurricane Katrina struck, Chase was a vice president at
Dillard in charge of master planning and facilities management.
As such, he played an instrumental role in the recovery and
rebuilding efforts, which involved restoring and refurbishing 32
university buildings and three off-campus residential complexes,
all of which enabled the school to reopen in record time.
Chase is a strong believer in being actively involved in
community affairs, a trait undoubtedly inherited from his
parents, Edgar and Leah Chase, whose Dooky Chase Restaurant
in the Tremé neighborhood is one of the most famous and iconic
of Creole culinary institutions in New Orleans. Chase’s mother
Leah oversees the restaurant’s operations, fussing over its menu
as well as the preparation of its signature dishes like gumbo and
cobbler.
1980Arthur T. Screen ’34*
1981 Emmett M.
Fitzpatrick ’45
1982 Raymond S. Rizzo ’32*
1983 Adrian G. Duplantier ’45*
1984 Curtis P. Rome, Jr. ’52
1985 Owen E. Brennan, Jr. ’52
1986 John J. “Jack” Dardis ’59
1987 Stephen B. Rodi ’32*
1988 Ardley R.
Hanemann, Jr. ’61
1989 Joseph P. Licciardi, Jr. ’53
1990J. Michael Early ’33
1991 Daniel J. “Rusty”
Staub ’61
1992 Robert L. Perez ’61
1993 Milton J. Retif, Sr. ’51
1994 J. Garic Schoen ’38
1995 Frank B. Stewart, Jr. ’53
And then there are the numerous organizations for which Chase
has served as a “former” board member or chairman, including
the Port Authority of New Orleans; the Bureau of Governmental
Research; the Preservation Resource Center; the Musical Arts
Society of New Orleans; the Louisiana Economic Development
Corporation; the State of Louisiana Millennium Port Authority;
the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education; and, the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
Chase claims that he is now “retired,” which is accurate in the
sense that he no longer has an active law or CPA practice, or
“full time employment.” However, retirement is contradicted
by the frenetic pace he maintains on an almost daily basis.
In 2010 he took on a different challenge at a new campus —
“Lead Faculty” for Delgado Community College’s Goldman
Sachs/10,000 Small Businesses Program, which is designed to
foster job growth through entrepreneurship.
Chase soon will be adding “author” to an already-bulky resume.
He is completing a novel of historical fiction, which he describes
as a work about “American Autonomy, Liberty, Love, and
1996 Robert F. Talbot, Jr. ’55
1997 Marcel Garsaud, Jr. ’50
1998 Robert H. Boh ’47
1999 Peter R. Quirk ’54
2000Michael O. Read ’61
2001Michael E. Nolan ’63
2002Ashton J. Ryan, Jr. ’65
2003Donald C. Wetzel ’46
2004John C. Favalora ’54
2005Arthur S. Mann ’64
2006W. James Amoss ’65
2007Michael H.
Rodrigue, Sr. ’71
2008Jay C. Zainey ’69
2009Kevin G. Heigle ’69
2010John D. Charbonnet ’54
2011 Michael A. McGlone ’68
2012 Edgar L. “Dooky”
Chase III ’67
* Deceased
† Awarded Posthumously
With his family present at the 2012 Homecoming Mass, Chase is honored as Jesuit High School’s 55th Alumnus of the Year.
Identity in the 21st Century.”
After graduating from eighth grade at Corpus Christi
Elementary School, Chase registered to attend Jesuit on
September 3, 1963. He maintained a high B average and
concentrated on a singular co-curricular activity during the next
four years — playing the cornet and trumpet in the Blue Jay
Marching Band.
Dooky and his wife, the former Alva Jean Darensbourg, have
been married 38 years. They have three sons — twins Trevor and
Travis, and Edgar IV (who is a graduate of Jesuit’s Class of 2000)
— along with five grandchilden.
“I am so proud of Jesuit, its graduates, and its current students,”
he reflected at Homecoming Mass. “Jesuit is where I learned
first-hand how to be a man for others. My parents and
grandparents sacrificed a lot for me and I hope that one day I
can fulfill their dreams.”
high school through college, the Jesuits
As the 2012 Alumnus of the Year,
shaped my character. They sent me out as
Dooky Chase ’67 spoke to alumni
a Christian soldier, to go forth and set the
during the Homecoming Mass on
world on fire.
Sunday, October 21, 2012 in the
In 1962 James Meredith was escorted
Chapel of the North American
by federal marshals to register at the
Martyrs. Below are edited
University of Mississippi. The very next
excerpts. His entire address may
Watch Dooky's
at me through the big
year my speech
dad brought
be viewed on the Alumni PageHomecoming
of
Mass
in
its
entirety
brown doors of Jesuit.
I stood as a living
Jesuit’s web site.
at www.jesuitnola.org/alumni.
example of social change. You and I had
“It is my honor to address you today
as your 2012 Alumnus of the Year. You
and I share the Jesuit insight of what it
means to be men for others. That phrase
has packed a powerful punch for me and
surely for you. This institution, the Jesuits,
and the Jesuit tradition of developing
leaders who extend themselves for others
have distinguished us. I have learned
courage, honor, fortitude, perseverance,
and prudence from the Jesuits. From
a choice on what side we should stand,
on the side of freedom and integration,
or on the side of segregation, fear, and
limitations on freedom. Neither you nor
I were afraid. Admittedly, however, there
was nothing to fear here at Jesuit High
School.
My fellow graduates of 1967: thank
you for being my friend. I know it was
not easy for you. Lester Maddox, a
segregationist, was sworn in as Governor
of Georgia that year and you stood firmly
as friends with me and other Blacks then
at Jesuit. Leo Lay, Frank Barry, and other
classmates that I know are here, I will
always be there for each and every one of
you.
God did not create excellence as
something to be limited. I am just saying
that Jesuit had a special calling for me.
Jesuit changed my life. We all have
choices; however, it’s the choice we make
that forever binds. How we relate to our
choice in a loving, trusting, caring, and
forgiving way keeps us united.
In closing, I say to anyone who reads or
hears this address that Jesuit is among the
best choices of an all-male high school in
metropolitan New Orleans. If you want
your son to be a man for others, make
sure that he enrolls at Jesuit. You will not
be disappointed.”
WHERE Y’AT
ALUMNI REUNION
active Class of 1956.
’57
SAVE THE DATE
Frank Randazzo
still lives in
Humble, TX and
writes, “Geaux Blue Jays, LSU
Tigers, and Saints.”
APRIL 13, 2013
CLASS OF
CALENDAR
CLASS OF 1943
Mass, Couples’
Reception & Dinner
CLASS OF 1948
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 7, 2013
Couples’ Reception at
Southern Yacht Club
’52
W. Patrick
Harrigan recently
retired as emeritus
professor of communications
at Lamar University in
Beaumont, TX.
’53
Del Hall retired
six years ago
after a career that
included traveling the world
for CBS News and owning a
television production company
in Chicago for 25 years. Now
he passes the time by taking
ukulele and art lessons. Del
remains an avid photographer.
Peter Marrero is retired and
living in Tuscaloosa, AL.
CLASS OF
1953
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 29, 2013
Mass, Couples’ Reception & Dinner
’56
Michael Develle
is retired and living
on an island in
the Northwest. Michael has 14
grandchildren, who reside all
over the planet.
David Schof has three
grandsons attending Jesuit,
where he remains involved in
all matters pertaining to the
1958
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 21-22, 2013
Stag & Couples’ Receptions
’61
Bruce
Bosworth
served as a poll
watcher for the Tea Party
Republicans during the 2012
presidential election.
Don Schlater retired in
2010 but remains active as
both treasurer and training
committee chairman in the
Society for Under Water
Technology. Don is also a
guest lecturer at BP/Chevron
training seminars.
CLASS OF
1963
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 7-8, 2013
’63
Robert Cahill
and his wife,
Jane, both retired
five years ago and moved to
their lake house to live full
time in Granbury, TX. They
spend most of their time
volunteering, traveling, fishing,
and playing with their four
grandchildren. Bob writes,
“Life is good. A.M.D.G.”
Larry Schneider is in the Hall
of Fame, that is, the Louisiana
High School Sports Hall of
Fame. Larry was inducted into
the Hall in January for his
extensive contribution to high
school athletics in Louisiana.
After stellar baseball careers at
Jesuit and
Tulane,
Larry took
the reins
of the
Rummel
High
School
baseball
program in
1971 and
compiled
a 526-175 record in a career
that spanned more than three
decades.
’64
Dan Enzone
and his wife have
been living in
Huntington Bay, NY for the
past 30 years. They are avid
travelers with a fondness for
good food and fine wine.
’67
Clyde DeLoach
has been a
volunteer U.S.
Naval Academy information
officer for nearly 30 years. In
this capacity he interviews
prospective midshipman for
the admissions office. Clyde
writes, “I enjoy this and also
my new job in retirement —
being an active baby sitter for
my grandchildren.”
CLASS OF
1968
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 10, 2013
Golf Outing & Stag Reception
MAY 11, 2013
Mass & Couples’ Reception
’68
Michael
Smyer visited
India as a
Fulbright fellow in March,
2012 to study the country’s
higher education system.
Mick is provost at Bucknell
University. In September, he
got to sit in with BeauSoleil
when they played at Bucknell.
’71
Rick Ortega, his
wife Marcy, and his
daughter Tracy are
still enjoying life in Clear Lake
City in the Houston region.
’72
Joseph Ballard
was recently
promoted to
managing counsel in the Baton
Rouge legal department of
Entergy.
Bruce Hoefer completed an
eight-year term as chairman of
the board of Café Reconcile
and continues to be involved
as a board member of the nonprofit organization because “I
believe in helping our at-risk
young adults who never had
the opportunity to grow, to
shine, to bloom.”
CLASS OF
1973
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 31 - JUNE 1, 2013
’73
Ben de Boisblanc
is a professor
of medicine in
physiology at the LSU Health
Sciences Center. Ben writes, “I
woke up today with a roof over
my head and a full belly. Life
is good.”
’74
Gary Balsamo has
been the public
health veterinarian
for the State of Louisiana
since 2002. Gary previously
was in private practice in
Morgan City. He has served
in the U.S. Army Reserves
and was activated during
Operation Enduring Freedom.
He experienced one tour
of duty in Afghanistan and
WHERE Y’AT
Uzbekistan. Gary and his wife,
Rhonda Cantrelle Balsamo,
have three children and two
grandchildren.
John Laiche recently received
a promotion as the system
architect for a multi-agency
program. Through the years
John has received various
awards, including the Navy
Meritorious Civilian Service
Award for achievement in
support of the Navy and the
joint operations world.
Michael Mentz was recently
sworn in as the newest judge
in Jefferson Parish. He was
automatically elected to the
Division F seat in the 24th
Judicial District Court last
August when no one signed
up to oppose him. Before
becoming a public official,
Michael was a managing
partner at Hailey, McNamara,
L.L.P., which he joined in 1981
fresh out of Loyola University’s
School of Law.
’75
Ronald Alvarez is
currently serving
as the 2012-13
president of the Society of
Gynecologic Oncology, whose
1,600
members
represent
the entire
gynecologic
oncology
team in the
U.S. and
abroad.
Ronnie
remains at the University of
Alabama at Birmingham where
he is a professor and director
of the division of gynecologic
oncology. He is also a senior
scientist in the experimental
therapeutics program at the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer
Center. Ronnie and his wife
of 33 years, Denise, have
three children and recently
celebrated the birth of their
first granddaughter. And, yes,
they still frequently visit New
Orleans.
Tim Flynn lives and works
in San Diego. He is vice
president of Scientific Research
Corporation, an advanced
engineering company that is a
premier provider of technology
solutions for national defense
and global security.
Peter Holley currently works
in the medical office of the
U.S. Embassy in Kabul,
Afghanistan. Peter writes that
his wife and daughters are
home in New Orleans, “where
my heart is.”
’76
Ed Leckert is
a Seattle-based
professional
photographer who travels
the world “to capture
Mother Nature when she
is showing her very best.”
Ed’s gorgeous landscape
and wildlife photography is
available commercially via
his expanded web site: (www.
edleckertimages.com). He
even frames the prints he sells.
Ed’s bio on his new web site
features this nugget that a
few current Blue Jays might
find inspiring: “When I was
a senior at Jesuit, my English
teacher asked me why I didn’t
shoot for the school newspaper
and yearbook. The truth is,
it had never really occurred
to me. So, I joined both
organizations. For some reason,
no one else signed up for the
newspaper (the Jayson), so I
became chief photographer of
the paper by default and a staff
photographer for the yearbook.
I learned a lot that year,
especially covering nighttime
football games, where the low
light and fast action made
for challenging conditions.”
Ed, who is a contributing
photographer to Getty Images,
resides in Issaquah, a charming
and fast-growing town 17
miles east of Seattle.
’77
Michael Graham
is a physician
with an obstetrics
and gynecology practice in
Metairie. He and his wife
Cynthia have three children,
including two Blue Jays,
Michael ’06, and Charles ’13.
CLASS OF
1978
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 24 - 25, 2013
’78
Mitch Landrieu
was recognized in
Newsweek as one
of the “Five Most Innovative
Mayors in America.” Newsweek
noted its list features mayors
who are tackling tough city
government issues such as
education reform, public safety,
quality of life, and job creation.
The magazine lauded Landrieu
for the “sea change in public
education” in New Orleans
as a result of his efforts.
“Seven years after Katrina,
the dropout rate has been cut
in half, while test scores have
soared by double digits,” stated
Newsweek. “The lessons are
clear — increased competition,
autonomy, and accountability
along with public-private
partnerships and parental
choice can turn even the
most troubled public school
systems around.” The magazine
developed the list with the help
of the Innovations in American
Government Program at
Harvard’s Kennedy School.
John Meyer is the command
information officer for the
Naval Meteorology and
Oceanography Command
at Stennis Space Center. He
and his wife Karen recently
celebrated their 30-year
wedding anniversary with
their three children and two
grandchildren.
’79
Barry
Goodspeed has
two reasons why
he is spending less time in his
dental offices in Homewood,
AL. Recovering from recent
rotator cuff surgery is one
reason. The other reason has
something to do with his
10-year-old son Gray. Barry
is deriving pure enjoyment
serving as Scoutmaster of
Gray’s troop. “It is an especially
great blessing,” says Barry of
his scouting duties, which
happen to align perfectly
with his other fun activities,
such as woodworking, singing
in a church choir (as well
as a barbershop quartet),
and dabbling with the
harmonica and ukulele. Water
conservation is a relatively
new interest for Barry, who
has developed a couple of new
water conserving devices. He
is currently writing a reference
booklet on water conservation
issues. He and his wife, Cissy,
will celebrate 12 years of
marriage this May.
W. Geary Mason recently
retired from the Army National
Guard as a lieutenant colonel
after 28 years of service. He
is currently a senior financial
advisor in the New Orleans
office of Sterne, Agee, & Leach,
Inc., a private brokerage and
investment firm. Geary serves
as chairman of Operation
Homefront of Louisiana, a
non-profit group dedicated
to assisting military service
members and their families
who are experiencing hardship
situations. Additionally, Geary
devotes time to serving as a
class tri-chairman (currently
the freshmen class) of Jesuit’s
Parents’ Annual Giving drive.
’80
Greg Bensel
has been
promoted
to senior vice president
of communications and
broadcasting for both the
New Orleans Saints and the
New Orleans Hornets (soon
to be the Pelicans). Greg and
two of his classmates, Chris
Nalty and Gene Simon,
took in the Notre Dame-BYU
football game in October at
South Bend (the Irish won,
17-14.) After the game, the
trio was walking across Notre
Dame’s campus and had the
accompanying photo taken
while standing in front of
“touchdown” Jesus. By the
way, Chris is a monsignor in
the New Orleans Archdiocese
and serves as pastor of Good
Shepherd Parish and St.
Stephen Church. Gene owns
BIS Construction and Ship
Services, L.L.C.
Bensel, Nalty, & Simon
Robert Killeen, Jr. traveled
last summer to Riccione, Italy
to swim. Really, he did. The
Texas and Louisiana attorney
competed in the 14th FINA
World Masters Championship
2012, an extravaganza of
various water events (polo,
diving, etc.) that attracted
15,000 athletes from all over
the world. There were some
1,000 swimmers plugged into
various age groups, from 25-29
up to 85-89, (real “masters”).
Robert competed in three
events in his age bracket (5054). He went up against 150
competitors from 32 countries.
Robert placed first in the
50-meter butterfly, besting his
second place opponent from
Belgium by .23 seconds. The
next day, he placed second to
a Russian in the 100-meter fly.
Robert was always a speedster
and learned how to slice
through water when he was a
state championship workhorse
on the 1978, 1979, and 1980
Jesuit swim teams. He was a
co-captain in his senior year
with Bill Edmund ’80. Robert
works in the Houston and
Austin offices of his own law
HOUSTON ALUMNI REUNITE
Jesuit alumni living in and around the Houston area have enjoyed several events since forming their own
alumni chapter three years ago. A small group of Jays attended a Christmas party to spread cheer among
some of the young patients at Texas Children’s Hospital, an event hosted by Cristo Rey Jesuit (high school).
The New Orleans Saints have been a catalyst for Houston Jays to throw a party or two. The chapter’s
leadership team has also hosted two crawfish boils, annual events in May. The accompanying photo was
snapped at their second boil, held last May at Jackson’s Watering Hole, where Jerry Eumont ’80 and his
crew supplied the spicy crustaceans for about 70 Blue Jays and their families. Missed it? No sweat. A third
crawfish boil is in the works for May 2013 and there will be additional social events — including one,
perhaps, that will find Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park watching Astros baseball — all for the purpose of
staying connected in the Big H. Four members of the Houston Alumni Chapter’s leadership team helped
Eumont boil crawfish: from left, Gene Settoon ’04, Chris Cola ’93 (co-captain), Shawn O’Brien ’89, and
Brian Usner ’97. Other team members are John Ryan ’70 (co-captain), John O’Shea ’80, Casey Cuntz ’93,
and Julian Hillary ’00. Catch up with Jesuit’s Big H chapter on Facebook, LinkedIn, or contact someone on
the team at: [email protected].
firm, Killeen and Stern, PC
— he is a seasoned litigator
experienced in several areas of
law. He and his wife Karen live
in Austin with their two young
children, Kade and Kara.
’81
Alex Barthe
retired five years
ago from the Air
Force in 2007 and lives and
works in Crestview, FL. “We
now own three UPS stores,”
writes Alex, “and I just found
out that in May I will be a
grandfather. Wow, I am way
too young for that one.”
Jim Nelson has joined the
Whitney Private Banking
Group as a senior vice
president and regional
manager.
’82
Mel Leveque
is an assistant
coach for Jesuit’s
pre-freshmen football team.
’83
Trey Fabacher III
accepted a new job
with the Meredith
Corporation as vice president/
general manager of its two
television stations in Atlanta,
WGCL-TV (CBS) and
WPCH-TV (IND). “We are
happy to be back in the South
and closer to New Orleans,” he
writes.
CLASS OF
1983
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 24 - 25, 2013
’84
Stephen Greco
has joined
Johns Hopkins
Medicine as a clinical
associate professor at an
off campus hospital near
Bethesda, MD. Stephen is
a radiation oncologist with
widespread clinical expertise
and a particular interest in the
treatment of prostate cancer.
He has extensive experience
in prostate seed implantation.
He and his family — wife Judy
and their four children — live
in the Washington, D.C. area.
’85
Brett Camet
is the vice
president of
business development
for the federal sector of
Geocent, L.L.C., which is
one of the industry leaders
in information technology,
engineering technical services,
and defense and aerospace
manufacturing support.
In addition to capturing
new strategic markets and
steering the overall growth
efforts of the company, Brett
is responsible for managing
key relationships with all
management levels in various
federal agencies, including
the Space and Naval Warfare
Command Atlantic, the USDA
National Finance Center, the
Veterans Administration, and
Homeland Security. Brett’s
base of operations is Geocent’s
Lakefront office in the UNO
Research & Technology Park.
Beau Higgins has served
21 years in the U.S. Marine
WHERE Y’AT
Corps, holds the rank of
colonel, and completed five
overseas tours, the most recent,
a one-year deployment in
Kabul, Afghanistan. Upon
returning stateside last summer,
Beau became the commanding
officer of the Headquarters
Battalion at Camp Lejeune
in North Carolina. His
appointment was made official
on August 3, 2012 at a change
of command ceremony, which
was attended by a large crowd
of Marines and guests, among
them his wife, Elizabeth,
and their four children. At
the ceremonial passing of
the colors, Camp Lejeune’s
outgoing commanding officer
had this to say: “Beau has the
perfect background, the perfect
personality. The Marines
will love him. Under Beau’s
leadership, this battalion will
go light years ahead of where
we’ve taken it thus far.” Beau’s
response: “I’m very humbled to
be here today, to think about
where I’ve come from, and to
be here and have these Marines
that I’ll be in this command
with — it’s very humbling for
me.”
U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde
Higgins, left, at the change of
command ceremony
’86
Ben Frank
recently
became
chief operating officer of the
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi,
a large hospital located in
the capital city of the United
Arab Emirates. “This is an
unbelievable place,” says Ben
of his new environment.
“However, I have not yet
found a shrimp po-boy or any
gumbo.”
Glenn Melville was honored
as the 2012 Alumnus of the
Year of Christian Brothers
School in New Orleans. Glenn
has been a teacher and coach at
Christian Brothers since 2004.
Leonard Young still sells
Cadillacs for Sewell, even
after relocating to Katy, TX.
Leonard is now working for
Sewell Cadillac of Houston.
’87
Stephen
Cazentre has
been promoted to
chief accounting officer at Gulf
Engineering Co., L.L.C. in
Jefferson.
Henry Griffin is an actor,
director, and screenwriter who
also teaches film at UNO.
Henry’s
current
acting
project is
a role in
HBO’s
popular
homecooked
series
“Treme.”
Dennis Lauscha has been
promoted to president of the
New Orleans Saints and the
New Orleans Hornets (soon to
be the Pelicans).
CLASS OF
1988
SAVE THE DATE
APRIL 19 - 20, 2013
’88
Billy Burk is
the managing
partner of
Burk Brokerage, a boutique
real estate business that offers
concierge-like services to its
clients.
Michael Smith is no longer
a Wildcat. He’s a Razorback.
Mike joined the staff of the
Arkansas Razorbacks’ football
team and will coach the wide
receivers. Mike has been an
assistant coach for a total
of 16 years at Kansas State
University, where he solidified
his reputation as one of the
best recruiters in college
football. This past season his
K-State team won the Big 12
Conference and played in the
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. In his
college days, Mike starred as
a record-setting All-American
wide receiver at Kansas State.
He played one season in the
NFL for the Kansas City
Chiefs. Mike is married to the
former
Karyn
Tieken
and they
have four
children:
Kylie,
Kenzie,
Kason,
and
Kamryn.
’90
Brett Power and
his wife Jodi were
recognized as the
#1 Two-Person real estate team
by the New Orleans Metro
Association of Realtors. The
award is based on sales volume
in the metro region.
’91
Brandon Gregoire
married Kristie
Maria LeBeau
in October 2012. Brandon
is a career officer with the
rank of major in the U.S.
Marine Corps. He has given
distinguished service in Bosnia,
Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Daniel Maurin has joined
Iberia Bank in New Orleans as
vice president and relationship
manager in its business
banking division.
’92
Chris Barnes is a
man of two cities,
splitting time
between New Jersey, where his
job in the oil and gas industry
resides, and Fairhope, AL,
where he is living and moving
into a new home.
Malachi Hull was honored
as the 2012 Regulator of the
Year by the International
Association of Transportation
Regulators (IATR) at the
group’s annual conference
last November. The award
recognized Malachi for his
exceptional achievements
and effective leadership as
director of the Taxicab &
For Hire Bureau of the City
of New Orleans. Malachi is
responsible for the oversight
of more 3,100 vehicles, 92
for-hire companies, and 555
tour guides. Additionally,
he permits and monitors 12
satellite brake tag inspection
stations responsible for
ensuring vehicle safety for all
personally owned, private,
and commercial vehicles
registered in the City of New
Orleans. “Malachi has led the
charge to bring safe, reliable,
and predictable ground
transportation to our city,” said
Mayor
Mitch
Landrieu,
who
appointed
Malachi
to his
position in
the bureau
in June
2011.
J. Scott Janoe was named
— for the third consecutive
year — one of the top five
environmental lawyers under
40 in the country by Law360,
an online legal resource and
reference tool. Scott is a
partner in the environmental
law division of Baker Botts,
L.L.P., the giant Houston firm.
He lives in the Big H with his
wife, Raquel, and their four
daughters.
Roland Waguespack is an
emergency room physician
who was recently named chief
medical officer at Gulf South
Quality Network, L.L.C.
CLASS OF
1993
SAVE THE DATE
APRIL 19 - 20, 2013
w w w.je su it nola .org | 11
’94
’95
Jay Montalbano
took office as the
2012-13 president
of the Baton Rouge chapter
of the Society of Louisiana
Certified Public Accountants.
Jay is a partner in the Baton
Rouge accounting firm of
Hannis T. Bourgeois, L.L.P.,
where he has worked as a
CPA for 13 years, specializing
in construction and business
valuations.
’96
Jonathan
Jones has been
promoted to
senior vice president and
general manager of the Grand
Casino Biloxi, Hotel, & Spa.
He has worked seven years for
Caesar's Entertainment, which
owns the Grand. Jonathan and
his wife, Jennifer, now live in
Ocean Springs, MS, along with
their infant son. (Check out the
Bib List for their entry.)
Sanders Offner is the
president and co-owner of
Pinnacle Payroll Solutions of
Louisiana, which is based in
Harahan, and provides cost
effective, quality payroll service
to businesses. Sanders has 10
years of payroll experience
working with companies of
all sizes. “We continue to
add valuable services to our
product line, but we will never
lose focus of our original goal:
providing small to mediumsized businesses with a quality
payroll outsourcing solution,”
says Sanders, who is married
with three children.
Max Ortiz was recognized in
New Orleans Magazine as the
2012 Maître d’ of the Year.
He currently operates Root in
the Warehouse District and
has also worked at Restaurant
August and Bella Luna.
’97
Christopher
Buckley lives in
St. Paul, MN,
where he attended school and
met his bride, Aya Maruyama.
Christopher and Aya were
studying to complete their
masters’ degrees in educational
psychology at the University of
Minnesota when they met and,
well, fell head over heels for
each other. They were married
in October 2011.
Stephen Dardis was one of 61
Legionaries of Christ ordained
in Rome on Christmas Eve
2012. The 61 new priests, all
between 30 and 40-years-old,
represented 11 countries. They
were ordained by the Pontifical
Delegate for the Legion of
Christ, Cardinal Velasio De
Paolis, at the Basilica of St.
Paul Outside-the-Walls.
Blue Jay Saves the Day at The Met
Bryan Hymel ’97
had a merry, merry
Christmas in New
York City when
he made his debut
tenor performance
as Aeneas — to
great critical and
artistic acclaim — in
the Metropolitan
Opera’s production of
Berlioz’s Les Troyens.
Only days earlier
Bryan had flown from
London to New York
City to take over the difficult role of the Trojan hero in the Met’s
production. The opera is a mammoth one, more than five hours
long, and it has brought other tenors to their knees, including
the previous one in the role whose “wobbly” voice forced him to
bail with four performances remaining. Essentially, Bryan was
coming in to save the Met.
It had been 12 years since Bryan appeared on the Met stage as
a finalist in the Met’s National Council Auditions. He is now
33 and an experienced Aeneas, having performed the role in
London not long before he was summoned to the Met. He
describes it this way: “It is very intense, but you can’t allow this
to interfere with the singing. It must be sung beautifully. It’s not
just shouting… It takes careful practice, showing intensity while
having an inner calm and peace under the surface.”
After his debut, it was near midnight when Bryan appeared for
his curtain call — and his fellow cast members lined the Met
stage, giving him a prolonged ovation as did the audience, some
of whom were clearly stunned by the tenor’s performance.
“This gesture from the singers seemed not just a welcoming
tribute to a young colleague making his Met debut on short
notice in the daunting role of Aeneas,” wrote Anthony
Tommasini of The New York Times. “The cast members, especially
the beaming mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who was again a
vocally sumptuous and alluring Dido, seemed genuinely grateful
to Mr. Hymel for saving the day by giving an impassioned and
confident performance of a heroic role that dominates this
formidable French opera.”
Fr. Dardis
Paul Edmonds operates the
energy finance division for
Comerica Bank in Houston.
’98
Andrew
Brennan is
currently working
Tommasini, who is the paper’s chief music critic, described
Bryan’s voice as “…dark hued and muscular, with a quick vibrato
and earthy texture, and quite even throughout its range… Mr.
Hymel sang with unflagging stamina and impetuous abandon,
capped with some exciting full-voiced top notes. But he was at
his best in the tender high-lying exchanges with Ms. Graham.”
After giving four stellar performances — rocking the Met, its
cast members, and audiences — Bryan returned overseas where
his tenor voice is gracing opera productions in Paris, Vienna, and
other cities throughout Europe.
Find out more about Bryan Hymel’s meteoric rise in the
opera world: www.bryanhymel.com.
Photo: Ken Howard, Metropolitan Opera
Michael
Brandner is
among the
2013 Rising Stars of Super
Lawyers for Louisiana, the
second year in a row that he
has been recognized by this
rating service. After Hurricane
Katrina, Michael and his wife,
Katie, started their Brandner
Law Firm to assist clients with
a variety of personal injury
claims. The firm now has three
offices: the New Orleans CBD,
Metairie, and Baton Rouge.
A Thomson Reuters business,
Super Lawyers is a rating
service of outstanding lawyers
from more than 70 practice
areas who have attained a highdegree of peer recognition and
professional achievement.
WHERE Y’AT
UPCOMING
EVENTS
BLUE JAY
BAZAAR
March 24, 2013
JESUIT GOLF
TOURNAMENT
at English Turn
April 19, 2013
JESUIT FISHING
RODEO
Weigh-in at
John Ryan Stadium
June 22, 2013
at ExxonMobil’s downstream
headquarters in Northern
Virginia. Andrew is part of the
business planning unit for the
lubricants division of the giant
company. (Read Andrew’s entry
in the Bib List.)
Vernon Carriere, Jr. has
joined the physician staff at
Metairie Gastroenterology on
Houma Boulevard. Vernon
specializes in gastroenterology
and practices the latest
advances in this field. He and
his wife, and their three sons,
live in Metairie.
Scott Hellmers is the general
manager at Manning’s, one
of Harrah’s restaurants, and a
favorite hangout for a wellknown local football family.
James Mayo returned this
year to New Orleans to begin
a plastic and reconstructive
surgery residency at the LSU
Health Sciences Center. James
has been away for almost 15
years and hopes to remain in
New Orleans after completing
the three-year training
program.
Ryan Morehead is a
regional sales manager at JAG
Flocomponents, a pipeline
valve manufacturer in the
Houston region. In his spare
time, Ryan umpires college
baseball and also happened
to be behind the plate for the
inaugural game Jesuit and Holy
Cross played at the March
2012 grand opening of John
Ryan Stadium. He and his
wife, Jessica, live in suburban
Houston with their two
children, Lydia and William.
Nicholas Rauber began
participating in the Swollfest
Fishing Rodeo in Grand Isle
while a junior at Jesuit. In June
2012, the rodeo celebrated its
15th anniversary in a big way.
The rodeo reached a milestone
in cumulative donations,
having raised $500,000 for
the two charities the event
supports each year, the
American Diabetes Association
and the Muscular Dystrophy
Association. Nick was honored
by the Diabetes Association last
November with the prestigious
National Volunteer Recognition
Award.
Richard Roth has opened
his own law firm in the Rink
in uptown New Orleans.
The Roth Law Firm focuses
primarily on assisting clients
with tax law, with an emphasis
on estate planning and tax
credits.
CLASS OF
1998
SAVE THE DATE
APRIL 5 - 6, 2013
’99
Jeffrey James is
the owner and
general manager
of St. Lawrence, a new
restaurant and tavern located at
219 N. Peters St. on the edge
of the French Quarter.
Maumus
Michael “Fletcher” Maumus
is the lead vocalist and guitarist
in the power pop band The
Whims, which recently had
a debut album release party
in New York City. Fletcher
(far left in photo) and The
Whims have a one-night stand
in New Orleans on March
22 at Breezy’s on Freret Street
before heading to Pensacola
for a gig. When not making
music, Fletcher is an adjunct
professor of philosophy at
Brooklyn College. He earned
his Ph.D. in philosophy of
mind and language last May
from The Graduate Center of
City University of New York.
He and his wife, Lindsay, live
in Brooklyn.
’00
John Franck
is a sales
representative
for Stryker Orthopedics. In
February 2012, John married
Maria Angela Castellon.
Jeff Serpas is leading GE
Capital’s effort in New Orleans
in the field of IT management.
He previously worked in
Milwaukee for General Electric
Healthcare.
’01
John
DeGenova
joined the
law firm of Wilmer, Cutler,
Pickering, Hale, and Dorr,
L.L.P. in 2012. He is a senior
associate in the litigation
department of the firm’s
Washington, D.C. office.
William Neilson practices
tax and business law in New
Orleans after having the
honor of serving a two-year
appointment with the U.S. Tax
Court in Washington, D.C.
’02
Taso
Kydoniefs is
a physician
who works as a healthcare IT
consultant with Perceptive
Software in Madison, WI. In
May 2012, Taso married Liz
Gage Warren.
CLASS OF
2003
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 22, 2013
Stag Reception
’03
Buddy Boe is
the new chief
administrative
Young Jays Recognized in Gambit
Nicholas Braden ’97 and Mark LeBlanc ’03 were included on Gambit’s
2012 list of “40 Under 40.” Each year, the newspaper recognizes young
business people whose accomplishments and contributions have improved
the quality of life in the New Orleans area.
Investment banker Nicholas Braden ’97 is the vice president of energyfocused Global Hunter Securities, where he advises clients about raising
capital, mergers, and acquisitions. Nick earned his MBA from the
Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a triple
concentration in finance, public policy, and entrepreneurial management.
As an elite competitive sailor, Mark LeBlanc ’03 finished sixth overall at
the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Not only did Mark have to endure
intense training for the competition, he also had to exert considerable effort
in raising funds to support his goal of winning a gold medal. Though Mark
did not medal, he gained worlds of experience for his next try at the gold.
officer for St. Charles Parish.
Buddy most recently worked as
president of his own strategic
planning and public relations
consulting firm. He served
as acting chief administrative
officer and communications
director at St. John the Baptist
Parish from 2007 until 2010.
Buddy is a board member of
the local United Way.
David Hanemann teaches
social studies and religion to
fifth graders at Holy Cross
Middle School. He is in his
third year of teaching and
enjoys every minute of it.
He recently was in a drama
production of 1776 at the
school.
Justin Hayes is in his final
year at the Tulane University
School of Medicine. He has
chosen internal medicine as his
specialty and is interviewing
for a residency program.
Chris Juge has recently opened
the Pelican House Tap Room
and Whisky Bar in Baton
Rouge.
Stephen Lee works in the
athletic department at the
University of Tennessee as the
assistant director of media
relations. He previously held
the same position at Columbia
University in New York City.
Stephen lives in Knoxville.
Paul Perez is a dentist with
Audubon Dental in uptown
New Orleans.
’04
Gavin Daigle is
the lead author
of an important
manuscript of the Dr. Udai
Pandey Genetics Research
Team, where he is currently
a graduate student in the
Pandey lab, located in the LSU
Health Sciences Center in New
Orleans. His research paper
identifies how a particular gene
causes ALS (widely known as
Lou Gehrig’s disease).
John Richards and his wife,
Andrea, are in their third year
of medical school at Tulane
University School of Medicine.
’05
Craig Daste has
joined the David
Lukinovich law
firm in Harahan as an attorney
specializing in taxation and
estate planning. Craig was
married in November to Laurie
Swindle.
Alan Elmer, Jr. currently works
as a civil/ structural engineer
at the Phillips 66 Alliance
Refinery in Belle Chasse. He
is engaged to be married on
May 24 to Courtney Morris of
Covington.
Bryan Hayes has been
promoted to business banking
officer with the Whitney Bank,
where he has worked for the
past four years.
Michael Mims finished his
first year practicing law and
has returned to Jesuit’s highly
regarded Mock Trial Team, this
time around as an attorneycoach.
Paul Saputo is an attorney
with the Houston firm of
Vinson, Elkins. He focuses
primarily on private equity,
energy projects, and merger
acquisitions. Paul, who
graduated from Duke
University Law School
in 2012, says that he can
be found in New Orleans
almost every weekend
and on holidays. Ever the
entrepreneur, he is finalizing
plans to launch a clothing
company in the Big Easy. Paul
reports that Stephen Grant
’03 is also an attorney at the
same law firm with an office
three floors above his.
’06
Rougie
Odor entered
Notre Dame
Seminary of the Archdiocese
of New Orleans last August as
a candidate for the priesthood.
He is currently in his second
semester of the two-year
pre-theology program. His
formation will then move to
a four-year theology program.
Rougie is spending this
summer in Maracaibo,
Venezuela to perfect his
Spanish.
’07
John Burmaster
is completing his
first year of law
school at Loyola University
after graduating from
LSU in May 2011 with an
anthropology degree.
Thomas Combes is working
at Boeing in St. Louis after
having earned his M.S. in
aerospace engineering from
Saint Louis University.
Chris Johnson is a marine
engineer with Tidewater
Marine in New Orleans.
Matt Ryan is the director
of communications for the
New Orleans Hornets (soon
to be the Pelicans). Matt
oversees the team’s media
guide and credentials for
reporters covering the team.
He writes news releases and
handles interview requests
from local and national
media. Matt is also responsible
for maintaining detailed
performance statistics of the
players.
Wade Trosclair is currently in
Budapest, Hungary studying
for an M.A. in Nationalism
Studies at Central European
University. He already has an
M.A. in European History
from LSU.
’11
Barron
Burmaster is
a sophomore at
Loyola University’s College of
Music.
Patrick “Bubby” Riley has
committed to play baseball
for North Carolina State.
Bubby played for the Delgado
Dolphins this past season.
Luke Voiron, a member of the
2012 American Legion World
Series Champion Retif Oil
baseball team, has committed
to play for North Carolina
State. Luke played for the
Delgado Dolphins this past
season.
’12
Alex Yacoubian
was a regional
finalist for the
National Football Foundation
& College Hall of Fame’s
High School National ScholarAthlete Award. Of more than
400,000 high school student
athletes, only 26 reached that
elite level. Only one per region
could be selected, and alas, it
was not Alex. However, he was
still honored by his nomination
by the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Chapter of the NFF. In his
freshman year on Washington
and Lee University’s football
team, Alex excelled playing on
the special teams.
CLASS OF
2008
SAVE THE DATE
JUNE 14, 2013
Stag Reception
’08
Warren
Fitzmorris is
pursuing his
master’s in sport psychology at
the University of Tennessee.
Darren Hayes is back in New
Orleans and works at Sucré.
He is active in local theatre
and was part of the cast in
Rivertown’s The Class of ’70
Something. Darren graduated
summa cum laude from
the University of Southern
Mississippi in May 2012.
SAVE THE DATE
Commencement
Luncheon
HONORING THE
CLASS OF 2013
FRIDAY,
MAY 3, 2013
GUEST SPEAKER:
JIM McCORMICK ’86
BIB LIST
Col. and Mrs. Anthony J.
Bonfanti ’56 on the birth of
their great-grandson, Leon
Vincent Branum, February 1,
2012.
Mr. and Mrs. John J. "Jack"
Dardis, Jr. ’59 on the birth of
their granddaughter, Margaret
Rose Barket, October 12,
2012. Margaret Rose is the
great-granddaughter of the late
William Dardis, Jr. ’25 and the
late Harry Charbonnet ’36.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael E.
Coney ’63 on the birth of their
16th and 17th grandsons,
Benjamin Robert Barrett, April
11, 2012 and Luke Michael
Edwards, August 9, 2012.
Benjamin and Luke are the
nephews of Michael Coney ’04.
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice P.
Pujol ’68 on the birth of
their grandson, Paul Thomas
Norman, August 23, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S.
Mitchell ’69 on the birth of
their second grandson, Tyce
Mitchell Ambrose, on January
24, 2012. Tyce is the nephew of
Luke Mitchell ’02.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray J. Johnson
’72 on the birth of their
grandson, Collin Christopher
Johansson Alario, September 5,
2012. He is the nephew of Ray
Johnson III ’97.
Mr. and Mrs. James E.
McCormick ’86 on the birth
of their son, Emmett Matthew
McCormick, April 4, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Sabatier
IV ’86 on the birth of their
son, Cameron Elvis Sabatier,
April 27, 2012. Cameron is
the grandson of the late John
Sabatier III ’57.
Mr. and Mrs. Ted G. Bennett
’88 on the birth of their son,
Ted Gerard Bennett, Jr., July
27, 2012. Ted is the grandson
of the late Thomas Bennett, Jr.
’52.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris A.
Berthaut ’89 on the birth of
their twins, Elliott and Emma
Berthaut, August 9, 2012.
Elliott and Emma are the
grandchildren of Christopher
E. Berthaut ’66 and the nephew
and niece, respectively, of Colin
Berthaut ’93.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Wiltz,
Jr. ’89 on the birth of their
daughter, Addison Rose Wiltz,
August 23, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Beau E.
LeBlanc ’91 on the birth
of their daughter, Vivienne
Anne LeBlanc, May 16, 2012.
Vivienne is the niece of Hunter
LeBlanc ’96.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott E.
Thompson ’92 on the birth of
their second son, Keith Everett
Thompson, November 18,
2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher G.
Piacun ’93 on the birth of their
third son, Graham Thomas
Piacun, September 12, 2012.
He is the nephew of Joseph
Piacun ’90.
Mr. and Mrs. Regan R.
Leopold ’94 on the birth
of their son, Regan Rollins
Leopold, Jr., February 26,
2012. Rollins is the grandson of
August D. Leopold, Jr. ’61.
Mr. and Mrs. S. Jacob Braud
daughter, Elise Noel Braud,
January 12, 2012.
Dr. and Mrs. Michael A.
Goodier ’95 on the birth of
their third child, Alexis Rose
Goodier, September 21, 2012.
Alexis is the granddaughter of
Elbert Goodier ’59.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S.
Morgan, Jr. ’95 on the birth of
their daughter, Jane Catherine
Morgan, August 22, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Jones
’96 on the birth of their first
child, John Walker Jones, July
2, 2012. John is the nephew
of Austin and Jordan Jones ’01
and Baker Jones ’04.
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin W. Chin
daughter, Megan Rachel Chin,
September 21, 2012. Megan is
the niece of Ryan Chin ’99.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn W. Hayes
’97 on the birth of their third
child, Thomas Holden Hayes,
August 27, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan J. Junius,
Sr. ’97 on the birth of their
son, Nathan John Junius, Jr.,
July 19, 2012. Nathan is the
grandson of Ralph Junius, Jr.
’66. He is the nephew of Sean
Mayfield, Sr. ’89, R. William
Junius III ’93, and Henry Guste
’95.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley J. Landry
’97 on the birth of their second
child, Amelie Jane Landry, May
20, 2012. Amelie is the niece
of Brian Landry ’94 and Ryan
Neal ’97.
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan P. Neal ’97
on the birth of their first child,
Noah Joseph Neal, October
25, 2011. Noah is the nephew
of Brian Landry ’94 and Brad
Landry ’97.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew E.
Brennan ’98 on the birth
of their son, Noah Daniel
Brennan, March 28, 2012. He
is the nephew of Peter Kernion
’90, Danny Brennan, Jr. ’93,
and Michael Brennan ’95.
Mr. and Mrs. Corey M.
Fitzpatrick ’98 on the birth
of their daughter, Finley Shea
Fitzpatrick, September 10,
2012. Finley is the niece of
John Fitzpatrick III ’86.
Mr. and Mrs. Jason P. Franco
Benjamin Philip Franco, March
5, 2012. Benjamin is the greatgrandson of the late Emile
Damare, Jr. ’32 and the late
John Morehiser ’33. He is the
grandson of Mervyn Morehiser
’64.
Mr. and Mrs. Brandt M.
Vicknair ’98 on the birth of
their daughter, Eliza Bermudez
Vicknair, June 12, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher P.
LeSaicherre ’99 on the birth of
their daughter Cameryn Faith
LeSaicherre, March 30, 2012.
Cameryn is the granddaughter
of Jay LeSaicherre ’64.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Bordelon
II ’00 on the birth of their son,
Gary Joseph Bordelon III, July
26, 2011. He is the grandson of
Gary Bordelon, Sr. ’72.
Mr. and Mrs. Colin B. Cambre
Hudson Christopher Cambre,
February 7, 2012. He is the
great-grandson of the late
William Cambre ’27. Hudson is
the grandson of David Cambre
’62. He is the nephew of Clay
Cambre ’90 and Brandon
Cambre ’94.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip H.
Ehrhardt, Jr. ’00 on the birth
of their son, Philip Hilton
Ehrhardt III, August 2, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. David W.
Gernhauser ’00 on the birth of
their daughter, Ramona Blessey
Gernhauser, October 10, 2011.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey V. Serpas
Lucas Elliott Serpas, November
20, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Brad K.
Mathews ’01 on the birth
of their daughter, Victoria
Ann Mathews, June 5, 2012.
Victoria is the granddaughter
of the late Andrew Nunmaker,
Jr. ’45.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy N.
Guidry ’02 on the birth of their
son, Noah Jackson Guidry,
October 29, 2012.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A.
Kleinschmidt, Jr. ’03 on the
birth of their son, Kenneth
Alford Kleinschmidt III,
September 9, 2012. Ford
is the nephew of Charles
Kleinschmidt ’09.
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Richards,
Jr. ’04 on the birth of their
son, Daniel Ramos Richards,
December 28, 2011.
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E.
Haggerty, Jr. ’05 on the birth
of their son, Patrick Edward
Haggerty III, August 6, 2012.
He is the grandson of James
Morehead ’71 and the nephew
of Ryan Morehead ’98.
Send birth announcements
for the Bib List to Krista
Roeling: roeling@jesuitnola.
org, or (504) 483-3839. Parents
will receive a pink or blue bib
for their new arrival.
becoming the women’s team head coach
in 2000 at Texas A&M.
“It’s been fun,” he said in August at the
Olympic Aquatic Centre in London.
“It’s hard to believe I’ve been at College
Station now for 13 years.”
Bultman was an assistant with Team
USA when we first crossed Olympic
paths in Seoul in 1988. He had the
honor of marching with the U.S. team
at the Opening Ceremonies. His other
memories of the Seoul Games are much
like mine — crowded and humid, but
captivating, as all Olympics are.
I was a member of the Times-Picayune
sports staff in 1976 when then-assistant
editor Will Peneguy persuaded editor-inchief Ed Tunstall to send me to cover the
Montreal Olympics.
A Swimmingly Olympian
Reunion of Two Blue Jays
By Gil LeBreton ’66
London — It was a high school reunion
of sorts.
It only took 24 years, 5,500 miles, and six
Summer Games for us to cross Olympic
paths again.
My role was a peripheral one. As a
sports columnist for the Fort Worth StarTelegram, I was one of the approximate
7,000 print journalists accredited to
cover the London Olympics held in the
summer of 2012.
Steve Bultman, on the other hand, had
to get his hands wet. Literally.
Bultman (left in photo) — like me, a
1966 graduate of Jesuit High School —
served as an assistant coach of the U.S.
Olympic Swim Team.
It was an honor that Steve richly deserved.
In 13 years as the women’s swimming
team head coach at Texas A&M
University, Bultman had guided the Aggie
girls to six consecutive NCAA Top 10
finishes.
Two of his Aggie swimmers, Breeja
Larson and Cammile Adams, swam
on the U.S. team in London. Larson
earned the university’s first-ever Olympic
swimming gold medal as a member of the
4x100-meter medley relay team.
The London Games marked the third
time that Bultman has been tapped
to serve as an Olympic coach. He
was an assistant for Team USA at the
1988 Olympics in Seoul and served
as an assistant for the Estonia team at
the Beijing Games in 2008. One of
Bultman’s A&M swimmers, Triin Aljand,
represented Estonia in Beijing, which led
to his Olympic appointment.
Bultman serves as a golden representative
of Jesuit’s illustrious swimming tradition.
As a Blue Jay, he swam on the 1965 and
1966 teams that captured back-to-back
state championships (the school’s second
and third state titles at the time). He was
captain of the 1966 Jesuit team.
Bultman swam for LSU, graduating in
1970. He’s been coaching virtually ever
since, including two state championship
seasons at St. Martin’s Episcopal School
and four state runner-up finishes at Jesuit.
His collegiate coaching resume includes
assistant jobs at LSU and Georgia, before
I was immediately smitten. In the nearly
four decades since, I’ve had the honor
of writing from 16 Olympics — nine
summer and seven winter.
Those four-year cycles have flown by. The
late ABC sports broadcaster Jim McKay
no longer warms our Winter Olympics
nights in his Dale of Norway sweaters.
NBC sports broadcast titan Bob Costas’
real hair is no longer its original factory
color.
The Games have grown and added an
occasionally unseemly commercial veneer,
but the emotions remain the same. The
athletes cry real tears at the Olympics —
tears of joy, tears of disappointment.
No event brings together the family of
man more peacefully or poignantly than
the Olympics.
In London, Steve Bultman and I were
able to reunite in the grandstand above
the starting blocks at the Olympic
Aquatic Centre. Let it be noted, fellow
Blue Jays, that between Steve and me, the
Jesuit class of 1966 collectively holds the
honor of coaching one reigning London
Olympics gold medal winner.
OK, Bultman coached. I at least snared
an interview with Michael Phelps.
Gil LeBreton is a sports columnist for
the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where
he has worked for 32 years. Fellow
Blue Jays can reach him at gilebreton@
gmail.com.
HOMINES
PRO ALIIS
AWARD
2012
Ed Mazoue ’62 Honored for
Faithful Service to His Alma Mater
As Jesuit High School’s nominee for the
Jesuit Southern Province’s prestigious
Homines Pro Aliis Award, Edwin J. “Ed”
Mazoue, Jr. ’62 personifies that which Fr.
Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. wrote about in his
“President’s Message” column on page 2 of
this Jaynotes: eloquentia perfecta — perfect
eloquence.
A Jesuit parent and volunteer, Mazoue was
among 11 recipients of the 2012 Homines
Pro Aliis Award, which recognizes the
“outstanding leadership in service” these
individuals bring to the 11 ministries that
fall under the umbrella of the New Orleans
Province of the Society of Jesus. Among
the recipients were two other Blue Jays —
Michael H. “Mike” Rodrigue, Sr. ’71 (for
his work with Boys Hope/Girls Hope) and
Dominic J. Massa ’94 (for his volunteerism
at Loyola University).
The awards were presented by Jesuit
provincial Fr. Mark Lewis, S.J. at a Mass
and brunch on November 18, 2012 at Jesuit
High School.
“Ed Mazoue’s lengthy involvement at Jesuit
High School is significant because it reflects
a deep passion and love for the school,” said
Fr. Lewis. “His dedication and commitment
to Jesuit are unwavering.”
Mazoue’s relationship with Jesuit is certainly
a unique one that extends beyond being
a student and an alumnus. He had six
years of teaching and coaching experience
at two New Orleans high schools before
joining Jesuit’s faculty in 1973. For the next
three years at Jesuit, he taught science and
coached varsity track as well as junior varsity
football and basketball.
Mazoue was hired
by the City of New
Ed Mazoue of the Class of 1962 was honored with the 2012 Homines
Orleans in 1976
Pro Aliis Award, given annually by the Jesuit Southern Province. Ed
and for the next 35
was honored for his volunteer work on behalf of the school.
years worked in its
real estate office in
City Hall. From 1986 until his retirement
in 2010, Mazoue served as the city’s real
estate administrator.
During his long tenure as a public servant,
Mazoue remained close to Jesuit, serving
as chairman of the 1998-99 LEF campaign
and as a class leader of several Parents’
Annual Giving (PAG) drives. For the past
15 years, Mazoue has been a member of
the President’s Advisory Council (PAC),
offering sage advice to three different Jesuit
presidents about working with the various
city agencies in a way that is mutually
beneficial.
As an alumnus volunteer, Mazoue rarely
misses Jesuit’s annual Open House for
prospective students. He stations himself in
one of the science labs where his dedication
to teaching is on full display for future Blue
Jays. As part of the leadership team for
the Class of 1962, Mazoue is always busy
keeping his classmates connected to each
other and to their alma mater.
Mazoue and his first wife Diane (who died
in 2002) shepherded their three Blue Jay
sons through Jesuit: Chris ’88, Clayton
’92, and Chad ’96. He was a widower for a
decade before marrying Cheryle Lesche in
May 2012.
Mazoue says he is enjoying retired life,
especially since it gives him time to visit his
grandchildren in South Carolina.
IT'S ALMOST
HERE!
Ron Drez
of the Class of 1958 has
written a book about the
history of Jesuit.
Gallant Fighting Sons:
The Jesuits, Louisiana,
and Their School in
New Orleans
Available in April.
Details will be posted on
jesuitnola.org.
At Back to Banks, Blue Jays Bask in
Celebrating 2012 Homecoming
Clockwise from top: Alumni, students, and Blue Jay families gathered
Saturday, October 20 in the Traditions Courtyard to celebrate
Homecoming and enjoy complimentary food, children’s entertainment,
and live music featuring Blue Jay Band director Joe Caluda ’79 and
Randy Jackson of Zebra. The crowd cheered for the 1962 and 2012
Jesuit football teams at a pep rally, which also featured the Jesuit
Band, cheerleaders, and the Jayettes. The afternoon wrapped up with a
motorcade to Tad Gormley Stadium where fans watched the Blue Jays
deliver a sound thrashing to Brother Martin, 31-6; Senior Miguel
Vera, junior Chris Sylvain, sophomore Josh Orellana, freshman
Gabe Griffin, freshman Elija Yen, and sophomore Nicholas Price
enjoy burgers before the pep rally; Members of the 1962 football team
are honored at Back to Banks on the 50th anniversary of their district
championship; John Appel ’86, Barron Burmaster, Dave Schof ’56,
and Will Baudouin enjoy the festivities.
INCENSE, BELLS, MUSIC, AND
Latin
A Mass From the Past
By Earl Higgins ’59
service was the Missa pro
defunctis, Mass for the dead.
The initial word of the Mass,
“requiem,” has come to mean
any music or writing that
laments real or figurative
death. This Mass is from
whence the term comes.
C
uriosity, not
devotion, brought
me to golden-domed St.
John the Baptist Church on a
Tuesday evening not so long
ago. My curiosity had been
stimulated by a newspaper
announcement that there
would be a Solemn High
Requiem Mass chanted in
the traditional Latin. Once in
my life I had attended such a
Mass, and that was more than
55 years ago.
Requiem aeternam dona eis,
Domine. Thus began the
Gregorian chant to start the
Mass with the word that gives
the liturgical form its name.
(“Eternal rest give to them,
Lord.”) “Blue Jay Latin,”
imprinted more than a halfcentury ago, rose up from
memory and began parsing:
Requiem — third declension
singular, accusative case. The
Because the event was so
“old church,” many of the
women in the congregation
had covered their heads
with scarves or lace caps or
mantillas. This was Mass in a
time warp. I was brought back
to serving as an altar boy at
St. Agnes Church on Jefferson
Highway, circa 1955. (Note
the Latin “circa.”)
Enter the clergy, in procession
as the choir chanted in Latin.
Six acolytes bearing lighted
candles preceded the subdeacon, deacon, and celebrant,
the latter two wearing birettas.
(Those birettas are actually
black clerical hats, not to be
confused with the name of a
small handgun.) In keeping
with the death theme of the
Mass, the priests’ vestments
were dark, trimmed in silver,
elegant, shiny, and black as a
raven.
In the center of the aisle,
flanked bilaterally by rows
of candles, was a high
catafalque draped in black.
The announcement had said
the Mass was to be offered
for the Souls in Purgatory, so
I was pretty sure there wasn’t
a corpse in a coffin under
the cloth. Apparently, the
catafalque was symbolic of the
souls in Purgatory.
The day of wrath, that day
that will dissolve the world
into burning coals, as David
bore witness with the Sibyl...
Heavy stuff, that 13th century
eschatology, full of gloom and
doom. The emphasis is on
death and divine retribution
for sin rather than redemption
and resurrection. Nevertheless,
the somber starkness of the
theology inspired some
magnificent music.
Bells, lots of bells, rung at the
Sanctus and at the elevation
of the host and the chalice.
As the priest elevated the
consecrated bread and wine,
the kneeling deacon lifted
the tail end of his fiddleback
chasuble. I’ve since forgotten
the symbolic significance
of raising the chasuble, but
I remember as an altar boy
doing that very gesture on
numerous occasions.
They don’t teach church Latin
at Jesuit anymore, which is
unfortunate. Caelis is taught
to be pronounced KAYLIS, not CHAY-LIS. Is God
listening? Does He know the
difference? Is He grading the
papers? Blue Jay Latin lives.
At Communion, the
faithful knelt at the rail,
and everybody received the
sacrament on the tongue. I
didn’t dare extend my palms
to receive Communion for
fear that the priest might
have passed me by, or worse,
I might have been pummeled
by the acolyte holding the
brass paten under my chin. In
the old days, the laity didn’t
dare touch a consecrated host
except with the tongue. We
were all too fouled with sin to
be worthy, even if we scrubbed
our hands with Lava soap
before going to Mass.
Bells and smells, the sound
and aroma of a different
time. With the bells came the
burning incense, aromatic
smoke rising to heaven as a
burnt offering. It was probably
used hundreds of years ago
as a liturgical deodorizer
to honor God as well as to
absorb the stench of the
congregation whose collective
breath of the unwashed masses
could peel paint. The incense
of the Requiem Mass at St.
John the Baptist was pleasant
and blended exquisitely with
the chant and the visual
experience to create a holy
space, a sense of the presence
of God.
Mass officially ended when the
priest faced the congregation
Photos courtesy of the Clarion Herald.
The three clergy stood in a
staggered line on the steps
leading up to the altar, the
original altar. The modern
altar that allows the celebrant
to face the congregation
had been removed. Prayers
were all in Latin, said quietly
except for those chanted by
the choir, and even the epistle
and the gospel were read in
nearly inaudible Latin. But
between the epistle and the
gospel was a chant that is
among the most magnificent
pieces of Gregorian music, the
“sequence” known as the Dies
irae.
Dies irae, dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sibylla...
As we stood up at the end of
the canon of the Mass, I was
surprised that I could still
recite the entire Our Father
in Latin: Pater noster, qui es
in caelis sanctificetur nomen
tuum…
and said, “Ite. Missa est.”
(“Go, it is sent,” referring to
the sacrifice of Jesus to God.)
The priest then walked to the
side of the sanctuary, doffed
his fiddleback chasuble, and
allowed the other clergy to
drape him with a heavy,
fancy cope. That’s not a
cape; a cope is bigger than a
cape. For the Requiem High
Mass, the cope was in the
same silver-trimmed black
as the other vestments, but
fell from shoulders to ankles.
The garment reminded me
of a fancy carnival ball or a
Wagnerian opera.
Then the three clergy
processed around the
catafalque, first sprinkling it
with holy water, then a second
loop with the thurible spewing
forth lots of incense smoke.
No one was in the catafalque;
it was all symbolic. The whole
service was a ritual to offer
prayers to ask God to free the
souls in Purgatory and allow
them entry into heaven.
Old Blue Jays like me can
appreciate a return to the
Latin and the Mass of our
childhood and adolescence.
Younger alumni should
attend a traditional Mass to
catch a glimpse back into
the Catholicism of 800-plus
years ago when the drama and
the mysticism of the liturgy
signified that something
important was taking place,
something very important.
Besides, it’s a good way to test
one’s recall of Latin.
The solemn High Requiem
Mass is held at 7 p.m. (Latin
for post meridiem) every
second Tuesday of every
month at St. John the Baptist
Church. Benedicamus Domino;
Deo gratias.
A.M.D.G. — Ad Majorem
Dei Gloriam. That’s Latin,
too.
Earl Higgins ’59 is the author
of two books. His first was
The Joy of Y’at Catholicism
(2007). In 2011, his second
book came out, Metairie,
Ames, High — The Streets
of Jefferson Parish. He is
a regular contributor to
Jaynotes.
IN MEMORIAM
The list of deceased members of the Jesuit High School Community represents information received from July 1 –
December 31, 2012. For current announcements, check the “In Memoriam” page on Jesuit’s web site. † This symbol
indicates the individual is deceased.
ALUMNI… (By Class Year)
Samuel S. McNeely, Jr. ’31
Wilford F. Calongne, Jr. ’38
Louis M. Manduell, Sr. ’38
Joseph P. Cashen ’39
Henry C. Perret ’39
Numa V. Bertel, Jr. ’40
Edward C. Kurtz, Sr. ’41
Edmund B. Martin, Jr. ’41
Lawrence D. Roubion, Jr. ’41
Robert M. Thomas, Sr. ’41
John J. Walsh ’41
Raymond F. Leon ’43
Harold W. Hemstreet, Jr. ’44
Daniel H. Walsh ’44
Walter F. Garvey ’45
James W. Ryall ’45
Robert A. Kelly, Jr. ’47
Claude R. Moncrief, Jr. ’47
Julius B. Prager III ’48
William R. Wellemeyer ’49
Bruce J. Borrello ’50
Gerald R. Boudreaux ’50
Alfred N. Clement ’50
Rev. Christopher A. Billac, S.J. ’52
Lawrence B. Fitzmorris ’52
Otto A. Goessl ’52
Richard M. Dunkin, Jr. ’53
Cyril F. McCarthy III ’53
James F. Pittman, Jr. ’53
Hart J. Schwarzenbach, Jr. ’53
Richard A. Tonry ’53
Joseph A. Baggott ’54
Timothy A. Calamari, Jr. ’54
Louis J. Demarest III ’54
Walter G. Frey, Sr. ’54
Clement N. Rieffel, Jr. ’54
Ernest N. Souhlas ’54
William G. Murtagh, Jr. ’55
Rev. Msgr. Crosby W. Kern ’56
Leroy R. Nolan ’58
Gaylord L. Burgau ’61
Hal A. LeBlanc ’61
Frank J. Cali III ’62
Michael H. Ellis, Sr. ’62
Paul F. Daigle ’64
Paul A. Griener, Jr. ’65
Charles C. Trascher III ’65
John J. Spokes, Jr. ’67
Bryan G. Alexander ’72
Michael D. Mouledoux ’79
Daniel L. Gandolfi ’81
James A. Flotte ’07
WIFE OF… (By Last Name)
† Bruce C. Ashley ’45
† Raymond P. Bassich, Jr. ’40
† William S. Bergeron ’44
† David P. Bernhardt, Jr. ’40
† James R. Boudousquie ’44
† Henry J. Briggs, Jr. ’40
Brent J. Buescher ’58
† Richard J. Call, Jr. ’37
† Lucien J. Caruso ’42
† Richard A. Cousins ’39
† Anthony J. DiBartolo ’42
† Joseph A. Donelon ’34
† Ronald L. Faia ’43
† John G. Finney, Jr. ’42
† Michael J. Fleming ’41
† William X. Graham ’42
† John B. Guarisco ’38
Edgar J. Kehlor, Jr. ’42
† Robert E. Lammond ’42
† P.J. Lauman ’40
† Charles O’D Lilly ’33
Donald L. Lindemann ’51
† Rudolph T. O’Dwyer, Jr. ’35
Maurice J. Picheloup III ’35
† John L. Prendergast ’41
† Edmond V. Schwartz ’45
† Charles T. Sterken, Jr. ’44
† Charles C. Zatarain, Jr. ’43
FATHER OF…
John G. Amato ’62
Juan M. Barona ’82
Robert E. Bauer ’63
Gerard E. Beck ’80
Michael J. Bossetta, Jr. ’06
(stepfather)
Patrick Michael D. Breeden ’93
Aaron C. Burgau ’92
Burk A. Chuter ’90
Roy H., Jr. ’79 & Lewis M.
Coleman ’86
Anthony E. Cyprus, Jr. ’76
James J. ’72 & Carl R. Danna ’76
Romeal K. David ’84
Raymond P. ’77 & David J.
DeCorte ’79
Louis J. Demarest IV ’81
Daniel A. Doskey ’92
Michael H. Ellis, Jr. ’88
Alexander P. Farmer ’12
Walter G., Jr. ’77 & Frank P.
Frey ’81
Thomas P. Garvey ’72
Joseph I. Giarrusso III ’94
Kent P. Griener ’98
Julian S., Jr. ’76 & † Andrew E.
Hillery ’79
Even P. Howell III ’80
Glen J. Jeansonne ’83
Kevin P. ’82, Timothy P. ’84, &
Glenn P. Kelley ’85
Colin E. Kemmerly ’82
Kevin W. Kern ’76
Eric R. ’81 & Matthew H.
Kittok ’83
Edward C., Jr. ’63, William H. ’67,
& Tommy J. Kurtz ’85
David B. ’77, Frederick L. ’81, &
† Patrick H. LeBlanc ’74
Aaron G. Lowe ’90
Michael A. Lulich ’76
David P. Majors, Jr. ’63
George E. ’68, Phillip W. ’70, &
Stephen R. Marzloff ’72
Scott E. Meric ’88
Stephen E. Metzinger ’78
Scott T. Minvielle ’73
Michael R. Moncrief ’69
George B. ’60, Robert J. ’64,
Dennis J. ’74, & James G.
Muller ’77 (stepfather)
Joseph E., Jr. ’74 & Darryl T.
Murray ’79
John B. Park ’97
J. Bruno Prager IV ’92
Joseph A. Redding, Jr. ’64
Michael D. Rihner ’78
† Ernest L. Rodrigue, Jr. ’63
Joseph F., Jr. ’76, Donald A. ’80, &
Thomas M. Scamardo ’82
Rudolph R. Schmidt ’04
Thomas M. ’74 & Paul F.
Steckel ’78
Paul R. Tassin ’92
T. Xavier Viteri ’80
Richard A. Tonry II ’90
Kevin F. Walsh ’67
Robert F. Wangler, Jr. ’07
Steve J. Whitfield ’63
John S. Williamson III ’77
Stuart B. Wilson ’12
MOTHER OF…
Scott Andries ’83
Bruce C. Ashley II ’68
William P., Jr. ’70 & John C.
Beatrous ’71
George J. Becker III ’59
Salvador R. Bernadas ’83
† Henry J. Briggs III ’65
H. Gene Cradic II ’69
Mark M. Dennis ’74
Edwin W. ’91 & Michael R.
Emmer ’95
David L. ’62 & Lawrence B.
Fabacher II ’65
Philip A. Facquet, Jr. ’60
Ronald L., Jr. ’79 & Gregory G.
Faia ’81
Frank F. III ’62 & † Guy G.
Faulstich ’67
Westley A. Favaloro, Sr. ’61
John G. Finney III ’75
Evan J. Fogg ’17
Timothy J. Graham ’77
Michael E. ’63, J. Lindhe ’72, &
Christopher K. Guarisco ’76
Keith A. Harmeyer ’74
Henry Parker Hudson III ’59
† Forrest G. Kontomitras ’81
Charles J., Jr. ’64 & Edward J.
Lilly ’67
Patrick T. Laine ’64
Gary S. ’79, Wayne T. ’81, & Kirk
M. Lindemann ’82
Kerwin J. Lonzo ’96
Ray J. Lousteau, Jr. ’85
James B., Jr. ’89 & Craig M.
Marinello ’92
Linward J. Martin III ’87
Daniel E. Mobley ’62
Eric H. Nungesser ’81
Rudolph T. III ’65, Ronald R. ’69,
& J. Emile P. O’Dwyer ’78
Dennis A. Pilney ’60
John L., Jr. ’69 & Michael T.
Prendergast ’75
Earl D., Jr. ’60 & Stan H. Retif ’76
Edward D. Sarrat ’94
Paul J. ’72 & Randall J.
Schultz ’74
Gary M. Silva ’01
Raymond Sims, Jr. ’88
Roy A. Troendle, Jr. ’64
Paul J. Troxler ’80
Patrick H. Waring ’79
Herbert A. Wilson, Jr. ’80
BROTHER OF…
† Otto H., Jr. ’33, † George J. ’36,
& Robert J. Armbruster ’52
† Henry J. Barbe ’32
Jason F. Berry, Jr. ’67
Joel L. Borrello ’53
† Joseph P. Buendia ’71
† Michael A. Bruno, Jr. ’50
Manuel V. ’57 & † Bruce E.
Calamari ’60
† Michael T. Cali ’73
† Thomas E. Clapp ’43
Harold P. Clement ’41
† Lawrence J. Cristina, Sr. ’34
Michael P. Farley, Jr. ’95
Wayne J. Fontana ’69
Alan M. ’73, Donald P. ’75,
Stephen M. ’77, & Edward C.
Gandolfi ’78
Michael E. Graham ’77
Glenn G. Griener ’68
James E. Hassinger, Jr. ’41
F. James Kenner ’55
† Lawrence V. Lebeuf, Jr. ’44
† Gary M. Leingang ’72
Frederick H. Liberto ’56
† Elliot J. Locascio ’40
† David B. Martin ’42
Joseph A. ’70 & James A.
Massony ’71
Richard E. McNeely ’40
James M. Moore ’56
Donald P. ’71 & Mark S.
Mouledoux ’82
Paul M. Nick ’60
Michael E. Pittman ’57
† Curtis J. Pursell, Jr. ’64
Gary J. Thomas ’81
Daniel H. Walsh ’44
† John J. Walsh ’41
SISTER OF…
Leon G. Barnett ’52
Harold J. Battaglia ’57
Emile A. Bordenave ’48
Matthew J. Braud ’12
James F. ’79 & Thomas J.
Capella ’83
† Ernest A., Jr. ’33, † John F. ’37,
& † Richard J. Carrere ’40
Donald E. Clogher ’87
Rene M. Crane, Jr. ’46
J. Michael ’33 & Thomas A.
Early, Jr. ’50
Alexander R. ’63 & John F.
Fraiche ’69
Wayne J. Gorrondona ’82
† George W. Gendron ’34
Sean R. Hannan ’12
Norman C. Hingle, Jr. ’55
† Fortune A. Jaubert III ’23
† Joseph O., Jr. ’42, Robert G.
’47, † Conrad M., Sr. ’50, &
Kenneth Kuebel ’57
Alvin V. Marks ’47
Louis H. Marrero IV ’62
Anthony E. Maurin, Jr. ’50
Cecil J., Jr. ’49, James G. ’52, &
William J. Murphy ’61
† Maurice B. O’Neil, Jr. ’39
† Clarence A. Paddock ’37
† Rev. J. Emile, S.J. ’45 & † Carol
M. Pfister ’51
Calvin W. Phipps ’81
† Edward B. Scheib ’57
Jeffrey S. ’72, Christopher L. ’73,
J. Bradford ’76, & Joseph L.
St. Romain ’79
Albert L. Stewart III ’87
† Charles J., Jr. ’40, Jack L. ’41, &
† Sidney G. Vigo ’49
† Andre L. Villere ’38
Edward S. Williams ’56
Elm D., Jr. ’62 & Paul T. Wood ’69
SON OF...
† Anthony J. Constanza, Sr. ’41
† Russell L. Gildig ’37
† Paul A. Griener, Sr. ’37
† Edmund B. Martin (1914)
Cyril F. McCarthy III ’53
George E. Mouledoux ’46
Sam M. Poole, Jr. ’55
† Dall J. Thomas III ’46
DAUGHTER OF…
† Rene M. Crane, Sr. (1917)
† Joseph C. Gorrondona ’43
† Louis H. Marrero III ’23
J. B. Vella ’57
GRANDFATHER OF…
Jacob J. Amato III ’90
John B. Ariail III ’12
Adam Z. ’01 & Jeffrey M.
Bandera ’06
Roger E. Bauer ’97
Brandon G. Beck ’16
Hans C. Bisgaard ’12
Bradley R. Boovy ’97
Kenneth C. Bordes ’00
Matthew G. ’98 &
Marc A. Burmaster ’02
Ian M. ’09, Austin T. ’11, &
Justin A. Cannon ’15
Michael R. Caplan ’91
(step-grandfather)
David A.C. ’06 &
Demetrio E.C. Castillo ’16
Peter G. ’00 & Spiro G.
Catsulis ’04
Cameron J. Coker ’15
James C. ’06, Joseph A. ’09, &
Robert P. Cronvich ’12
John A. Cronvich ’17
John P. Curran ’16
Jarod M. Cyprus ’15
Patrick J. Danna ’02
Patrick H. Denenea ’13
Michael R. Denton ’04
Michael C. Ellis ’17
John J. Elmer, Jr. ’03
Richard T. Gallagher III ’15
Percill J. Griffin ’88
Paul M. ’95 & Michael G.
Guidry ’97
Ardley R. III ’85, Christophe L. ’88,
& David T. Hanemann ’03
Nathan A. Henderson ’09
William T. ’05 &
Timothy M. Hibert ’09
Ryan C. Higgins ’03
Julian S. III ’00 &
William S. Hillery ’17
Nicholas J. ’12 &
Philip L. Hourguettes ’17
Eric M. ’04 & Robert A.
Johns ’06 (step-grandfather)
Riley D. Katz ’13
Kevin E. Kavanaugh ’02
John M. Kemmerly ’16
William J. Knighten ’06
Parker S. Kornick ’02
Eric S. Kramer ’91
Christopher W. ’97 &
Justin R. Kurtz ’00
Mark A. ’03 & Samuel J.
LaBruyere ’04
Dustin K. Lagos ’04
Thomas J. Maestri ’05
Justin G. Massa ’97
Reed E. Meric ’17
Walter F. Metzinger III ’10
Joshua J. Mott ’02
Wesley S. Muller ’02
Andrew J. Murray ’07
Patrick D. ’10 & Elliot T.
Ordoyne ’13
Christopher S. III ’98 &
Michael P. O’Sullivan ’02
Joseph J. Palermo ’00
Guy J. Patron, Jr. ’16
Henry J. Pittman ’12
Tyler M. ’12 & Austin M.
Prange ’15
Kerry P. Redmann III ’95
Julien S. Richards III ’08
Christopher M. Rinaldi ’07
Paul K. Roach ’16
Evan T. ’16 & Peyton C.
Ruppert ’16
Marco J. Salgado ’08
Joseph F. Sansone ’12
Kurt Schultz ’95
Bradley M. Scott ’98
Chaz M. Simms ’08
Branford J. Smith ’09
James K. III ’03 & Spencer P.
Sticker ’10
Lee M. ’03 & Reece D.
Thomas ’05
Matthew J. Thomas ’09
Robert F. Wangler ’07
Matthew A. ’06 & Kyle S.
Willard ’08
GRANDMOTHER OF…
Casey P. Accardo ’94
Allen D. Acomb III ’98
Chad E. Antonatos ’09
Luis E. Balart ’13
(step-grandmother)
David L., Jr. ’87, Eric H. ’91,
Mark V. ’93, Kevin C. ’94, &
Jon A. Beach ’95
David M. Boudreaux ’07
Levy J. Bouligny III ’83
Eric S. Bubrig ’93
Matthew J. Braud ’12
Daniel J. ’95 & Jeremy D.
Burke ’97
Virgil J., Jr. ’82 & Patrick A.
Byers ’83
David B. Campbell ’01
Jan D. Celino ’84
John A. Cerniglia ’05
Michael J. Cerniglia ’94
Justin K. ’95 & Jason T. Carey ’98
William L. Carpenter III ’89
Paul K. ’00, David J. ’03, &
Stephen C. Colomb ’04
Paul D. Cordes III ’05
Michael P. ’00, Joshua H. ’01, &
Patrick M. Cotogno ’05
Harold E. III ’02 &
David W. Cradic ’04
Jarod T. Cusimano ’12
Brian R. Delatte ’96
Ara D. Dombourian ’99
Benjamin M. Duhe ’08
Peter A. Espinoza ’16
Ronald L. Faia III ’12
Frank F. Faulstich IV ’89
Salvador J. Ferro ’79
Sean M. Fiegel ’12
Stephen M. ’08, Kyle P. ’11, &
John G. Finney ’11
Arthur F. ’91 & Goeffrey E.
Folse ’98
Ronald J. Garland, Jr. ’90
William P. ’93 & Randall S.
Gibbens, S.J. ’95
Gregory G. Glaeser ’06
Mason P. Graham ’17
Colin L. ’05 & Hall W.
Guarisco ’12
Andrew R. ’03 & John C.
Gulotta ’03
Nesbitt W. Hagood IV ’81
Mark E. Hartsell ’03
Adam L. Haydel ’12
Eric B. Heigle ’02
Robert I. Heltz ’02
Christopher J. Heneghan ’09
Eric T. Hunn ’94
Brandon M. Jackson ’17
Ian B. ’08 & Kyle E. Jorgensen ’10
Kyle B. ’99 & Bradley S. Kloor ’03
Michael C. Koster ’15
Michael P. ’04 & Hans N.
Kuebler ’07
Zachary N. Lannes ’13
(step-grandmother)
Jonathan M.B. Lee ’11
Bruce B. Levy ’81
J. Alois ’89 & Daniel Lichtl ’92
Christopher S. Mann ’90
William M. Melito ’15
Charles N. Mentz IV ’12
James T. Molinario III ’01
John C. ’00 & Stephen J.
Moscona ’04
Dickson D. Ogbomah ’16
Steven J. ’02 & Kevin M. Pinto ’04
Matthew R. Resignola ’03
John S. III ’00 &
Nicholas A. Rives ’03
Michael L. ’90, Clifton P. ’90, &
Chad E. Rodrigue ’93
Jonathan P. ’06 &
Christopher D. Rowan ’10
† Christopher B. Rozas ’90
Joseph P. Ruli ’94
Erik S. Schroeder ’90
Bradley G. Sevin ’98
Christopher S. ’13 &
Steven J. Sibley ’15
Conrad H. Skinner ’16
Richard R. ’88, Ryan L. ’93, &
Kennedy O. Smith ’98
Patrick C. Staiano ’03
Scott R. Steudlein ’85
Earl A. III ’92 & D. Slade Stolz ’94
Robert L. Suggs ’90
Ryan J. Tusa ’05
Jonathan H. Vazquez ’16
Gregory E. Veech ’08
Jared D. ’10 & Joshua P. Waller ’12
Thomas P. ’81, Michael E. ’82, &
Gregory J. Walsh ’89
Edwin A. Zavala ’05
GRANDSON OF…
† John F. Klees ’55
GRANDDAUGHTER OF…
† Anthony F. Bologna ’34
† Joseph A. Vella ’28
GREAT GRANDFATHER
OF… Seth L. Mayeux ’11
Robert J. Muller ’11
Cameron M. Pelitere ’17
Anthony J. Smith ’15
Andrew E. Stahel ’11
GREAT
GRANDMOTHER OF… Chase A. Adamcewicz ’17
Luis E. Balart, Jr. ’13
Joseph B. Battaglia IV ’13
Colin M. Hery ’15
Cameron F. Kaupp ’16
Hayden A. Lichtl ’17
Christopher J. Sellers ’07
Jacob E. Tingler ’17
Cullen M. Walsh ’14
Samuel J. Zelden ’15
Send information and corrections
to Br. William J. Dardis, S.J. ’58:
[email protected], (504) 4833814. Alumni who live outside
the metro New Orleans region
are especially encouraged to
send information about deceased
loved ones.
THE JESUIT TEACHER TESTIMONIAL
The Simplicity of Mr. Steckel
(March 31, 1917 - November 21, 2012)
James Erwin Steckel died a peaceful death last November at the age of 95. A lot of
Blue Jays remember sitting in Mr. Steckel’s history or civics classes at Jesuit High
School, where he taught for 27 years starting in 1952-53. Two years before his death
— on the occasion of his 50th year as choir director at St. Agnes Church — Mr.
Steckel was interviewed by one of his former students, Peter Finney, Jr. ’74, who
is the executive editor and general manager of the Clarion Herald. “He was a great
man,” said Finney, who graciously provided Jaynotes with the story he wrote for the
Clarion on April 3, 2010. With appreciation to Finney and the Clarion, the “Teacher
Testimonial” in this issue commemorates the extraordinary educator that Blue Jays
knew in Mr. Steckel.
F
or a man who has lived a humble,
straightforward and giving life, James
Steckel — “Mr.” Steckel to everyone who
took his history classes during his 27 years
at Jesuit High School — got to the verb
quickly without a lot of adjectives and
adverbs.
Long before anyone dreamed of “alternative
learning styles,” Mr. Steckel had a very
simple teaching technique, one that today
probably would earn him a trip to a teacher
“re-education” camp, but which in those
supposedly benighted times was highly
effective.
Every day for 50 minutes, Mr. Steckel
would turn his back to the class with a
piece of chalk in his right hand and write,
in perfect cursive, the information that we
were expected to copy into our notebooks
and retain.
If it was chiseled in chalk on the blackboard,
it was gold. If it never made it onto Moses’
stone tablets, it was interesting but not
critical.
It was as though Sgt. Joe Friday, in a light
blue seersucker suit, had come to Carrollton
and Banks and proclaimed to a group of
sleepy-eyed teens in his flat baritone: “Just
the facts, son.”
There is something reassuring and
enlightening about simplicity, about fact vs.
fiction, about black hat vs. white hat.
There was another side to Mr. Steckel that
I never knew anything about until many
years later. I realized he had a deep, resonant
voice, but I had no idea he used that voice
to lead the St. Agnes Church choir in
Jefferson.
In fact, Mr. Steckel founded the choir in
1949 after approaching Msgr. Arthur Brue.
Mr. Steckel as pictured in the 1976 Jesuit Yearbook.
“When I went to him he was the newly
assigned pastor at St. Agnes,” Mr. Steckel,
now 93, recalled. “I said to him, ‘Father,
I’d like to join your choir.’ He said, ‘We
don’t have any — why don’t you start one?’
I told him I wasn’t a choir director, but I
could sing. He said, ‘Well, you’ll do.’ So,
we started a choir. He gave me every bit
of cooperation I needed. I had some very
competent people (Jean Hecker and Louise
Labruyere) who played the organ. I couldn’t
have done it without them.”
Mr. Steckel was a transplant. He grew up in
Milwaukee, and he loved to sing so much
that he and his father Erwin sang together
in their church choir. He attended the
Wisconsin College of Music.
He came to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
in 1937 with his stepmother, and he met
Dorothy Schluter, who later would become
his wife and the mother of their six children.
They were married in 1943, during the time
of his Army service with the 36th Armored
Infantry of the 3rd Armored Division.
For some of his duty, he was a radio
operator. “In those days, the radio was not
a voice radio, but we would use a telegraph
key to tap out messages,” he said.
He later spent time as a clerk for a Catholic
chaplain, setting up for Masses.
He landed at Omaha Beach 12 days after
the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Yes, there
were frightening moments, but Mr. Steckel
keeps those details intentionally sparse.
“We got involved in the Battle of the
Bulge,” he said. “That’s about as close as I
came to getting killed.”
Years later, when Mr. Steckel got his master’s
degree in history at the University of New
Orleans, he studied under (the late) Dr.
Stephen Ambrose (“Dr. D-Day”).
“I learned a good deal from him,” Mr.
Steckel said. “He was an excellent teacher —
a bit controversial, kind of left-leaning, you
might say. I questioned him about things.
But he was a very likable man.”
And Mr. Steckel, as both a pupil and a
teacher, was an exacting, precise man. Until
he suffered a couple of falls in January
(2010), he was still singing in the St. Agnes
choir. That’s 61 years of dedicated service.
“He was struggling, but he still was able to
get up to the choir loft,” said choir member
Tony Stoltz.
“The liturgy has always been the most
important thing to me,” Mr. Steckel said.
“The faith has meant everything to me.”
St. Agnes Church will honor Mr. Steckel
for his life of faith and commitment April
11 (2010) at the 9:30 a.m. Mass, followed
by a reception. He plans to loosen his pipes
one more time. His favorite hymn remains
“Abide with Me.”
“I’ll do the best I can,” Mr. Steckel said.
“I was rather surprised to hear they were
going to do this. I’m very surprised and very
humbled.”
At the reception, I hope there’s a blackboard
— do they still make blackboards? — with a
fresh piece of white chalk.
Peter Finney, Jr. ’74 can be reached at
[email protected].
Blue Jays who have a story about their
favorite Jesuit teacher are encouraged
to submit it to Jaynotes as a “Teacher
Testimonial.” Email the editor, Pierre
DeGruy ’69: [email protected].
Welcome Home, Champs
Jesuit’s 1946, 1960, and 2012
American Legion Teams Brought
Home All the Bacon by Winning
the World Series. Each Team
Experienced Vastly Different
Welcome Home Receptions
In the summer of 2012, Jesuit’s American Legion baseball team
(Retif Oil) ended a 52-year drought when it won the World
Series, only the third such championship in the school’s history.
Retif Oil joined the elite company of the two previous winners:
Jesuit’s Legion teams of 1946 and 1962.
In the digital age ruled by social media web sites and news
bulletins arriving via iPhones and Droid devices, the airport
reception for Retif Oil might have appeared to be an irrelevant
and slapdash event. Certainly it stood in stark contrast to the
red (or would it be blue and white?) carpet treatment given the
On September 5, 1960, Coach Kevin Trower ’52 and the Tulane
Shirts, Jesuit’s Legion sponsor at the time, flew home from
Hastings, NE after winning the school’s second World Series.
There was great fanfare accompanying their arrival at the airport
(then known as Moisant International). Their “gleaming jetliner” stopped on the tarmac, close to where a cheering crowd
of 3,000 New Orleanians had assembled to greet their baseball
heroes.
A huge car parade carried the entire team to City Hall where
Mayor deLesseps “Chep” Morrison presented the prestigious
“key to the city” to each player and Coach Trower. The “key to
the city” was an extraordinary civic honor for a bunch of high
school baseball players. It was almost exclusively reserved for
foreign dignitaries, assorted public officials, and celebrities rolling
through town. Mayor Morrison also toasted the 1960 Legion
Champs at a dinner celebration attended by several hundred
supporters at the Roosevelt Hotel.
Nothing, however, could top the adulation heaped upon Jesuit’s
Cinderella Legion team of 1946, the first bunch to win a World
Series, “the greatest athletic honor in the history of the school,”
according to The Blue Jay student newspaper. “There never was
and never could be a more deserving coach and team, this one.”
The ’46 team — along with their “sensational young coach,” as
The Blue Jay noted in reference to the legendary Eddie Toribio
’34 — were smothered in hundreds of congratulatory telegrams
from supporters all over the world. Even the industrialist Henry
Ford himself lauded the Blue Jays in a telegram. One telegram
from an ardent follower advised the players to “protect yourselves
against your reception home.”
And what a reception! After their World Series victory, the ’46
champs left Charleston by train, pulling into the L&N station in
New Orleans the following midnight. Typically at that time, the
ANNUS MIRABILIS
Coach Joey Latino’s triumphant Blue Jays flew home on August
22, 2012, landing at Louis Armstrong International Airport late
in the afternoon. As the Retif players approached the concourse
security area, they smiled at the sight of family and friends who
were there to pick them up. It was hardly a crowd, but more
like a small welcome home party. The team broke into sheepish
grins when they heard a cacophonous rendition of the Jesuit
Fight Song, which was being enthusiastically sung by one, single,
die-hard Blue Jay sports fanatic: Buddy Lazare ’43. Perhaps
apprehensive of creating too much noise that might be construed
by airport authorities as a weird security breach, supporters
remained subdued, content to defer the hullabaloo to cheerleader
Lazare, who, of course, did not disappoint.
1946 and 1960 Blue Jay teams following their own World Series
victories.
station was a graveyard. But on this occasion, more than 1,000
noisy supporters were waiting to welcome home the players
and celebrate the victory, which was as much the city’s as it was
Jesuit’s.
Supporters were pumped up no doubt by Times-Picayune
sports editor William Keefe, who devoted his daily column that
morning to the triumphant Blue Jays. Keefe’s flowery prose in
chronicling the team’s World Series exploits was indeed flattering
and gushing, almost to a point of embarrassment.
Below are edited excerpts of Keefe’s TP column:
The Blue Jays of Jesuit, whose age average is under 16 with
no member of the team over 17, have won the City of New
Orleans more wholesome publicity than any person or group
of persons have won in many, many years in the field of
sports. They return home tonight and if ever returning heroes
of sports activities deserve a rip-roaring welcome, they do.
In surviving this American Legion tournament, the local
youngsters have finished atop the greatest sports tournament
in the history of the nation — champions over 52,000 teams
that saw something like 800,000 boys in competition! They
battled through what looked like hopeless odds to one of the
most glorious triumphs ever achieved by a group of boys.
No better testimonial to the coaching they got, and the team
spirit that they had to develop can be asked for than the
fact that just two of the Jays — Pat Rooney (’47) and the
incomparable little Don Wetzel (’46) — made the All-Star
team selected by sports writers at the tournaments. The other
boys were just members of a baseball team. But what a team!
ANNUS MIRABILIS
It well can be imagined what spectators at the games in the
Carolinas said when little Joe Mock (’48) came to bat; or
when tiny Don Murphy (’47) went to the mound. Neither of
these kids weighs more than 125 pounds, soaking wet. But
they had the fearlessness in their hearts and the confidence
in their team and their coach’s judgment and believed they
could make good.
Thanks to their ability to play together and to their individual
courage and united determination, the boys came through.
And on top of that, (Wetzel) was awarded a trophy for
sowing the best sportsmanship in the tournaments! That
distinction sounded a thunderous note of pride among the
boys’ teachers, families, friends, and rooters here because you
can’t make anybody believe that any one member of the Blue
Jay team is a better sportsman than any other. The award to
Wetzel was an award to the entire team.
It must have been a proud moment for the Jesuit Fathers who
are in charge of the local high school, for athletic director
Gernon Brown (’20), and for all the students and personnel
connected with the school — that moment when the flash
came that Jesuit had won. Because they at the school know,
better than anyone else, what odds the boys faced. It is
something for all New Orleans to be proud of, too — the
showing those boys made.
The Blue Jays’ gentlemanly sportsmanship conducted on or
off the field is nothing unusual. In fact, it is routine. This
writer speaks as one who has traveled with various athletic
Above: Gus Riordan ’46 (left) and Pat Rooney ’47 hold the 1946
World Series trophy in this image that appeared in The New
Orleans Item.
Previous page: The newest American Legion World Series
Champions were joined by some of the Blue Jays who played on
the 1946 and 1960 Legion World Series Championship teams. In
the front row (far left) are two players from Jesuit’s 1946 Legion
team: Moon Landrieu ’48 and Pat Rooney ’47. Next to Rooney
are Jeff Chappuis (Jesuit’s and Retif’s baseball statistician) and
assistant baseball coach Kenny Goodlett. The 1960 team is
represented by (starting fifth from left): Harry Morel ’61, Charlie
Grey ’62, Bubby Winters ’61, Kevin Trower ’52 (coach), David
Flettrich ’62, Joe McMahon ’60, Dick Roniger ’60, and Chuck
Staub ’60. Back row, from left, are the Retif Oil champions: C.J.
Avrard ’14, Spencer Miller ’14, Cody Migliore ’13, Brett Leonhard
’13, Andrew Mitchell ’13, Mitch Alexander ’13, Emerson Gibbs ’12,
Jesuit (and Retif) head baseball coach Joey Latino, Tony FortierBensen ’11, Matt Braud ’12, Michael Cusimano ’13, Will North ’13,
Luke Voiron ’11, and Brady Williamson ’11.
teams of Jesuit; stopped at the same hotels with them. And
it has been very pleasing to hear the strangers ask, in hotel
lobbies or elevators: “What boys are those? They are so quiet,
well behaved, and gentlemanly.”
That deportment originates at home, of course; but under
their teachers at school and under the men who have coached
them in sports, the natural effervescence of youth has been
switched into the paths of righteousness at every crossroad.
Too much praise cannot be showered on these boys; they are
among the finest ambassadors New Orleans ever sent away
from home.
View Jayson’s American Legion Archives: Baseball Page on
Jesuit’s Web Site.
2012 AMERICAN LEGION WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
RETIF OIL
WINS IT ALL
Every summer in American Legion baseball, only one team wins the final game. This
year that one team is the Jesuit Blue Jays of Retif Oil. Think about the accomplishment.
Nearly 100,000 young men began the summer as participants in this storied program that
harkens back to 1925. More than 5,400 teams representing all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico
and Canada, started the summer with aspirations of a successful season. But in the end
only one team stood as the winners of the final game, earning the title World Champions,
and that team was Retif Oil.
By Mat Grau ’68
O
n the evening of August
21, excitement and
anticipation were almost
palpable as the pregame spectacle played
out for the championship game of the
American Legion World Series in Shelby,
NC, pitting the state champions of New
Jersey and Louisiana against each other.
Then came the dreaded letdown of a long
2 ½ hour rain delay. When the first pitch
was finally thrown, the crowd of 11,000
fans had dwindled to maybe 1,000. But
during that delay something happened to
the Retif community of parents, fans, and
players. It’s easy to label that something as
“magical,” but for those who were there,
for those who experienced it, the moment
was indeed magical.
The delay began with an eerie quiet as
everyone waited for the predicted rain.
Many with no allegiance to either team
headed home. The PA announcer went
silent, perhaps saving himself for an
unknown start time. And with no music
to set any sort of atmosphere, the eventual
pings of rain drops on the stadium roof
created their own atmosphere in the
heavy night.
Then something happened. Something
that had nothing to do with baseball, but
had everything to do with spirit and joy
and community, specifically a community
of New Orleanians. Perhaps at the urging
of a few remaining fans, someone in the
press box decided to hit the “play” button
on the CD player. Within minutes, the
Retif fans were back home on the streets
of their hometown. Suddenly it was
Mardi Gras or maybe Jazz Fest or maybe
a big Saints game. Buddy Lazare ’43 was
on his feet. Steve Slumber was working
his tambourine. Br. (Billy) Dardis (S.J.)
’58 got his “wobble” on. And Tony
Fortier-Bensen, Sr. found his dancing
groove. Aisles became dance
floors, and the players’ moms and
sisters and girlfriends became the
newest contestants on Dancing
with the Stars. This was no place
for anxiety and trepidation. At
least one fan thought, “I think we
are ready. I think we’re gonna do
just fine.”
Finally, at 10:54 p.m. the game
began. In a tournament that
featured the beautiful variety of
baseball games — the extra-inning
win, the dramatic comeback and
game-ending defensive gem, the
shut-down save of a one-run
win — this championship game
could be seen as the epitome of
what Jesuit teaches: strive to excel,
support each other in the effort,
and realize the connection and
community that result. Certainly
this was a game of excellence,
for Retif ace pitcher Emerson
Gibbs ’12 and for the team of Jays
behind him. Want a snapshot of
Gibbs’s stellar career at Jesuit?
It’s all there in that one final
performance. In the nine-inning,
complete game effort, Gibbs
threw just 105 pitches, giving
up only three hits, no walks, and
no runs. He allowed his defense to shine
behind him as he coaxed New Jersey
into 12 ground outs and 10 fly outs. The
Jays committed no errors. This was pure
Emerson Gibbs — controlled, focused,
and efficient.
All the run support Gibbs needed came
in the 2nd inning when Armand Daigle
’12 walked to force in Jonathan Lee ’12.
Then in the 3rd inning, Matt Robért
’12 plated Brady Williamson ’11 with
a sacrifice fly to move the score to 2-0.
Robért capped the scoring at 4-0 in the
7th inning when he roped a 2-run double
into left field. After escaping the 7th
inning with two runners on base, Gibbs
then retired the final six batters to claim
the championship.
For his pitching performance in Regional
and National competition, Gibbs was
awarded the Bob Feller Pitching Award.
For his play and character throughout
the season, he was awarded the George
W. Rulon Player of the Year Award. Matt
Robért was awarded the Click Cowger
Retif earned the spot in the championship
game by defeating Connecticut (5-3),
Nebraska (8-7), and New Jersey (6-5),
before losing to Washington (10-6).
The Jays finished the season with a 41-7
record. The 2012 Retif Oil team joins the
Photo by Cam Bumgarner (Sportpixinc.com).
Memorial RBI Award for his 16 RBIs
in Regional and World Series play. On
the All-Tournament Team were Luke
Voiron ’11, Tony Fortier-Bensen ’11, and
Emerson Gibbs.
again and again through future years.
These 18 young men will leave their
teens into a life of infinite possibilities
of success and failure, accomplishments
and disappointments, dreams fulfilled
and unrealized. There will be wives and
children and grandchildren who will hear
the stories, who will relive the moments
with their husbands, fathers, and
grandfathers.
But for this one moment these young
Photo by Cam Bumgarner (Sportpixinc.com).
Left: As the last out is recorded in the
championship game against New Jersey, the
on-field celebration begins.
Above (top): Emerson Gibbs fields a bunt for
an out during the championship game.
Above (bottom): As the team reached
the concourse of the Louis Armstrong
International Airport, they were met by a
small group of family and fans who welcomed
the champions home.
1946 Jesuit team and the 1960 Tulane
Shirts as World Champions.
The post-game celebration seemed
to go on and on and on. Coach Joey
Latino and his 18 players soaked it all
in, grabbing every glorious moment
and safely tucking it away to reemerge
men are on a ball field in a town far from
home in the wee hours of a day. They are
standing together with their coaches, and
they are bound, as they will always be
bound, by this achievement. They know
they have been taught and guided well.
They know they have supported each
other and played as a team. They know
they have excelled.
And they know they have earned the title
World Champions.
Alumni director Mat Grau ’68 can be
reached at [email protected].
Underclass Swimmers Lift Blue Jays to a
State Championship
The following edited article about the 2012 Jesuit swim team was written for Jaynotes by senior co-captains
Matt Arseneaux and Johnston Burkhardt.
A
At the 2010 state
championship, our
competition was tougher
than ever. The entire meet
depended on the final
400-relay. The pressure was
on the relay team to place
fourth or higher for Jesuit to
take home the championship
trophy. The relay team did
just that by finishing third.
For the first time in the
history of Jesuit swimming,
the Jays won the state title by
a single point, scoring 307
points to Fontainebleau’s
306.
In 2011, the state meet
drew even more rigid
competition. Our team was
good, but the competition
was extraordinary that year
and the Jays lost to Catholic
High of Baton Rouge by a
mere 21.5 points.
Photos by Scott Threlkeld Photography.
FLYING WITH THE JAYS
t the beginning
of our Jesuit
swimming career
as freshmen in
2009, we took for granted
winning the LHSAA state
meet in Sulphur every
November. At the time,
Jesuit’s swim teams had
amassed a total of 34 state
championships since 1951.
A loss was rare and seemed
inconceivable. As expected in
2009, we won by a landslide.
When the 2012 swim
season launched in earnest
in September of our senior
year, the two of us were
elected co-captains. Our
entire team was determined
to reclaim the state title.
Jesuit’s head swim coach,
Mr. Bret Hanemann ’85
and assistant coach Mr. Tré
Roux ’87, called a team
meeting early in the season
where we affirmed our goal
and purpose: capturing state
again.
“Coach Bret” had returned
to Jesuit full time in May
2012 to be admissions
director and to teach social
studies. With him working
on campus again, he would
be more involved in our
training and be able to stay
on top of our progress more
easily. In fact, Coach Bret
gave us a fair warning: he
would be coaching “like
the old days” — more
practices, longer and tougher
workouts, and intense
strength training with
weights.
One of the team’s biggest
challenges would be
compensating for the loss
of 14 seniors who were the
core of the 2011 team. Our
team would have only four
seniors swimming (including
us), a paltry number that
in a strange way turned out
to be beneficial. The new
team would have to rely on
underclass Jays if we were to
be successful in our mission
of winning state.
These young Jesuit
swimmers accepted this new
responsibility with pride,
and their efforts showed in
the results of our first meet
on September 19 when we
defeated the swim teams
from Vandebilt Catholic
High (Houma) and Brother
Martin.
Our winning streak
continued throughout the
season, and we maintained
an undefeated record.
The District-5A meet was
the first of the final three
competitions, and it was
the most important. We
were victorious. Next, in the
Allstate Sugar Bowl Metro
Swimming championship,
we won only two events but
scored points by placing fifth
and higher in most of the
categories. By the end of the
meet, we had accumulated
468 points, more than twice
as many as the runner-up
team. Our win marked the
30th consecutive Metro title
for Jesuit swimming.
Top: Junior Blake Robert (left) and senior Matt Arseneaux celebrate the state championship win. Bottom: The team
celebrated in traditional fashion by tossing their coach, Bret Hanemann ’85, into the drink.
These two victories were
rewarding, but the biggest
challenge was yet to come
— the LHSAA State
Championship Meet for
District 1 on the weekend of
November 16-17.
On the long bus ride to the
SPARAquatic Center in
Sulfur, the team was quietly
focused. We knew who our
toughest competitor would
be. The same as in 2011:
Catholic High.
As captains, we gathered the
team together and told them
that the State Championship
would be won on Friday in
the preliminary events, not
the finals on Saturday. It was
crucial for the majority of
the Jesuit team to place in
the top 16 if we were to score
enough points to put us over
the top for a victory.
We left the pool and
headed to our hotel for
a team dinner. We needed to
rest up for what we knew was
coming — an intense day
of competitive swimming.
Although we had the lead,
everyone on the team felt
the pressure and was keenly
aware of the challenges we
faced the next day to simply
hold on and not slip.
On Saturday, we entered
the natatorium dressed in
our warm-ups. When we
reached our designated team
area, we performed the “Blue
Jay Clap” and screamed the
“Blue Jay Cheer” as loud as
we could.
The meet began with our
same 200-medley relay
swimmers from the day
before. This time they
finished in 1:40:65, shaving
just over one second from
their preliminary time and
Swimmers jump off their marks in the 400-freestyle relay, the
final event of the LHSAA State Championship meet.
beating the
second place
team by almost
two seconds.
And so it went
the rest of the day as we
swam with all we had to
maintain that small lead
gained in the preliminaries.
We came perilously close to
wiping out our lead when
the difference between the
Jays and the second place
team was a single point. But
we held on.
The underclassmen on the
Jesuit team swam their
fastest times of the season
and succeeded in their
goal of scoring criticallyneeded points. Sophomore
Michael Conrad placed
2nd in both the 500- and
the 200-freestyle events.
Sophomore Patrick Cecola
placed 4th in the 50-freestyle.
Other top finishers included
senior Burkhardt’s 2nd place
and sophomore Plough’s
4th place finish in the
100-backstroke; senior Matt
Arseneaux’s 4th place finish
in the 100-butterfly; and, in
the 400-freestyle relay, a 2nd
place finish for the team of
Arseneaux, Cecola, Plough,
and sophomore Chris
Simmons.
After the final relay event
in which we placed 2nd to
Catholic, the judges tallied
the scores. And then the
announcement we were
waiting to hear: Division 1,
first place, with 390 points,
Jesuit High School. The
Catholic Bears scored 370.
Immediately
after hearing
the results, our
team walked
around the pool
to congratulate the Bear
swimmers on a well-swum
meet, just as we had done
the previous year when they
won the state title.
In a celebratory dunk, the
team tossed Coach Bret
into the pool. He was
good-natured about it. He
emerged a few minutes later
to dry off and give a poolside
interview to a Times-Picayune
and Nola.com reporter.
“We only had four seniors so
it was a lot of young kids on
the team,” Coach Hanemann
said. “Those freshmen and
sophomores stepped up and
put us over the top. Catholic
High is a great team. They
have a lot of young kids on
that team also. It’s something
you’ll have to watch for in
years to come with these two
schools battling it out.”
The victory marked the
37th State Championship
for a Jesuit swim team
and we truly felt proud
to be a part of this great
legacy. After months of
the hardest practice season
we had ever endured, our
goal was achieved and our
dream was a reality. The
2012 Jesuit Blue Jay Swim
Team reclaimed the State
Championship.
— By Matt Arseneaux ’13
and Johnston Burkhardt ’13
View Jayson’s Swimming
Archives: Athletics Page on
Jesuit’s Web Site.
The race right out of the
starting blocks was the
200-medley relay. Our team
consisted of senior Johnston
Burkhardt, juniors Blake
Robert and Brett Dipuma,
and sophomore Francis
Plough. We swam hard; and
we won in 1:41:80, thus
setting the tone for the rest
of the events.
The win was important
because it gave the entire
team confidence and
increased our determination
for the remainder of the
preliminary events. When
the prelims were over,
Jesuit held the lead by
some 30 points.
Fast Start
Leads to
a Solid
Season
T
he first opponent of the 2012
football season blew through
the Blue Jays and, for that
matter, all the other teams in
the southeast Louisiana region. With a
lumbering offense and a mulish defense
that proved intractable, Hurricane Isaac
was an adversary that forced widespread
cancellation of season openers, including
Jesuit’s varsity debut, a road trip up the
river to play the Tigers of Hahnville.
Under clearer skies the following week,
the Blue Jays played a different team of
Tigers. The 93rd meeting between Jesuit
and Holy Cross at Tad Gormley Stadium
was the season opener for both teams and
affirmed what the Great American Rivalry
is all about. A large crowd attended both a
Tiger Tail/ Bird Tail Gate Party (co-hosted
by both schools) and then watched as the
Jays started their season with a 21-7 win.
(See The Rivalry article on opposite page.)
“Not having played prior to a big rivalry
game like that, you are naturally a little
concerned about your team’s readiness,”
said head coach Wayde Keiser ’82, “but
I was very happy with the way our young
men kicked things off.”
The second game of the season, against
the Archbishop Shaw Eagles on the West
Bank, resembled a track meet more than
it did a football game. The Blue Jays
scored in the final 18 seconds to win a
heartstopper, 56-49. Senior quarterback
Tanner Lee completed 23 of 32 passes
for 532 yards and seven touchdowns,
statistics that may be a new Jesuit record.
Senior wide receiver Matt Hackney
hauled in 12 of those passes for 284 yards
and scored four touchdowns, including
Above: Sophomore running back Charles
Jackson makes a fast break away from West
Jefferson’s defense in the Blue Jays’ 31-21
victory over the Buccaneers in the first
playoff round on November 10, 2012.
the winning TD as time expired.
The Jays won their next two non-district
games and were ready for district battle.
“Heading into district, I was happy with
our offensive output, but a little worried
about the points we had given up,” said
Keiser, who must have been pleasantly
surprised when his Jays brought home a
35-7 road win over a young Chalmette
team.
The Blue Jays played their most complete
and dominant game of the year against
Brother Martin, knocking off its rival, 316. Senior wide receiver Mitch Alexander
caught four balls for 163 yards and two
touchdowns.
The winning streak ended with tough
district losses to Archbishop Rummel (3817), the eventual state champions, and
West Jefferson (24-17).
Still, the Jays were in the playoffs, seeded
13. Their first opponent would be the
team that beat them last week — those
Bucs of West Jefferson. The Jays extracted
some payback when this time they
defeated West Jeff, 31-21.
The following week, Jesuit traveled 328
miles to Bossier City to play Airline in
the second round of playoffs. It was a
hard fought game, and the Jays’ offense
was stifled. The Vikings had a 10-0 lead
halfway into the fourth quarter before the
Jays could score. Airline held on to their
turf and won, 10-7, sending the Blue Jays
home for the season.
“Knowing we played to our potential
and with no regrets, I told our young
men they should be very proud of their
accomplishments and their season,” said
Keiser of Jesuit’s 8-3 record.
The Louisiana Sports Writers Association
named four senior Blue Jays as honorable
mentions to the 5A All-State Football
Team: quarterback Tanner Lee, wide
receiver Mitch Alexander, defensive
lineman Andrew Joseph, and offensive
guard Patrick Tullier.
Markey
W
Top: Quarterback Tanner Lee had a stellar senior year, completing 118 of 218 passes for 2,364
yards. He threw 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions. In a 56-49 victory over Archbishop
Shaw on September 17, 2012, Lee established what may be a school record by throwing for 552
yards and seven touchdowns.
Bottom: In the opening round playoff game against West Jefferson High School, junior defensive
lineman Jack Hebert (95) and senior lineman Tim Dwyer (92) corner a Buccaneer.
hen Jesuit and Holy Cross
renewed its Great American
Rivalry on September 7, it was
an occasion to celebrate not just a
football game, but also both schools’
rich history. Each year The Rivalry
recognizes a Legend of the Game,
a former player who significantly
impacted the outcome when they
were on the field. Over the course
of the 92 meetings of these two
perennial Catholic League rivals,
no player has amassed a collection
of rushing records greater than the
one owned by Chris Markey ’04,
Jesuit’s 2012 Legend of the Game.
A military veteran alumnus from
each school was also recognized and
thanked in pre-game ceremonies.
A tribute was paid to Jesuit’s 2012
honoree, Tim Huete ’76, who was
recognized for his 21 years of service
in the U.S. Marine Corps and his 11
years of leadership and oversight of
the school’s MCJROTC program.
A special accolade was reserved for
the Donnes Family — Jesuit alumni
John ’45, Bert ’74, Alan ’79, and
Richard ’83; and their brother, Holy
Cross alumnus Stephen ’76 — for
creating the Golden Football, the
traveling trophy displayed for a year
at whichever school’s team emerges
victorious in the Rivalry game. In
2012, Jesuit retained possession of
the Golden Football following a
21-7 win by the Jays.
Hobie Signs with LSU
S
enior John “Hobie” Hotard, winner of three
consecutive LHSAA individual state tennis titles and
shooting for a record fourth championship in the
upcoming season, accepted a scholarship to play at LSU.
Hotard, who is captain of Jesuit’s 2013 varsity tennis team,
has been instrumental in leading the Blue Jays to state
championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He has won the
Division I singles title three times, starting when he was a
freshman and continuing through his junior year.
Hotard’s main goal is to guide the Blue Jay varsity team
to a 20th state championship (since 1965). However, he
also will be seeking a fourth consecutive individual state
title in May at the 2013 LHSAA tournament in Monroe.
If he is successful in winning that fourth individual title, it
will mark the first such accomplishment for a male tennis
player in Louisiana, according to the National Federation
of State High School Associations
“LSU is fortunate to have landed a top-notch high school
tennis player who loves the sport and is as competitive
as any athlete I have coached in my 39 years,” said
Jerry Hernandez, who is Jesuit’s head coach of tennis.
“Hobie brings to the court a complete skills set as well
as the uncanny ability to overcome mental and physical
adversity.”
Cross Country
Team Bronzed,
But Senior Blue Jay
Is Golden
Jesuit senior Neal Fitzpatrick makes running a 5K cross
country race look as easy as 1, 2, 3. Or, from his perspective,
make that 3, 2, 1.
After finishing second at the championship meet as a junior
and third as a sophomore, the fleet-footed Fitzpatrick capped
his final season by finishing first at the 2012 LHSAA State
Cross Country event, and breaking a school record in the
process. The meet was held last November at Northwestern
University in Natchitoches.
“It’s an amazing way to end a five-year career,” said
Fitzpatrick, still breathless as he started to cool down after the
race.
Fitzpatrick polished off the 5K route in 14:54, shaving an
entire second off Jesuit’s old state championship record which
was set in 1984 by Marc Greco ’85. For 28 years, Greco’s
record held up well, that is, until Fitzpatrick showed up
in Natchitoches. Fitzpatrick’s 2012 state meet time was a
whopping 32 seconds faster than his 2011 race time.
As for the cross country team’s performance at the state
meet, finishing third is still a tremendous accomplishment
in this country. The Blue Jays finished behind second place
West Monroe and St. Paul’s, which took the gold back to
Covington.
Here are the results the Jays turned in at the state meet:
sophomore Matthews Vargas finished 17th (16:02); senior
Andrew Pettus was 29th (16:16); sophomore Nathan
Cusimano 36th (16:26); sophomore Patrick LaCour 43rd
(16:33); junior Liam Fitzgerald 59th (16:46); and, senior
Dustin Ward 84th (17:22).
The LHSAA’s All-Academic cross country team included
senior Blue Jays Brandon Butera and Taylor Varisco.
Fitzpatrick is the second Blue Jay in three years to win an
individual championship at the state meet. Philip Aucoin ’11
finished first in 2010. Fitzpatrick has plans to continue his
cross country career in college.
“Neal is blessed with a great deal of natural ability and a work
ethic that matches his God-given talent,” said cross country
head coach Peter Kernion ’90. “I am so proud of his and our
team’s accomplishments.”
ESSAYS
ON RACE
Blue Jays look back and reflect on the integration of Jesuit High School in 1962
Joseph G. Meiman ’42
Philip A. Lawless ’61
Ivan J. Miestchovich, Jr. ’66
Stephen McKenna ’74
Kevin Grant ’03
It happened on September 4, 1962. Jesuit High School’s great chronicler of its daily life ever since taking the job
of registrar in 1926, one year after graduating, John C. Paquette writes one of his innocuous entries for that day in
wobbly fashion:
The school is officially integrated, opening with 8 colored students.
No trouble and none anticipated.
On that Tuesday morning eight African-American students walked through the iconic Carrollton Avenue doors,
heavy by years of exclusion. In doing so, these pioneers quietly dismantled a barrier that had existed during the
school’s first 115 years.
Though not embellished with any fanfare, the unheralded event of that Tuesday in September 50 years ago was
perhaps the most significant moment in the school’s history. Why? It is at that moment when the education and
formation afforded by Jesuit High School was indeed offered to all young men of the New Orleans area. All young
men. All God’s children.
N
ow from a time 50 years hence, we honor that moment by giving voice to Blue Jays who
experienced Jesuit before, during, and after integration became the cause and fabric of the
Civil Rights Movement. In this issue of Jaynotes, we present the essays of five Jesuit alumni.
Joseph G. Meiman ’42 takes us back to the segregated New Orleans of 1942 and, in doing so,
provides a glimpse into the psyche of a young Blue Jay. Philip A. Lawless ’61 graduated a year before Jesuit’s
integration and ponders the different man he would have been had that momentous event happened sooner.
Ivan J. Miestchovich, Jr. ’66 was initially declined admission to Jesuit High School which explains the special
affinity he has for the greeting “Dear Blue Jay.” Stephen McKenna ’74, who was the first African-American to
graduate having lettered in Blue Jay football, brings us face to face with the ugliness and ultimate triumph
of those early years at an integrated Jesuit. Kevin Grant ’03 is a young African-American alumnus who pays
tribute to two great teachers in his life. You might be surprised who they are.
We hope these first-person narratives inspire more Blue Jays to share their stories. Send your Essay on
Race to Jaynotes editor Pierre DeGruy ’69, [email protected], or alumni director Mat Grau ’68, grau@
jesuitnola.org. Look for more Essays on Race in the next Jaynotes.
Background image: The page from John C. Paquette’s “Principal’s Diary,” a ledger filled with his handwritten
notations about various school matters, detailing the first day of integration at Jesuit High School.
THE VIEW FROM 1942
BY JOSEPH G. MEIMAN ’42
T
hough I do not have enough experience and background to write
an essay on race, I can give a little insight into what life was like
in New Orleans 70 some odd years ago. I graduated from Jesuit in
1942. The school was smaller then. I believe there were 164 graduates in
our class. I am one of 48 still living.
The summer after I graduated I worked at Riecke Cabinet Works as a truck
driver’s helper. We delivered finished products, such as display cases to
stores and lockers to the Navy Base in Algiers, to their final destinations. I
remember delivering teachers’ desks to a new black high school due to open
that fall. As I helped carry desks up two or three floors, I got to thinking
that even though the law at the time said that facilities for black students
should be “separate but equal,” these desks were much better than those in
our high school.
During my last two years at Jesuit, I spent every Saturday delivering
groceries on my bike for the local H.G. Hill store. Many of the customers
lived in what was then known as a “colored district.” Some of the homes
did not have electricity; coal oil (kerosene) was used for heat and light.
But I do remember those kitchens being cleaner than many of those of the
white families I delivered to. My usual pay was $2 per day. However, very
few of the black customers could give tips. So, I got an extra quarter on the
days I ventured into the “district.” After a 14-hour shift that day, I came
home with $2.25.
In those days segregation was not only legal, but a fact of life. It is certainly
different today. Writing this brief essay brought back recollections of an era
long ago and nice memories of my time at Jesuit.
Joseph Meiman graduated from Jesuit in 1942. He joined the Navy and,
after completing his military service, briefly attended Loyola in New
Orleans. He moved to Chicago and earned a business degree from
the Loyola University there. Joseph relocated to the New York City
area, married (his wife, Leona, died in 2005), and worked as an office
manager for two bookbinding firms, including the Benziger Company,
which produced the Baltimore Catechism. Joseph retired in 1992 and
enjoys family time with seven children, 19 grandchildren, and one
great-grandchild.
A DIFFERENT PERSON
BY PHILIP A. LAWLESS ’61
T
o fully understand the
impact Jesuit had for me
on race issues, I think it is
important to explain some of my
background. I was born in 1943
in Tulsa, OK, and, except for a
year with my parents in Gulfport
during the war, I grew up through
elementary school in the “Oil
Capital of the World,” which was
what everyone called Tulsa.
Now, Tulsa was perhaps one of the
most segregated cities in the nation.
The boom in Tulsa’s housing
industry that was created when
soldiers returned home meant that
neighborhoods were expanding
away from the center of the city,
for both white citizens and AfricanAmericans. But these segregated
neighborhoods expanded in
opposite directions. White Tulsa
began in the downtown area near
the Arkansas River and sprawled
south and east of the railroad
tracks. Black Tulsa was north of the
railroad tracks. As a result of the
separation of the neighborhoods,
I grew up unaware of race and,
thankfully, the ugliness of racial
prejudice.
My innocence and naivety
regarding race changed somewhat
when my father was transferred to
New Orleans and we settled down
in Gentilly. The city represented
a whole different culture to our
family — a huge population,
curved streets (Tulsa is laid out on
a north-south grid), strange new
names, unique food, corner bars,
and fancy restaurants. New Orleans
also had more African-Americans
than our family had ever seen
before. Of course, in those times,
the schools — public, private, and
Catholic — were segregated. So
were most of its neighborhoods, a
result of pressure that stems from
an economic and business policy of
dealing, selling, buying, and trading
exclusively within one’s own race.
Only after I started Jesuit and rode
the buses to and from Carrollton
and Banks, did I have some
exposure to African-American
teenagers. Regrettably, they had to
ride at the back of the bus unless
there was standing-room only,
something that often occurred
when the Broad Street bus made
pickups at the corner of Esplanade
Avenue, one block from John
McDonogh High School. But we
never talked.
When Archbishop Joseph
Rummel decided to integrate
the parishes of the diocese in
1953 and its schools in 1956,
there was widespread dissension
among angry white parents. The
reaction of some of these parents
filtered down to their daughters
and sons. Eventually some Blue
Jays were bound to adopt and
promote similar prejudicial views
and beliefs in Jesuit’s classrooms.
It was, I think, the first time I had
seen the intensity of feelings about
race issues emerge, even while the
apparent justice of the archbishop’s
decision was clear. (At the time, I
did not know that Bishop Waters of
North Carolina had done the same
for his diocese — the whole state.)
Yet, for all my new awareness of
the race problem, my contact
with African-Americans remained
limited for years. After graduating
from Jesuit, I attended a private
university in Texas, where racial
attitudes seemed to focus on those
Clockwise from left: In January 1961, The Blue Jay printed its
“Nonconformity issue,” using the paintings of Jackson Pollock and
an excerpt from the Bishops’ statement on personal responsibility:
“Uniformity of thought and supine loyalty to the organization are too
often encouraged and rewarded.” A nun assists two young AfricanAmerican girls in a Catholic school classroom (circa 1962). In this
1960 photo women protest the proposed integration of Catholic schools
in front of Notre Dame Seminary.
their parents. Doing so opened
my eyes to my own prejudices and
misgivings about race. Parish life
and employment each brought
opportunities to meet and make
friends with African-Americans.
Sometime in the 1980s, my wife
met John Hope Franklin at her
place of work at Duke University.
Dr. Franklin is the author of From
Slavery to Freedom, the preeminent
history of the African-American
race in the United States. Over
time, I learned that he had also
lived in Tulsa, though a few years
before me. So I began to keep a
closer track of his public events.
Mexican-Americans who played
a major role in maintaining the
grounds and plant of the university.
But these were the same attitudes
I had seen displayed towards
African-Americans elsewhere. The
university did successfully change
its charter to allow the admission
of those students other than white
male students, but changes did
not take place until I had gone.
When I graduated, I continued
my education in Durham, NC,
which had a reputation as a city of
balanced racial populations, despite
segregated housing at the time.
There was even a local chapter of
the Ku Klux Klan.
Time passes quickly when you look
back on it. The year 1968 stands
out in my memory with all aspects
of the awfulness of its tragic events.
I had married and we had three
daughters, all of whom attended
one of those parish schools that
Bishop Waters had integrated. It
became easy to meet and greet
the friends of my children — no
matter what their races were — and
to share in school projects with
When the PBS station in our area
announced it would air a program
narrated by Dr. Franklin about
growing up in Tulsa, I made sure to
watch it. Near the end of this show,
there was a picture of a group of
African-American students sitting
on the front steps of Central High
School. The image was gone in
a flash, but it hit me hard. I had
walked up and down those steps
to take swimming lessons in the
high school’s indoor pool. What I
felt in that instant was that I had
missed a very important part of life
by not being able to have AfricanAmerican classmates and friends
while growing up.
From that point of view, I regret
that integration of schools did
not happen sooner, that Jesuit did
not open its doors to all students
until a few months after my
graduation, that my university
was a few years too late to give
me that opportunity. I would be a
different person if those things had
happened, maybe better than I am
now, but certainly someone who
embraced diverse perspectives.
At least I had time to have several
nice lunches with Dr. Franklin
before he died in 2009, just the two
of us, a couple of Tulsa boys sharing
their different experiences.
Philip Lawless graduated from
Jesuit in 1961. He earned his
Ph.D. in physics from Duke
University in 1974. Phil worked
35 years at RTI International,
one of the world’s premier
research institutes. He was a
senior research physicist when
he retired in 2009. He and his
wife of 42 years, Margaret, live in
Durham, NC, where they raised
their three daughters.
MORE THAN JUST A GAME
BY STEPHEN McKENNA ’74
I
t is the autumn of 1972
and I am the starting
halfback for a Jesuit Blue
Jay football team preparing to
play St. Augustine High School.
And I am Black.
Both teams, as I recall, are undefeated in district play and I am the only
Black on our team. The players on the Purple Knights’ team are all Black
and I, coincidentally, live directly across the street from the school. My two
brothers and most of our cousins attended St. Aug. Most of the friends
I grew up with went there. They wear purple and gold while I wear blue
and white. I am indescribably excited about playing in this game and have
dreamed of the moment since before enrolling at Jesuit as a pre-freshman.
For me it was a time of great elation and tremendous contradiction. As it
turned out, it was much more than simply a football game.
This particular game was so big that the school allowed a pep rally in the
auditorium during regular school hours so that most of the student body
would be pumped up enough to want to attend. In Jesuit tradition, the
senior class was granted the privilege of putting on the show. The skits were
often irreverent when it came to portrayals of our opposition, so I expected
some parody. The Cavaliers of De la Salle were the “Sallies.” The Tigers of
Holy Cross were the “Pussy Cats.” But what of the Purple Knights of St.
Aug?
In the auditorium, the classes were arranged by year with seniors in front
nearest the stage. I was a junior and seated with my classmates behind the
seniors. We had four Black students in a class of 157. We were not seated
together; none were near me. The pep rally began with an announcement of
the St. Aug fight song. Now, I’m thinking that St. Aug doesn’t have a fight
song, but OK. The “Theme from Shaft” starts playing and the laughter
from students begins. Then the seniors appeared, jigging and gyrating to
the music as only white guys who can’t really
dance can do. It was a parody of the popular
TV show Soul Train. That part didn’t really
bother me. I had seen lots of bad dancing at
Jesuit. But what took me apart and tortured
my soul was that they were in BLACK FACE!
Black shoe polish and afro wigs. A mockery
of not only a school, but also an entire race.
Or so it seemed to me.
Black faces, white lips, and afro wigs. It
looked like a bad scene from a bad cartoon
or a Stepin Fetchit movie. The auditorium
erupted with howling laughter. My eyes
began to well with tears of both anger and
bewilderment. I looked to my right and saw
one of the football coaches laughing heartily
while leaning against the wall. The priest
was laughing. The Marine Corps JROTC
was laughing. It was a cacophony inside my
head. Here were my classmates, teammates,
and teachers allowing and condoning what
I perceived as utter derision of my race. Do
they see what I see? Do they care? I couldn’t
see any other Black students. I was alone!
How should I feel? What should I do? I remember looking up to the
crucifix above the stage and asking Jesus, “Who’s side are you on?” Why
me? Why am I here? Do I run onto the stage and grab the microphone?
Do I stand and scream? Do I raise my fist in protest? What? I expected
a skit about a game, not a racial assault. My heart pounded and my gut
wrenched. The rest of the pep rally is mostly a blur.
Mercifully the skit ended. I can’t remember who said what, but it was as
though a KKK rally had just ended. Some may say that is extreme, but it
was MY emotion and MY perspective. Then came the traditional playing
of our Alma Mater. I knew it well from singing it as a member of the Glee
Club during my first three years at Jesuit.
All stood in traditional reverence... but me. I remained seated. Students
nearby asked me to stand, but I was defiant. This was all I had. This was my
last stand for my own dignity. How does a 16 year-old react? How should
he? So many questions. I sat until the song ended: “... Mother, Alma Mater
Dear.” Bittersweet words. The pep rally was over and we were leaving the
auditorium when certain students told me some nasty things such as, “If
you don’t like it, you can get out of OUR school.” That is a direct quote.
“If your Daddy pays one more cent than mine does, you can HAVE your
school,” was my reply. It was tense. It was awful.
That night my telephone rang. My parents called me to the phone. On the
line was a teacher, Mr. John Serio. He was my eighth grade homeroom
teacher, and that class was his first teaching job. Everyone respected and
liked him. “Mr. Ten Prefaces” was on my phone (that’s how some of us
fondly referred to him). His voice was low and sincere. He apologized
for the happenings at the rally and said how sorry he was that I had
to endure it. He was the only faculty member or clergy or coach that
EVER apologized to me for that incident. Incidentally, he was also the
first Republican I ever knowingly met (they were non-existent in my
neighborhood). He saved my day, a day that changed my life.
Then came practice. I usually sat in the last seat on the team bus, not for
any social statement but because I just liked leaning back on the tackling
dummies. Again, the seniors had the privilege of addressing the team on
the bus after the coaches left. One rose to speak. I remember him well. Let’s
call him X. I will paraphrase his words but my memory is fairly accurate. “I
know there’s one on the bus, but I’m going to say this anyway…”
Well, it occurred to me there are at least two of everything on a football
team, but there was only one Negro. “This is more than just a football
game,” X bellowed. “This is about our school, our heritage, and our race.
And if that upsets anybody here, well that’s too damn bad!”
I was enraged and responded, “X, I hope they break your &#%$ neck!”
We charged each other like young bulls, but were prevented from colliding
by the distance. I was pulled out of the rear door by some teammates. The
team’s head coach, John Arms, came over to me and asked what was the
problem.
“Coach, I don’t think you want me to play tomorrow,” I answered. He
asked me why.
“Because I want St. Aug to win.”
Coach Arms put his hand on my shoulder. He was a tall man and a former
Marine with a crew cut and piercing eyes. He asked me, “Can you play the
Stephen McKenna was the starting halfback in his junior and senior years.
A panel discussion takes place in the Jesuit Auditorium with students from
Xavier High School in 1966.
Albert “Rocky” St. Pierre, Jr. (’74). So Jesuit it was, despite the fact that
I lived literally across the street from St. Aug. To my parents’ credit, they
allowed me to make this choice on my own.
But it almost never happened. Just before the deadline for a final decision
to be made, our school had a field trip planned. I was in a car with some
white classmates and one of their mothers was driving. As she backed out of
the driveway, she said, “Don’t let me hit any little niggers on the way out.”
I remember the silence in the car. That same day I asked my parents if I
could go to St. Aug. They raced over to the Josephites, and I was accepted.
I was 12-years-old, but I distinctly remember thinking that I would not let
anyone else scare me about race or my own abilities. I changed my mind
and stuck with Jesuit.
game, hope we lose, but not do anything to make us lose?”
Wow! I hadn’t counted on that option. I was angry, hurt, and confused,
along with a hundred other emotions. “I can play and not hurt the team,”
I replied.
“Good,” he told me, adding, “You’re starting.”
And that was that.
I had mixed emotions prior to the game, but once we started playing, I was
all in. I had a decent game and actually blocked a punt that rolled to the
St. Aug three yard line. We fumbled two plays later (not me, thankfully).
St Aug went on to win the game — and I was conflicted. I had never been
in any contest that I was satisfied with losing, but this was it. I tried my
best to win, but losing didn’t hurt so badly this time. This wasn’t about me.
Maybe X was right in a twisted kind of way. This was much more than just
a game.
Did my teammates know how I felt? I never told any of them, and they
may be surprised to read this essay nearly 40 years later. Only the team
captain, Steve Ripple ’73, expressed some sympathy to me just before the
game about the rally and about X’s comments. I don’t know if he came
individually or as a spokesman. His words eased some of the sting, and to
this day I thank him for it.
I love Jesuit, then and now. Like any relationship, we had our good and
bad days. Before joining the varsity football team, I was an honor student,
the president and student conductor of the Glee Club, and captain of the
junior varsity football team as a sophomore. I enjoyed intramurals with my
classmates. Occasionally I would hear the “N word,” but it was no worse
than what would be said about white people back in my neighborhood. I
was living in two entirely different worlds.
New Orleans remained quite segregated in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Catholic schools integrated in 1962-63, and I was in that first wave. I
was taken from Corpus Christie Parish, which was all Black, to St. Leo the
Great Parish, which had previously been all white. I was in second grade
when we moved. The first game I learned was “nigger touch” on the first
day of school. It was basically a game of tag, but instead of being “it” or
“the bogeyman,” you were the “nigger.” The nun stopped the game before
my mother picked me up. It was a fun game because I had no idea I was
the nigger. But I learned.
Many racial incidents ensued from then on. A nun once told me that I was
“a credit to my race” because I could play a piano. Classmates told me they
could no longer walk part of the way home with “my kind” because of their
parents’ wishes. But when it came time to pick a high school, the choice
came down to Jesuit vs. St. Augustine (seems like a recurring theme).
The smart boys in my grammar school wanted to go to Jesuit. My best
friend, Peter Finney, Jr. (’74), was going. So were Brian Behlar (’74) and
Living in my neighborhood and going to Jesuit was no picnic. I got it from
both ends. I was a “nigger” at school and a “white boy” when I got home.
Walking home through the 7th Ward with a big Jesuit school bag containing
Latin and chemistry books was, let’s just say, challenging. Prejudices ran
deeply through both communities. I suppose there had to be a first wave. I
was no hero. It was just my time.
Oddly enough, during my senior year I was asked to help recruit Black
students by going to local grammar schools and speaking to the students. I
had become a Blue Jay ambassador. Jesuit’s principal at the time, Mr. Mike
Power would accompany me. I once said to a young boy, “Jesuit may not
have everything you want, but it has everything you need.” I recall Mr.
Power using that line a few times afterward and I was very proud.
Jesuit did give me everything I needed. Mr. Harold Roy taught me to love
music. Coach Arms taught me to persevere. Coaches Billy Murphy and
Buck Fox taught me discipline and temper control, as did Coach Milton
Gaudet. Mr. Jim Steckel let me explore history. Fr. (E.J.) Jacques taught
me to tolerate math, and Fr. (Peter) Bayhi (S.J. ’53) did the same with
Latin. Mr. Charlie McGannon taught literature. Mr. Willie Brown (’29)
taught chemistry. Mr. Harry Clark (’59) taught physics. And Mr. Serio read
and taught us Shakespeare and so much more. It was truly a New Orleans
gumbo experience — a little bit of everything. But that’s what made it “Oh,
so good.”
To my dear classmates of whom there are too many to name, I thank you
for all you allowed me to be. The Jesuits came to my parents’ funerals.
There are Black teachers and coaches now, and many more young Black
men have passed through Carrollton and Banks since I graduated in 1974.
I was the only Black on the football team for two years until a tight end and
kicker named Marc Morial (’76) joined.
I thank the African-American students who graduated from Jesuit before
me: Ted (’70) and Marlin (’73) Gusman; Ron (’70) and Gary (’72) Mason;
Edgar “Dooky” Chase (’67); and, Blaine LeCesne (’73) for giving me a
sense of community and perspective.
Thank you to Mr. John Harry, who quietly protected me. May he rest in
peace.
So this is my story, my perspective. Some of the details may be missing,
but the message is still the same: Lead, oh lead us on to victory, Mother, Alma
Mater Dear.
Stephen McKenna graduated from Jesuit in 1974. He earned his
medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine
in 1982 and is currently a surgeon specializing in gastric bypass and
weight loss procedures. Stephen has a private practice in Frederick,
MD.
THE ALMOST BLUE JAY
BY IVAN J. MIESTCHOVICH, JR. ’66
A
s an incoming freshman in the fall of
1962, the excitement, satisfaction,
and reality of being a Jesuit Blue Jay
largely overshadowed the fact that the school
was being integrated. No doubt, the arrival
scene that first day was a little different than
what would become the norm over the next four
years. However, on this first day, it was hard to
miss policemen strategically and prominently
stationed around the block. Of course, news
reporters and their film crews were ever-present
and also strategically positioned to document
Jesuit’s first black students arriving at the campus
and entering the building.
If memory serves me correctly, the new students’
arrival and entry into the school occurred
without incident. The historic significance of
what was happening concurrent with our first
day as Jesuit Blue Jays was probably overlooked
by most of us. I know it was for me. This was
my first day of high school, and not just any
high school. This was Jesuit High School.
As incoming freshmen, we would ultimately
represent the Class of 1966. There was
excitement and there was trepidation, and both
largely overshadowed the circumstances swirling
around us as Jesuit welcomed eight young black
men as part of its incoming freshmen class.
For many of us, the whole episode was greeted
with a shrug of indifference. For those who
grew up in New Orleans, black people were
not a rarity but very much a part of the fabric
of our community. From the city’s beginnings,
black and white folks learned to live, work, and,
when necessary, fight together to build, grow,
and defend New Orleans. In many cases, there
were strong family and personal ties between the
races. And for many of us these relationships and
interactions helped to shape us through our early
childhood as we learned from those who worked
in our families as care-givers and in various jobs
throughout our neighborhoods. So it was not as
if having young black men as classmates was akin
to having to interact with some extraterrestrial
beings. They were from New Orleans just as we
were, so their entry into the Jesuit community,
although newsworthy in the short run, fast
became the accepted norm.
Admission of black students into Jesuit High
School was not only totally consistent with the
philosophy, theology, and culture of the Society
of Jesus, but also it was very providential for me
personally, the “Almost Blue Jay.” Initially, I had
received the much-dreaded “Dear Friend” letter
notifying me that I had not been accepted for
admission. This was a devastating blow and it
cut me deeply. I had prepared diligently for the
much feared entrance exam. I took special classes
and studied lots of material as suggested by my
tutors. Moreover, my grammar school, St. Pius
X, was essentially a feeder for Jesuit, typically
sending 80-90% of the boys’ graduating class to
the corner of Carrollton and Banks. Not being in
that number was a difficult pill to swallow. But
after the shock had worn off a little, I resigned
myself to the fact that I would probably be
entering another boys’ Catholic high school in
the fall.
Unknown to me, however, events were unfolding
behind the scenes over which I had no control.
My eighth grade teacher, Mr. Johnson, who
helped me prepare for the entrance exam, was
not satisfied that I had not been accepted. To
this day, I do not know why he took such a
personal interest in my particular situation.
And given the trouble I would create for him
in class sometimes, I should have had no reason
to expect him to take such a personal interest.
But he did, and for that I am forever thankful.
Mr. Johnson took the initiative and called the
Admissions Office. What he discovered became
a glimmer of hope for this “Almost Blue Jay.”
According to Admissions, I was first on the
waiting list and would become a Blue Jay if
someone else who had been accepted decided
not to attend Jesuit. That little ray of hope was
all that I needed. Mr. Johnson advised me to
“sit tight and pray” and that is what I did. In
fact, up to that point in my life, I can think of
nothing for which I so diligently prayed. As I
look back on my experience, I can see how God
used this as an important teaching moment for
me to focus on patience and trust. To this day
I am not sure which was the more challenging
lesson. But the Lord, in His own unique way,
prevailed on my behalf. He demonstrated that
He is in the business of answering prayers, even
if He uses somewhat unconventional methods
and motivations.
What He did as far as I was concerned ranked up
there with the parting of the Red Sea and feeding
the 5,000. It was big! But in my case, instead of
Moses’s staff or a young boy’s few fish and barley
loaves, He used the admission of black students
to Jesuit and the bigotry of a father to open the
door for this “Almost Blue Jay.”
One of my St. Pius X classmates who was
accepted into Jesuit — and was eager to become
a Blue Jay — was denied that opportunity by his
father. It had nothing to do with Jesuit’s tuition
because my classmate’s father was well-endowed
financially. It had nothing to do with Jesuit being
academically inferior, because he knew very
well that his son would receive an exceptional
education. No, his reason was more basic: Jesuit
was admitting blacks and he would not allow his
son to attend any school that opened its doors
to anyone other than someone who was white.
How unfortunate this was for my classmate as
well as his father, a parent who allowed racism
to trump his own common sense and truncate a
superior educational opportunity for his son.
The closing of one door for my classmate opened
a new one for me. I at last received my coveted
“Dear Blue Jay” letter informing me that I had
been accepted at Jesuit and that I would be
welcomed along with the rest of the incoming
1962 freshman class. To say that I was a happy
young man would be a gross understatement. I
do not remember what I did to celebrate, but I
did thank Mr. Johnson for his help, perseverance,
and encouragement. And, I thanked the Lord
profusely for answering my prayers.
These circumstances unfolded almost 50 years
ago, which for some may sound like ancient
history. However, as I survey these five decades
with the benefit of the historical rear view mirror,
I realize that my life would have been different
in so many ways had I remained an “Almost
Blue Jay.” Who could have predicted that the
odd confluence of racial integration and the
racist attitude of a myopic parent would create
an opening of opportunity for this Blue Jay?
Certainly not me, that’s for sure. But as they say,
“the rest is history.” Or more appropriately, it is
“His Story.” A.M.D.G.
Ivan Miestchovich, Jr. graduated from Jesuit
in 1966. He has a PhD and is an associate
professor of finance at the University of
New Orleans where he is director of the
Real Estate Market Data Center and Center
for Economic Development. Ivan and his
wife, Peggy, have been married 42 years and
have two daughters. The family lives on the
Northshore.
During the 75 years that Mr. John Paquette served as Jesuit’s registrar, he maintained the
“Principal’s Diary,” which consisted of thousands of entries. His handwritten notes on Tuesday,
September 4, 1962 include: “Meeting of all teachers in St. Ignatius Hall at 11:15 a.m. The
school is officially integrated, opening with 8 colored students. No trouble and none anticipated.”
The next day’s Times-Picayune carried a front page article headlined: “White, Negro Pupils
Attend Catholic Schools Together.” Buried deep in the story was a reference to Jesuit: “… a
policeman at the scene reported three Negroes attended.” The paper was off by five.
TWO GREAT TEACHERS
BY KEVIN GRANT ’03
M
y time at Jesuit was
unforgettable. It was
life-altering, to say
the least. The constant influx
of alumni speakers who were
making their marks in the world
was proof that the Jesuit formula worked. I remember at times feeling
distant because the majority of the speakers did not look like me. Looking
around at assembly, there was a sea of white faces. It was not unusual for relatives, friends, and neighbors (even strangers) to
ask me: “Was Jesuit racist?” And I would always respond, “No.” Because
Jesuit was more than just a school; it was an idea. However, I knew what
the aim of the question was. Did I ever overhear racist comments or questionable name-calling or other
discriminatory things? Of course I did, but my mother taught my siblings
and me well. She taught us to hold each individual accountable for what he
or she did, and allow room for forgiveness, all the while remaining dignified
and honorable. (My mother is an advocate for raising gentlemen.)
Jesuit, too, drove home this point. So I understood this was the world, that
there would be people who did not like me based solely on my ethnicity. I
was a minority in school as well as in life. However, the teachers could not
teach the others without teaching me. So being a minority had no bearing
in the halls of Jesuit with regard to the administration.
However, when school was over and I returned to my neighborhood —
where I was in the majority — I still remained a minority because of the
school I attended. Attending Jesuit was not the most popular choice in
my neighborhood. I was called a “sellout” and also labeled an “Oreo,
not real.” I rode the RTA bus home, and while there were times I had no
problems, many times I did. The Blue Jay patch on my shoulder and my
Jesuit bag filled with books made me a frequent target. Constant ridicule
created an identity crisis of my being black enough. But something happened. Amidst the teenage angst I was experiencing, I
had the realization that there was a disparity between pretending and being.
My identity was more about who I was, not who I pretended to be for
acceptance. I remember saying something to the effect of: “When I walk
down the street, people do not say, ‘Hey that’s a good looking guy with a
lot of melanin.’ Rather, that’s a handsome Black guy.’”
I’m Black. There is no getting around it. By that fact alone, it does not get
any “realer” than that.
My Jesuit experience influenced my diction, as well as my interests. Jesuit,
in conjunction with my mother, taught me that I was great and that I could
stand tall with confidence with any scholar or layperson as his or her equal.
We are all better versions of ourselves, constantly evolving and growing.
Race, class, and status are just details in the fabric. Jesuit enhanced my
academic aptitude. But more importantly, it cemented my life aptitude
and never once made me question my importance to the world and to
my fellow man, just as I am. This gives me hope in everything, because
everything I do ultimately is A.M.D.G. — for the greater glory of
God.
Kevin Grant graduated from Jesuit in 2003. He is a writer working and
living in Los Angeles, CA. His family still lives in New Orleans.
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
realize that all things are filled with an
“invitation” to find God there.
Faculty Retreat at
Manresa Yields an
Abundance of
Self-Reflection
Of course, much of what Fr. Meconi
discussed could be related to our roles
here at Jesuit; and, hopefully, for the good
of our students and each other, we took to
heart what Fr. Meconi offered in the way
of spiritual wisdom.
Every other year in mid to late January,
the faculty and staff of Jesuit High School
attend a two-day retreat at Manresa
House of Retreats in Convent. All faculty
members are expected to attend, and staff
members are also invited. All have the
option to stay overnight and several dozen
normally do.
In reflecting on the nature of God, Fr.
Meconi stated that God can only be
understood as He relates to the Son
and Holy Spirit. God is all about His
relationship with the other two Persons
of the Trinity, and none of the three
Persons can be understood outside
the relationship with the other two
Persons. Thus, Christianity is more about
relationship than religion. Christianity
is not about following rules and earning
God’s love. God’s love cannot be earned
by doing good things and following the
rules — although many of us would like
to think we can “earn it” because it gives
us control. God doesn’t love us because we
are loveable, but because God is love.
The retreats of Manresa are silent
(including meals), and this expectation
allows us to derive the most out of our
time without battling the noises and
distractions of everyday life. The natural
beauty of Manresa is also more evident
in the silence, and the quiet works
wonders on the mind and spirit as we are
more open to the guidance of the retreat
director.
The beauty of Manresa and the ideal
weather certainly contributed to us having
a great retreat, but the highlight was the
retreat director himself, Fr. David Meconi,
S.J., a Jesuit priest from the ChicagoDetroit province who currently works at
St. Louis University. Interspersed among
time for personal reflection, prayer,
reading, and strolling the grounds were
six talks delivered by Fr. Meconi. These
talks provided spiritual guidance and
inspiration, and the topic of every talk had
its foundation in the spiritual exercises
of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the
Society of Jesus.
Fr. Meconi’s talks covered many spiritual
topics, but his major themes related
to the nature of God and reality itself,
our human nature, and what stands in
our way of being true to our nature.
Father also challenged misconceptions
about how some people view God.
God’s love for each of us must simply be
acknowledged and allowed to work in our
lives. God has the same love for us as He
has for Jesus, and He wants us to embrace
Him as His own sons and daughters, not
as slaves or soldiers — although, of course,
He will not turn us away if we possess
those views that fall short of our true
relationship to Him.
God is not a policeman sitting on a throne
“up there in heaven” as He looks down on
us and “grades” us throughout the course
of our days as either following the rules
— good — or not following the rules —
bad. Instead, God is love itself; and all
creation is an expression of the outpouring
of God’s love. A major tenet of the Society
of Jesus is “finding God in all things”;
and since we do believe that all things are
really “in God,” it is important for us to
Father asked us to reflect on whether we
truly live our lives so that other people
can find God in us. We believe that we
are created in the image of God, and if
God can only be understood in terms
of His relationships, our human nature
is also tied into living our lives and
believing that our relationships are of
primary importance. None of us is selfmade. Each of us is made for and from
relationships. Is each of us a “safe place”
in which our students and colleagues may
take refuge when they need us? If Christ
is the vine, and we are the branches, do
we allow Christ to work through us? Do
we go through our day and interact with
students and colleagues not “for” Christ,
or “with” Christ, but “as” Christ? To do
anything less is to deny our very nature.
To do anything less diminishes the power
of our Christian faith to transform lives
— our own and each other’s.
Of course, none of us is perfect; and we
can never be so in this life. Our sinful
nature frequently stands in the way of us
living the life as God wills for each of us.
Fr. Meconi spent much time talking about
two of the seven deadly sins; namely,
pride and sloth. Pride is often viewed as
the worst of the seven deadly sins because
it shackles the prideful person to himself
and makes him unconcerned about what
is good for the “other.” For the person
falling victim to pride, it is not about
“relationships” at all, but about “me.”
Moreover, Father presented us with a
different view of sloth. Contrary to sloth
being synonymous with laziness, Father
offered the view that sloth is about being
so busy that there is very little or no
time at all for God. This deadly sin is
especially prevalent in the “busyness” of
our 24/7/365 technological age in which
we are all so completely connected to each
other and, at the same time, so utterly
disconnected from one another. Father
challenged each of us to be mystics in
our own way; namely, to make time for
daily prayer and reflection and to stay
connected to the source of our only true
power — God’s love and forgiveness —
always flowing to us and through us to
one another. A.M.D.G.
Michael Giambelluca ’82
Principal
Class of 2013 Produces 26 National Merit Semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognized
26 seniors from Jesuit High School’s Class of 2013 as semifinalists
in the annual Merit Scholarship Competition. An additional 20
seniors received recognition as “Commended” scholars. The NMSC
recognizes academically talented students throughout the United
States and conducts nationwide academic scholarship programs.
only one monetary award from the NMSC.
Two seniors — Ernest Philip Legier III and Michael Anthony
Sinegar, Jr. (who was also named as a National Merit Semifinalist)
— were recognized by The National Achievement Scholarship
Program, an academic competition established in 1964 to
acknowledge outstanding African American high school students.
African American students can qualify for recognition and be
honored as Semifinalists or Finalists in both the National Merit
program and the National Achievement Program, but can receive
The “Commended” seniors in the National Merit program are:
Evan J. Bailey, Luis E. Balart, Jr., Joseph M. Barletta, Jared C.
Blohowiak, Grant M. Candies, Michael R. Cusimano, Patrick H.
Denenea, Patrick T. Duckworth, Rene R. Duplantier, Jack M.
Ferro, Robert M. Guidry, Zachary N. Lannes, Alexander K. K.
Lee, Jonathan M. Llovet, Bradley J. Powers, Preston B. Reisig,
Ian K. Rohr, Nicholas J. Rosato, Jr., Taylor J. Varisco, and Jeremy
M. Vezina.
One Jesuit senior, Zachary N. Lannes, was recognized by The
National Hispanic Recognition Program. Established in 1983 by
the College Board, this program provides national recognition for
Hispanic students based on their PSAT scores and identifies them
for post secondary institutions.
(Front row, from left): Jimmy J. Brown; Johnston J. Burkhardt; Andrew J. Burmaster; Brandon J. Butera; Seth S. Chauhan; Joseph T. Crapanzano III; Zachary
A. Creel. (Second row): John J. D’Angelo; William L. Emmett; Peyton L. Fine; Benjamin T. Guerra; Carl E. Hellmers IV; Joseph F. Kepper. (Third row): Lucas C.
Lavoie; Dominic J. Lloyd; Brandon K. Manganello; Ryan D. Mouton; Andrew A. Pettus; James R. Sampognaro; Gordon C. Schmidt. (Back row): Nicholas D.
Simon; Michael A. Sinegar, Jr. (who is also a National Achivement Semifinalist); Christopher P. Stephens; Matt J. Tillery; Larry D. Wink, Jr.; Matthew J. Wolff;
Zachary N. Lannes (who is a National Hispanic Scholar); and, Ernest P. Legier III (who is a National Achievement Semifinalist).
A Dozen New and Returning Faculty Members for the 2012 - 2013 School Year
Jesuit High School welcomed ten new and two returning
faculty and administration members for the 2012 – 2013
school year. Seated from left are Mr. Jon Malax (Spanish). Mr.
Scott Delatte ’06 (theology), Mr. Jason LaLonde, S.J. (Latin,
English), Fr. John Brown, S.J. (theology, campus ministry),
Ms. Deika Bustamante (Spanish), and Mr.
Rob Weiss ’87 (math, social studies); standing from left
are Mr. Michael Begg (English, social studies), Mr. Jeff
Darling (chemistry, physical science), Mr. Bret Hanemann
’85 (director of admissions, social studies, and head coach of
swimming), Mr. Peter Muller ’81 (science), Mr. Darryl Roule
(math, assistant football coach), and Mr. Christopher Bowes
’02 (English, computer science). Hanemann and Weiss are
returning for their second stint at Carrollton and Banks.
2012 MOTHERS' COFFEE & MOTHER-SON MASS & BREAKFAST
MOTHERS MATTER
Mothers of Blue Jays could not ask for more perfect weather for
their annual “Coffee.” On a cool, breezy, and sunny Wednesday
in late October, more than 200 Jesuit mothers filled the beautiful
and spacious Kenner home of Sam and Jackie-Sue Scelfo for
this eagerly anticipated event. The Mothers’ Coffee traditionally
serves as a “meet and greet” event whereby veteran Blue Jay
moms welcome new ones into the Jesuit family. The Scelfos have
a trio of Blue Jays: Vincent ’06, Dominick ’10, and Antonio ’13.
The following Sunday, Jesuit mothers — this time with their
sons — gathered for the annual Mass and Breakfast, which this
year featured an innovative twist. The event was bifurcated with
Top left: Fr. Frank Reale, S.J. celebrates
Mass at Immaculate Conception Church
on Baronne Street.
Top right: Pre-freshman Randy Carter with
his mother Sandy; senior Larry Wink with
his mother Mary Jo; seniors Quinn and
Michael Fitzpatrick with their mother Jane;
and, senior Etienne Balart with his mother
Louise Hogan.
Right: At the Mothers’ Coffee, this group
of Blue Jay moms found shade to meet and
greet. Seated from left: Chan Lee, Sara
Price, Doris Belleau, Debbie Guidry, Angelé
Guient, and Lea Quigley. Standing from
left: Debbie Baudouin, Mary Naquin, and
Celeste Arseneaux.
morning Mass celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church on
Baronne Street (the Jesuit church). Afterwards, Blue Jays strolled
across the street to enjoy breakfast at the Roosevelt Hotel.
The sentimental tradition for Blue Jays to wax philosophical
about their mothers — who are always surprised and stunned
by what they hear — fell this year to seniors Joshua DeBlieux
and Jonathan Llovet. Needless to say, there were a few tears
smudged onto the jackets of these Jays when they returned to
their tables.
View additional pictures of these popular events on the
Parents’ Events Photos page of Jesuit’s web site.
House Tours
A Pair of Admissions Events Are Important Recruiting
Tools in a Competitive Market
Open House
Hundreds of prospective Blue Jays and
their families discovered Jesuit at the
annual Open House on Wednesday,
November 7, 2012.
Families gathered in the auditorium
where they were treated to live music
performed by the Blue Jay Jazz Band.
Guests listened to brief presentations by
the president, principal, students, and
parents.
Student tour guides led small groups
through the school and explained
academics, athletics, co-curriculars, other
aspects of student life at Jesuit. Alumni
helped usher the groups through historic
hallways and various classrooms. Guests
visited the Student Commons, the Jesuit
gym, and the adjacent Roussel Building,
where the many clubs and organizations
had set up displays.
The tour ended with refreshments and
an option to take a limo bus ride over to
John Ryan Stadium, Jesuit’s new multisport athletic facility located just five
minutes from campus.
Blue & White Friday
Night
The fifth annual Blue & White Friday
night on October 26, 2012 was the
magnet that attracted 600 boys from
elementary schools to Carrollton and
Banks where they experienced Jesuit in a
unique, casual sort of way.
As guests of honor, the boys mingled
with current Blue Jays, who unfailingly
bestowed the appropriate royal blue and
white treatment during two fast-paced
hours. The entertainment was supplied
by Jesuit’s Cheerleaders, the Jayettes, the
comedians in the Philelectic Society’s
Improv group, and the talented musicians
in the Blue Jay Marching Band. And,
of course, it would not be an actionpacked event without the participation of
Jesuit’s sports teams. The boys thoroughly
enjoyed the athletes’ performances and
demonstrations in football, basketball,
soccer, and wrestling.
Above: At Open House, seniors Earl
Johnson (left) and Brandon Butera
describe their experiences as Blue Jays.
Jesuit Welcomes Familiar
Face as New Admissions
Director
Bret Hanemann ’85 is Jesuit’s
new admissions director. He
succeeds Jack Truxillo ’73, who is
now an associate superintendent
in the Office of Catholic
Schools of the Archdiocese of
New Orleans. Truxillo served
as Jesuit’s admissions director
for the past seven years. In his
new role, Hanemann oversees
the admissions process, from
representing Jesuit before
audiences of prospective students
and their parents to making
decisions to assimilating the
new Blue Jays into the student
body. Hanemann teaches a social
studies class and will continue to
be head coach of the Jesuit swim
team.
MAKING JESUIT
SPECIAL:
Parents and PAG
BY BRIAN NORTH ’83
Chairman of the 2012-13
Parents’ Annual Giving Drive
Jesuit’s student body remains as diverse as ever with students coming from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, traveling to Carrollton and Banks from some 50 zip codes within the
community. This diversity is what is referred to as “the education within the education.” It is
what makes Jesuit special.
T
JESUIT TODAY
he Parents’ Annual
Giving Drive (PAG)
is one of the critical fundraising efforts that Jesuit
High School undertakes
each year to help ensure that
tuition remains affordable.
Keeping tuition affordable is
key to the mission of making
a Jesuit education accessible
to a larger and more diverse
group of students.
In the early 1970s, Fr. Paul
Schott, S.J., Jesuit High
School’s 11th president,
recognized that the cost
of tuition was not keeping
pace with the rising costs
to educate Blue Jays. He
understood back then that
if Jesuit charged full-cost
tuition, many students
would be unable to attend
Jesuit because its tuition
would be unaffordable. The
composition of the student
body would be drastically
altered, and Jesuit would be a
much different school.
To address these concerns
about tuition, Jesuit
conducted its first PAG
Drive in 1975. Each year
since then, the parents of
current students have been
asked to make a voluntary,
tax deductible contribution
to Jesuit High School to
make up the difference
between what the school
charges for tuition ($7,700
for the 2012-13 year)
and what it actually costs
to educate each Blue Jay
($10,273). The difference of
$2,573 is this year’s “gap.”
The PAG drive is essential
to the well-being of Jesuit
High School; therefore,
it is important to address
any misconceptions that
a tiny fraction of parents
might harbor about “where
their money goes.” PAG
donations are treated by
Jesuit as operating income
and are used to help the
school defray its operating
expenses. Donations are
not used as financial aid or
as a supplement of another
student’s tuition whose
family cannot afford to pay
a partial, much less the full
amount.
It is oft repeated that Jesuit
has never refused admission
to a student who has been
accepted simply because
his family was unable to
afford the tuition. Jesuit
has a financial aid program,
funded by the school’s
endowment, to assist
families with meeting their
tuition obligations. During
the 2011-12 school year
— and courtesy of Jesuit’s
endowment — more than
$525,000 was provided to
families who had sought
financial aid. (Information
about applying for financial
aid is posted on the
Admissions page of Jesuit’s
web site.)
The overwhelming majority
of Jesuit parents understands
why the school needs a PAG
drive, and they support it to
the best of their abilities. Let
it be said that Jesuit parents
are in sync and respond
consistently and generously.
It is no different this year —
parents have pledged more
than $1,100,000 to the fiscal
year 2013 drive (July 1, 2012
– June 30, 2013).
As a result of their
munificence, Jesuit’s tuition
remains one of the lowest
Top left: Following Mass, volunteers Judy Abadin, Ginga Cousins,
Judy Simonson, Sophie Simonson, and Breni Crabtree helped to
serve a light breakfast in the Student Commons.
Top right: Sophomores Scott Crabtee, Alex Galy, and Blake
Eichhorn; pre-freshman Todd Crabtree; and sophomore Andrew
Amedee.
Bottom: Pre-freshman Reed Meric with his parents, Scott ’88 and
Stephanie Meric; sophomore Patrick Rappold and his mother
Maxine Rappold.
As chairman of the current
drive, I had the privilege
of addressing Blue Jays at
a morning assembly prior
to PAG Sunday, which was
September 16. I briefly
explained the importance
of the PAG drive and
encouraged these future
Jesuit alumni to go home
that day and thank their
parents for the financial
sacrifices they endure that
allow them the privilege
of attending this fine
institution.
I also asked the students to
reflect on a few open-ended
questions:
How many of you might not
have come to Jesuit had the
tuition been unaffordable?
How many of your classmates
might have chosen another
school if Jesuit’s tuition was
unaffordable?
Of the thousands of alumni
that have walked these halls
before you, how many would
have attended another
school if Jesuit’s tuition was
unaffordable?
No one will ever know
the true answers to those
questions. But I think it is
safe to assume that several
current students (not to
mention many, many
alumni) would have missed
the opportunity to be Blue
Jays had Jesuit charged fullcost tuition.
Thanks to the vision of Fr.
Schott, the leadership of his
four successors — and the
generosity of Jesuit parents
through their participation
in the PAG drive — Jesuit
High School is strongly
positioned to continue
offering an outstanding
educational experience to
a diverse student body at a
reasonably affordable cost.
A.M.D.G.
—Brian North ’83
Chairman of Jesuit’s 2012-13
PAG Drive
Brian and Sueann North
are the parents of Will
North ’13.
JESUIT TODAY
of all Catholic and private
high schools in the New
Orleans area. Among the
more than 50 Jesuit high
schools in the country that
charge tuition, Jesuit ranks
as one of the least expensive.
Jesuit’s student body remains
as diverse as ever with
students coming from a
variety of socio-economic
backgrounds, traveling to
Carrollton and Banks from
some 50 zip codes within the
community. This diversity
is what is referred to as
“the education within the
education.” It is what makes
Jesuit special.
A Jesuit High School Tradition
Thanksgiving
Senior Andrew Burmaster, junior Rahul
Mirpuri, and seniors Trevor Coker and
Ryan Mouton carry Thanksgiving baskets
to their cars for delivery to families all
across the city.
g Drive
One strength of Jesuit High School is the sense
of community it engenders. No day reflects that
sense of community more than the day before
Thanksgiving. Guided by service projects director
Helen Swan, students, teachers, alumni, and
parents worked side by side on November 21 for
one purpose: to give of themselves to enrich the
lives of those less fortunate. At the prayer service
that morning, senior Zac Creel and campus
ministry director Jeremy Reuther ’01 reminded
the community why we do this: A.M.D.G.
“Saying thank you is the gift that
we give back to someone when
we have nothing to give but our
hearts. This is the reason why
saying thank you can be often
times underestimated, because
we feel like we’ve got nothing left
to give... So sometimes we can
neglect it. But this is precisely the
time when we give thanks — when
we have nothing to give back but
our hearts. But, on the other hand,
this is also the reason why it means
so much when we receive it.”
–From the address by faculty member Jeremy
Reuther ’01 at the Thanksgiving prayer service.
An excerpt of the address by senior Zac Creel at this
year’s Thanksgiving prayer service:
“G
iving is good. It’s
a reality. Here
at Jesuit, we are
taught many things, many
times a day on every day of
the week. If it isn’t math,
it’s science. If it isn’t science,
it’s English. If it isn’t even a
classroom subject, it’s how to
be a better person, the person
whom we were created to be.
I would say that foremost
among these things, far more
important than any theorem
or law, algorithm or article is
the idea of being a Man for
Others.
From the very beginning of
our Jesuit careers, it is driven
into our hearts and minds. It
is one of the very cores of our
Jesuit identity, which defines
who we are and what we stand
for. We work day in and day
out to develop this value as
a part of our character. But
it is on this day in particular
that we exercise our motto
in full force. Once we finish
this assembly, a veritable fleet
of cars and trucks will drive
to every corner of our New
Orleans community to deliver
baskets of goods to families in
need of them.
Before many of you embark
on your odyssey, I would like
to remind you of last week’s
Gospel. In it, various rich
members of the community
are putting alms into a box
for the poor. After each makes
his vast showy contribution, a
poor old woman hobbles up
to the box. She drops in two
small coins...
Her contribution looks small
compared to those made by
the richer man and, indeed,
there’s no doubt that it is.
Opposite page, far left: Alumni empty a truck of perishable and
canned foods destined for the 400-plus baskets being assembled
in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 20. Middle: The following
Wednesday morning, November 21, seniors Jack Culotta, Dylan
Redmann, and Parker Schmidt shop the fruit and vegetable
aisle of Robért Fresh Market, which opens its Robert E. Lee store at
5 a.m. for Blue Jays seeking groceries for their homeroom baskets.
Above: As director of service projects, Mrs. Helen Swan coordinates
the Thanksgiving Drive. At the Prayer Service in the Chapel of the
North American Martyrs, she reminds Blue Jays of the importance of
their work delivering baskets. Left: Senior Zac Creel was selected to
address his classmates and fellow Blue Jays about the significance of
Jesuit’s annual drive.
“It is this giving from the heart that is the key element
of being a Man for Others, a true Christian.”
– Senior Zac Creel
In fact, the two small coins
probably wouldn’t go so far
towards helping the poor
anyway. Nevertheless, as Jesus
points out, it is this old lady
who has contributed the most.
For she has contributed from
her own livelihood, not from
her surplus wealth like the
others had.
In other words, she has given
until it hurts. And giving is
good. It is this giving from the
heart that is the key element of
being a Man for Others, a true
Christian.
I would hazard that very few
of us here today have actually
given from our very own
livelihood... Most of us, myself
included, handed a list of
goods to our parents and said,
‘Hey, would you mind getting
this and that from the store?
Thanks.’
And this is okay. That was the
extent of our giving but that’s
okay. Giving a little is better
than giving nothing because
giving just anything is good.
Jesus did not condemn the
men who gave only from their
surplus. They were trying to be
good people of God. However,
giving goods is about more
than giving only material
wealth, it is about giving
spiritual wealth as well. Giving
a little for the love of another
man is worth far more than
giving a lot just because your
homeroom teacher told you
had to… The reason we give
is that another person needs
our help and, as a Christian,
we are duty bound to help
them…
into our hearts and thereby
arrive at the kingdom of
God.”
A Franciscan monk, perhaps
even St. Francis himself, once
said that it is in the giving that
we receive. And for me, there
is no truer statement. If we do
not give of ourselves, we will
never be able to receive Jesus
At a Morning Assembly, Mike
Varisco ’83, a leader in his class’
annual participation in the
Thanksgiving Drive, delivered
a message designed to have a
lasting impact on Blue Jays. Read
his full address to Blue Jays at
jesuitnola.org.
Senior Zac Creel is a National
Merit Semifinalist and a member
of the varsity football and
wrestling teams. Jeremy Reuther
’01, director of campus ministry,
is in his eighth year of teaching
at Jesuit.
View their entire speeches at
jesuitnola.org.
A Servant of Slaves,
St. Peter Claver
Strived to Give People Their Dignity
BY ROBERTO MATTHEWS ’96
A
MEDALLION STORIES
t the beginning of the 17th century, the New World
was still yielding much for those who were willing
to invest in it. But many did not invest their own
blood, sweat, or tears in working the land and mining the
gold. New World conquerors found ample workers in West
Africa. Slave owners especially pushed this way of life since
great profit was found in this practice. So it must have come
as a great annoyance when Peter Claver, a Spaniard from a
well-to-do farming family, urged that these slave workers be
treated as human beings rather than as property.
Born in 1581 in Catalonia, Spain, Peter
Claver was raised by devout Catholics
and eventually became a Jesuit at
the age of 20. He was studying
philosophy in Mallorca when
a porter, Brother Alphonsus
Rodriguez, presented his true
mission to him. Although
Rodriguez was a doorkeeper,
he believed he was a
religious prophet who was
told by God that Peter
Claver’s true mission was to
minister to the slaves of the
New World.
Thus, in 1610, Claver sailed
to Cartagena — in the Spanish
Territory now known as
Colombia — to humbly take on
this worthy yet awesome and most
difficult task. At the time, Cartagena
was the main hub for the slave trade with
approximately 10,000 Africans sold annually.
were entrapped. It was a cesspool of bodies packed in the base
of a ship with no bathroom and hardly any room to move. It
took two months to travel from Africa to the New World by
sail, and the stench of death emanated from the bottom of the
ship because some slaves did not survive the journey.
Yet, among all this death and sadness, Claver strived to
evangelize and baptize slaves as soon as they stepped off
the boats. By some conservative estimates, he baptized over
300,000 slaves. Of course, his kindness and compassion did
not end there, although that would seem to have been
enough. Claver actually stationed himself at
the docks well before the boats arrived
in order to beg for food and supplies
for the slaves. Then after feeding
them and tending to their wounds
after such an arduous journey, he
baptized them. He also wore
a cloak for the sole purpose
of offering it to anyone
who was in need. Claver
often followed his newly
baptized slaves to their
owners’ destinations, asking
the masters to treat them as
Christian persons and not just
as property.
Day in and day out, this was
Peter Claver's mission. He
followed his mission completely
and to the letter for four decades.
His standard was tied to the belief: “I
must dedicate myself to the service of God until
St. Peter Claver (1581 - 1654) death on the understanding that I am like a
slave.” It never crossed his mind to sway
In Cartagena, Claver met another Jesuit
from his endeavors, even when he became
priest, Father Alonso de Sandoval, S.J., who had been
gravely ill with a lengthy and debilitating disease towards
ministering to the slaves for some 40 years. Following Fr.
the end of his life. And as tragic as it was ironic, Claver was
Sandoval’s example, Claver waited at the port for slave ships
actually physically abused in his old age by a slave whose duty
to arrive and immediately entered the bowels where the slaves
had been to provide the priest with proper care.
selflessly to the point of sacrifice.
As a father, I have had to sacrifice, although not even close to
the extent of what St. Peter Claver did. But I have had to put
my own wants aside in order to secure a future for my two
children and to live a happy and blessed life with my wife as
well. As a father, I am able to relate a little closer to the person
who guided St. Peter Claver to his mission: St. Alphonsus
Rodriguez, who was canonized at the same time as Claver. I
know that my boys are given to me by God to protect. But I
must remember that my responsibility also includes guiding
them in the ways of God for His glory. My job is to raise
them to also be true Men for Others. My hope is that some
day, God will call each of them to be religious leaders and
beacons of positive change.
It is easy to see why Pope Leo XIII canonized Peter Claver
in 1888. It is not that difficult to recognize the wholeness of
Claver’s example as a true “Men for Others.” It is challenging,
however, to follow in his great footsteps.
Roberto Matthews of the Class of 1996 is a church
musician and record producer with his own company,
Musica Religiosa Studios. His most recent CD is available
on Amazon and iTunes. Roberto and his wife Miki have
been married nine years and have two sons, Roberto, Jr.
and Solomon. The family lives in Gretna.
The Spirit of St. Peter Claver Lives On
The spirit of St. Peter Claver, S.J. is alive and well in the form of a co-curricular
at Jesuit High School. The mission of the St. Peter Claver Society is to discuss
and promote diversity at the school by fostering a positive and nurturing
environment. The society also helps its members develop leadership and
intellectual, social, and spiritual skills that will be needed if they are to achieve
success throughout their lives. Approximately 40 Blue Jays are members of
the Society, which is involved this year in helping to plan ceremonies marking
the 50th anniversary of integration at Jesuit High School. Chris LaMothe, a
theology teacher and assistant football coach (as well as head coach of the varsity
track team), is moderator of the St. Peter Claver Society. LaMothe is assisted
by fellow theology teacher James Michalik, as well as guidance counselor Billy
Dwyer ’94 and science teacher Lori Fasone.
MEDALLION STORIES
Years ago, when I first heard the words “Men for Others,” I
had only a vague idea of what it meant — help others and be
strong when doing so. But now I admit that as a grown man
with a family of my own, I better understand the meaning
of Men for Others. These words are not just about “helping
others” when it’s convenient. Following the example of St.
Peter Claver, I now understand and appreciate that Men for
Others is about serving others, and caring for and about them
St. Peter Claver lived in an age where people sought wealth by
exploiting West African slaves. By the Grace of God, this is
no longer the prevalent way that people reap financial reward.
However, we do live in an age where great injustices exist. We
live in a land of abundance, but people are slaves to depravity.
People are slaves to hunger although perfectly edible food is
wasted every day. People are slaves to loneliness although each
of us can open our hands in love and fellowship. We live in an
age where the poor, hungry, and abused are in need of men
and women for others, men and women who don’t simply
hear only the Voice of God. They act upon hearing it, men
and women who are willing to dedicate their entire lives to
such a necessary ministry.
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NEW ORLEANS, LA
PERMIT NO. 313
JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL OF NEW ORLEANS
4133 Banks Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
www.jesuitnola.org
Parents of Alumni: If you are receiving your son's copy of Jaynotes and he no longer lives with you, please let us know so we can update our database
and send the magazine directly to him. Let us know if you enjoy reading Jaynotes. We will be glad to send a copy to his new address and a copy to
you. Email changes to: [email protected].
2012 Alumnus of the Year Toasted by Previous Honorees
Twenty-four distinguished Blue Jays who have been previously recognized as an Alumnus of the Year gathered on an October evening at Ralph’s on
the Park restaurant to pay tribute to Jesuit High School’s newest honoree, Edgar L. “Dooky” Chase of the Class of 1967.
Among the esteemed Blue Jays who attended the annual Alumnus of the Year dinner (listed with their year of graduation and the year they
were honored) were (seated, from left): Ashton J. Ryan, Jr. ’65 (2002); Milton J. Retif, Sr. ’51 (1993); Joseph P. Licciardi, Jr. ’53 (1989); Moon
Landrieu ’48 (1970); Edgar L. “Dooky” Chase III ’67 (2012); Thomas A. Casey, Sr. ’48 (1979); James E. Fitzmorris, Jr. ’39 (1972); Curtis P.
Rome, Jr. ’53 (1984); Frank B. Stewart ’53 (1995); and, Emmett M. Fitzpatrick ’45 (1981).
Standing, from left: Br. William J. Dardis, S.J. ’58 (Jesuit’s director of special projects); Robert L. Perez ’61 (1992); Michael A. McGlone ’68
(2011); Arthus S. Mann ’64 (2005); Michael E. Nolan ’63 (2001); Kevin G. Heigle ’69 (2009); Peter R. Quirk ’54 (1999); John J. “Jack” Dardis
’59 (1986); W. James Amoss ’65 (2006); Marcel Garsaud, Jr. ’50 (1997); Ardley R. Hanemann, Jr. ’61 (1988); John D. Charbonnet ’54 (2010);
Michael O. Read ’61 (2000); Michael H. Rodrigue ’71 (2007); Jay C. Zainey ’69 (2008); Robert F. Talbot, Jr. ’55 (1996); and, Fr. Raymond
Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76, president of Jesuit High School.

Jaynotes Fall-Winter 2013 - Jesuit Home

Transcription

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