Jaynotes Spring/Summer 2005

Volume 32, Number 3
JAYNotes
The Magazine of Jesuit High School in New Orleans • Spring/Summer 2005
…a poet
Inside this
Issue:
Visiting Author:
Dana Gioia
Baseball, Soccer,
Tennis, Wrestling:
State Champs!
…a rocker
The Jaynotes
Interview:
Fr. Paul Schott, S.J. ’40
Reflections on Pope
John Paul II
…an actor
Guest Author:
Jody Fortunato ’98
The Life of St.
Ignatius—Part II
New Feature: JayTalk
…the players
…all made a spring appearance at Carrollton and Banks. The arts
are alive and well at Jesuit High School.
Top to bottom: 2005 Visiting Author poet Dana Gioia addresses the students. Cowboy Mouth drummer and lead singer Fred LeBlanc ’81 takes
over morning assembly. “St. Ignatius” (aka theology teacher Thomas “Spitz” Spitzfaden) enlightens parents of incoming students about the Jesuit
philosophy. And Philelectic Society members Drew Lambert ’06, Scarlett Thiele (Grace King/NOCCA junior), and Patrick Cragin ’06 are
“Singin’ in the Rain” on the Jesuit stage.
Volume 32, Number 3
JAYNotes
INSIDE
The President’s Message from Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. tells
us what the media ignored about Pope John Paul II.
2 Guest Author Jody Fortunato ’98 relates how he and two
classmates had a private audience with His Excellency, John Paul II.
3 Annus Mirabilis discovers what was written in 1939 about Blue Jay
Spirit.
4 From the Jays’ Nest satisfies our curiosity of the relevant and the
irrelevant.
6 Fr. Norman O’Neal, S.J.’s second installment of The Life of St.
19
Ignatius of Loyola
The Jaynotes Interview: Fr. Paul Schott, S.J. ’40
Visiting Author Dana Gioia impresses students and faculty.
Cowboy Mouth’s Fred LeBlanc ’81 rocks student assembly.
A new feature, JayTalk, is an informal conversation with a Jesuit teacher. We engage English
teacher Denise Dupuis in our inaugural chat.
Jesuit’s 2005 State Championship Baseball team
3
shows lots of heart.
Coverage of our Soccer and Tennis State Champs
Blue Jay Wrestlers repeat as State Champs.
Our Basketball, Golf, and Track teams perform well.
Rugby wins State!
2005 Homecoming Schedule of Events
1
8
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
27
Jesuit High School…the school that will change your life
Who changed your life?
What Jesuit High School teacher, coach, administrator,
moderator, or staff person had a significant positive
impact on your life?
Next fall a special edition of Jaynotes will be dedicated
to the Jesuit High School teacher through the years. The
magazine will feature articles by alumni about teachers
who made a difference.
CORRECTIONS
In the last issue of Jaynotes, we misidentified our two football game broadcasters.
Danny Riehm ’00 is on the left, and Jude
Young ’95 is on the right.
Jaynotes, the magazine for and
about alumni, parents, and students
of Jesuit High School in New
Orleans, is published quarterly by
the Development and Alumni Affairs
office. A special Graduation issue is
also published in the summer.
Opinions expressed in Jaynotes are
those of the individual author.
President
Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66
Director of Development and
Public Relations
Pierre DeGruy ’69
Jaynotes Editor
Mat Grau ’68
Director of Alumni Affairs
Director of Special Projects
Bro. William Dardis, S.J. ’58
Coordinator of Development
& Alumni Affairs
Melinda Rogers
Administrative Assistant
Traci Arnold
Design & Layout
Design III
A Call for Submissions
Recently a teacher received a letter from a parent whose
son had just graduated. “It’s not the brick and lumber,
it’s the people,” the parent observed. “It’s the people like
you that have made Jesuit the great institution it is.”
On the occasion of the dedication of the 1953 wing,
Monsignor Henry Bezou, Superintendent of Archdiocesan Schools, expressed the same sentiment. “A
school is not a building nor a location; it is a living
reality constantly renewed by successive generations of
teachers and students.”
Indeed, Jesuit High School is people—the students
and the teachers. Now you have a chance to express
your feelings about a particular teacher, coach, moderator,
administrator, or staff person who may have changed
your life. So what we want to know is…
Spring/Summer
2005
Send us an essay in which you explain why that
person had such an impact on your life.
Here are the guidelines.
• The essay must not exceed 500 words.
• Send the essay to [email protected]. Microsoft
Word documents are preferred, but if you have to
write it by hand, we’ll accept it as long as it’s legible.
• Be specific. Tell stories. What did that person do
that affected you so much?
• Please proof your essay by using your Writing
Handbook—the Brown Bomber! One grammatical
error and you receive a “0” in mechanics.
• Jaynotes reserves the right to edit your essay for
content, clarity, and length. We will try to publish
as many essays as possible, but we won’t be able to
publish all of the essays in the special edition of
Jaynotes. However, we intend to publish an essay
here and there in future editions of the Jaynotes.
• Please be sure to include your name, year of
graduation, and daytime contact information.
• Send us a recent picture of yourself. We will find
the one of you as a student.
• The deadline for submission is September 16, 2005.
Also, Ryan
O’Malley ’05 was
misidentified in the
back cover photo
caption.
Finally, a production error deleted a portion of the Bib List entry noting the birth of Kees Lewis Vandergriff. Kees
is the first child of Mr. and Mrs. Tevis Vandergriff IV ’94. The entire entry is in this issue’s Bib List on page 28.
Printing
Brennan’s
Photography
Mike Barberito Photography
Chris Barberito ’08, David Castillo ’06,
Nick de la Rua ’06, Paul Fitzmorris ’06
Letters and correspondence are
welcome and can be either submitted
by e-mail ([email protected]) or
mailed to:
Jaynotes
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
Address changes should be submitted
to [email protected] or contact
Jesuit’s Alumni Affairs office at 504-4833815.
Parents: If you are receiving your son’s
copy of Jaynotes and he no longer lives
with you, please let us know so we can
change our records and send the magazine
directly to him. If you enjoy reading your
son’s copy of Jaynotes, let us know that as
well. We will be glad to send a copy to his
new address and a copy to you.
Interested in making your donation
to the LEF or PAG online?
Visit Jesuit High School’s Website:
www.jesuitnola.org
1920
•
POPE JOHN PAUL II
•
2005
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Honoring the Memory
of Pope John Paul II
In the weeks surrounding the death and burial of Pope John Paul II, the
news media covered many aspects of his pontificate. Unfortunately the
coverage neglected some very important aspects of John Paul’s teaching.
His first visit to the United States included a stop in Des Moines,
Iowa. One might well ask why would he visit a place that has relatively few Catholics. Other
American cities have larger Catholic populations.
The pope wanted to show that the people of the United States have a responsibility to use their
blessings for benefit of all peoples. God has blessed our nation with an extraordinary productivity in agriculture. As stewards of God’s blessings, we have an obligation to use His gifts in a responsible manner. He called us to acknowledge our responsibility to provide for the needs of starving
people in other nations.
This prophetic message of Pope John Paul was ignored by the U.S. news media, which has
greater interest in other subjects, like sexual ethics and a married clergy.
The news coverage of the pope’s twenty-six year tenure emphasized his opposition to abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia, but scarcely mentioned his defense of the
traditional Catholic teaching on the nature of a just war, the Church’s opposition to the death
penalty, and his condemnation of unmitigated individualism that ignores the common good.
All of us have selective memory from time to time. All of us applaud prophets when they
condemn the sins of others. Honoring the memory of Pope John Paul II calls us to listen to the
whole range of challenges he presented to us.
Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66
SCHOOL CHAPLAIN
REFLECTS ON
POPE JOHN PAUL II
John Paul II was many things to many people.
For me, he was first of all a teacher of the Faith,
the single greatest teacher of the Christian faith
alive in my lifetime. His whole life pointed others
to Jesus Christ.
Secondly, he was a defender of authentic
human values, a defender of man himself—who else in the world has spoken up as effectively,
consistently, and fearlessly as he did for basic human rights, beginning with the right to life?
Finally, he was the Shepherd of the Church—he took on all the responsibilities of his
office, bore all the burdens, and met all the difficulties and resistance, but he never lost his
humanity or his love for others.
John Paul II not only enlarged our vision of the papacy and what it could accomplish and
how it might serve, but he also enlarged our expectations of the papacy. The next pope, like
few before him, will need our prayers.
Clarion Herald photographer
Frank Methe chronicled Pope
John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans
in 1987, snapping the photos of
then-Archbishop Phillip Hannan
greeting His Excellency and the
Papal Mass which was celebrated
near the UNO arena.
(Photos courtesy of the Clarion Herald.)
Fr. Richard Hermes, S.J., Chaplain
Spring/Summer 2005
1
GUEST AUTHOR
1920
•
POPE JOHN PAUL II
•
2005
Jody Fortunato ’98 completed his third year as a theology teacher and is leaving Jesuit High School
to attend Loyola University’s School of Law in the fall. He taught Christianity to pre-freshmen and church
history to sophomores. Fortunato served as moderator of the Student Council, the Pro-Life Club, the
Mock Trial Team, and the Class of 2007 Christian Life Community. He graduated from Villanova
University in 2002 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in philosophy and theology.
An Exchange of Hats
As a freshman at Villanova in 1998, I happened upon a new biography, Witness to Hope, by Catholic theologian George Weigel. His
was the most thorough account yet of Pope John Paul II, Karol
Wojtyla of Kraków, Poland. The book changed my life and the
lives of several others I’ve come to know well through what we like
to call our ongoing “Catholic conversation.” It was this intense
exchange that brought me to teach theology at Jesuit, that brought
me to see the world anew, and that brought me closer to Our Lord,
Jesus Christ, and His Church.
The first time I saw the Pope was September 1987, just down
Carrollton Avenue. I was perched atop one of those stone lions
across from Notre Dame Seminary as the Popemobile approached.
Those around me began to cheer together, “John Paul 2, we love
you!” I remember, at the modest age of seven, joining in their
excitement all the while thinking, “Who is this guy?” Little did I
know that his ministry and his story would change my life.
Sixteen years later I found myself in Poland studying under
Weigel in a month-long seminar on Catholic social teaching in the
Pope’s hometown. My time in Poland was intensely prayerful.
When we weren’t in class, we toured the country visiting all the
important sites from the Pope’s life. It was as intense a Wojtyla
summer as I could have ever imagined.
After the conference two of my best friends from Jesuit, Casey Cowley
’98 (shown far right in photo) and Matt Orillion ’98, joined me for a
two-week pilgrimage through Europe that ended with several days in Rome.
Being ardent admirers of John Paul, we hoped to gain admittance to one of
his Masses or an audience. With only a day left and none of our plans working out, I decided to work the phones.
Through the Vatican switchboard, I managed to reach someone in the
Pontifical Household. The Polish nun rebuked me for calling: “We all want
to do beautiful things, but sometimes we just can’t!” Slam! So disgusted was
I after several futile phone conversations that I decided to move this process
up the chain of command.
I asked the operator to speak to the office of the Pope’s private secretary,
Polish Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was the Holy Father’s right-hand
man and gatekeeper of nearly thirty years. I knew that he was with the Pope
at the summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, but I thought my call could be
transferred there. “Pronto [Hello],” said the voice on the other end of the
line. Frustrated by nearly a dozen previous phone transfers, I barked out: “I’d
like to speak to Monsignor Dziwisz’s office, please.” Then came the thickly
accented response that made my heart sink. “It is Monsignor Dziwisz to
whom you are speaking.”
Imagining the Pope sitting next to Dziwisz as he fielded my call, I
began to explain to the Archbishop our love for the Pope and our desire
to greet him at the next day’s general audience. I told him how I had
attempted to meet the Holy Father before as a pilgrim in Rome in 2000
and how I wrote him recently requesting an audience. Dziwisz interrupted me, “Please calm down…you and your friends from Louisiana will
meet the Holy Father tomorrow morning.” I was to meet his adjunct at
2
JAYNotes
BY JODY FORTUNATO ’98
the Vatican Palace. Dziwisz was to tell him I was coming.
At the Vatican the savvy assistant told me that “these things are difficult”
before plainly informing me that meeting the Pope would be impossible.
He said he had received no instructions from Msgr. Dziwisz regarding my
greeting the Pope. To quell my repeated requests that he reconsider, he said
I that I should ask for him at the gate in the morning.
I had read of an old tradition of diplomats exchanging hats with the
Pope as a souvenir of their meeting. Convinced that we would not be greeting John Paul II, I entered the Pope’s tailor shop and reluctantly bought a
papal zucchetto, or skullcap, as I thought “just in case.”
The next morning at the gate about sixty others were asking to speak
with Dziwisz and his adjunct. After waiting in line for three hours, we barely
made it in to the public audience. Our position was the farthest away from
the platform at the very back. No familiar faces were anywhere in sight until
just about a minute before the Pope was to emerge. I spotted the Vatican
assistant on the stage. After hurriedly squeezing through the heavy crowds
all the way to the front, I called out his name. We made eye contact, and he
smiled a smile that said I’m sorry. He had finally spoken to Dziwisz. A papal
chamberlain appeared. “I understand you are from Louisiana.” Stunned, all
I could utter was, “We are three.”
Within moments we were ushered to three swiftly-arranged chairs just
next to the papal platform. Out comes the Vicar of Christ. An exhausted
soul, I began to cry.
After the audience, we met our hero. “Holy Father, I recently placed
flowers at the grave of your brother and your parents in Kraków, and I
prayed for the repose of their souls.” Clearly pleased, he raised his arms and
blessed me on the forehead. We exchanged hats. Overwhelmed, I turned
away from a moment, an experience, a man who had changed my life.
ALUMNI
ANNUS MIRABILIS
Thousands of words have been written by Jesuit students about that indefatigable mystique known
as “Blue Jay Spirit.” Like many Blue Jay editors before and after him, George “Chip” Geerken ’61
wrote in December 1960 that the spirit is best exemplified by a willingness of students to wear
“uniforms to the all-impor tant Catholic and playoff games,” par ticipate in “mammoth” car parades,
and drowning out the cheers of the other side. Geerken, who was the spor ts editor, concluded by
urging students to “keep that spirit with us as long as we live.” And for emphasis he added,
“Remember: ONCE A BLUE JAY, ALWAYS A BLUE JAY.”
How many times have we heard or read Geerken’s words during our years at Jesuit? How many similar editorials have been written
about “Blue Jay Spirit?” We perused our vast collection of Blue Jay publications and came across an editorial from the December
7, 1939 edition as unique among those entreaties penned by writers who sought to infuse the populace with a hear ty dose of Blue
Jay Spirit.
The editor of the Blue Jay back then was Charles Brennan ’40, who went on to a distinguished career in public relations at
Loyola University. Brennan said he doesn’t think he wrote it. “It doesn’t sound like my style,” he said and suggested the editorial’s
author was either assistant editor Noel Digby ’41 or another editor, Frank Schneider ’40, both of whom are deceased.
The author remains a mystery but it’s obvious he’s pained by the lack of Blue Jay Spirit among some students, whom he accuses
of “killing the spirit.” Hard-hitting and blunt, the editorial, titled “Don’t Let It Die,” ser ves as a rallying cr y to all Blue Jays, even 65
years or so after the words were found in our archives under the stair well.
Don’t Let It Die
Very long ago a school was founded. It was a school that was different,
different from any in the city. Yes, it was Jesuit High, and it was different because of the pupils its walls housed. Among these pupils there
existed a feeling, a spirit that was found in no other school. It was a
spirit, a feeling of loyalty and devotion to the school they were proud
to call their own. Surely they did not owe Jesuit High any such spirit,
but each and every one of those old Blue Jays were of such a caliber of
man, not boy but man, that they paid this strange sort of homage to
their school. At the football and basketball and baseball games, at track meets,
tennis and golf games, these honest-toGod Blue Jays yelled and cheered and
clapped and sang for the school they loved
and idolized. At parties, in drives, at any
school function, these very same Blue Jays
were not only present, but gave their all in
the support of the special cause. Not just
ordinary men could be Blue Jays, no, it
took men, real men, with their hearts in
the right place, rich, red blood flowing
through their veins, men with guts.
Those who know will tell you that it
was a glorious four years they spent at
Jesuit, not just because of the knowledge they acquired but because of
this infused spirit, this spirit of all Blue Jays, this Blue Jay spirit.
Not just one year did this spirit live at its peak. No, it went on and
on, thrilling not only those who partook of it, but thrilling and
impressing outsiders who saw it displayed.
But now a really sad feeling has come to old Blue Jays who notice
that this once fervent and glorious spirit is being neglected. It really is
a sad feeling because these “old-timers” realize that with the death of
this spirit, this Blue Jay spirit, will come the death of the same school
they knew…
When this spirit dies, if it does, you who call yourselves Blue Jays
but are not nearly deserving of the name, you will be the cause. Is it
because you feel you owe nothing to Jesuit High for the Christian
education she is giving you? Is it because you are so low as to be lacking in the duty you not only owe yourself but your school, the duty of
backing your school in every step she
might take? Is it because you’re afraid to
be sincere Blue Jays? You who are killing
this spirit, stamping it out, how surprised
you will be to see how disgusting it will
be when there is no more Blue Jay spirit.
How can you prolong and even kill
the fear of death of this spirit? Easy. If you
have not as yet acted as a Blue Jay should,
begin now. Rid yourself of the grammar
school “babyness,” of the thought that
you are just a child, that what you do will
make no difference to anyone. Now, you
are a man, a Blue Jay, no longer a child.
The responsibility of saving this school,
Jesuit High, your Jesuit High, rests in your hands. Please, please do
your best to keep up this spirit. It requires a great deal of effort but
Blue Jays, real Blue Jays, Blue Jays with guts, do not mind work. Make
it your duty, just as duty to God, to get behind every goal this school
of yours strives to gain. In every way try, try hard to act as a Blue Jay;
try, try hard to save this spirit, this Blue Jay spirit, which is slipping
through our hands.
Spring/Summer 2005
3
From the
Jays’ NEST
At the 2005 Commencement Luncheon, Peter Finney ’45, the dean
of Louisiana sports writers, spoke fondly of his colleague and
friend, “Bernard” Diliberto ’48.
Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum…Inquiring Blue Jays
want to know what’s in the water cooler at Sports Illustrated. The May16,
2005 issue featured the 25 top sports high schools in America as selected by
a gang of distrait editors. Kevin Heigle ’69 and Rene Alvarez ’83, both
of whom serve on Jesuit’s Alumni Steering Committee (Rene was also the
chair of the 2005 LEF drive), were disgusted that Jesuit was not on the list.
After tossing the mag, or rag as it were, into the garbage, they decided to take
their case to an unbiased, less salacious, and more objective forum—the Jays’
Nest. How does one explain SI ignoring Jesuit’s spectacular championship
history that dates all the way back to 1919? How does one ignore 32 state
swimming titles (this year made 18 in a row)? How about 19 baseball titles
and 21 state wrestling championships and the 150 individual state grapplers
Jesuit has produced? While SI’s criteria emphasized all-around excellence
during the past decade, state titles won, and college athletes produced,
schools with perennial football bragging rights weighed heavily and seemed
to rule the list. OK, so Jesuit hasn’t won a state football title since 1960.
Several district titles through the years, and an undefeated regular season in
2004, didn’t register with SI. Jesuit was the football powerhouse for some 50
years, beginning in 1919 when some of your granddaddies attended the
College of the Immaculate Conception on Baronne Street. But history that
far back doesn’t count with SI. So let’s look at modern history: since 1988,
Jesuit has racked up 51 state titles. Of course, that doesn’t include crew,
hockey, and volleyball which are really big ticket sports that landed some of
the boys and co-ed schools on the SI list. Look at the past 10 years: since
1994, Jesuit has won 41 state championships in eight sports—swimming
(12), wrestling (7), soccer (5), tennis (9), cross country (2), baseball (3), basketball (1), and golf (2). There’s not enough space to name the athletes Jesuit
has sent on to play for college teams. (But we know from watching the recent
LSU-Tulane baseball game on ESPN that eight players were Blue Jays.) We
don’t begrudge that the only school from Louisiana to make the SI list is in
West Monroe, where apparently it’s one of the top 10 places to watch a high
school football game. Since location carries a big stick, for the next Top 25
list Kevin and Rene suggest inviting the SI editors to the pool on the roof
where they will find champions in the making.
Rara avis…Peter Finney ’45, one of Jesuit High School’s many
graduates-turned-scribes, took center stage at the Commencement
Luncheon for the Class of 2005 and dished out one hilarious anecdote after
another about his news pal and fellow Blue Jay, Buddy Diliberto ’48. For
one who’s been in the saddle of the public eye (while serving as the public’s
eyes and ears) for some 60 years (six decades!) at our city’s beloved Daily
Planet, Peter is a surprisingly bashful fellow. And he’s all class. He shuns the
limelight about as much as Buddy basked in it. No doubt about it, Peter puts
4
JAYNotes
the vim in our daily dose of sports news. It was no small miracle that when
Peter and Buddy were invited to impart their collective advice and wisdom
to Jesuit’s newest group of alumni, their hectic schedules were neatly in sync
and they were doing absolutely nothing. More importantly, the Kentucky
Derby posed no conflict with the luncheon. To borrow some of Buddy’s racetrack lingo, they were our 1 and 1A entries. But Buddy’s untimely death in
January caused us to scratch half our entry. The charming and affable Peter
could have pulled up lame for any number of legit reasons, but what did this
true Blue Jay do instead (besides cuss “Bernard” on the morning of the
luncheon)? He agreed to a solo performance on one condition—he didn’t
want to deliver just any old canned speech about sports journalism. Peter
preferred to be asked questions that would elicit his special memories of
Buddy and his wacky journalistic world of sports linguistics that included
this gem: “Let’s pause 10 seconds for station idefecation.” Peter’s stories were
all gems at the luncheon, especially the unscripted ones he told his table
guests, who happened to include sons Peter ’74 and Tim ’77. Like the
time when Buddy and Richie Petibon ’55 were playing the ponies at
tracks all across the country. Buddy was immersed in his Racing Form and
busily handicapping a bunch of races around lunchtime when their waiter
mentioned that the abalone was fresh. Getting no response from Buddy, the
waiter asked him if he liked abalone. Without looking up from his horse
bible, Buddy replied: “Is he at Santa Anita and who’s riding him?” If any of
you squirrels missed Peter’s live stellar performance and are sulking around
the house with a bag over your head, don’t fret your nerves. We have it on
VHS and DVD for posterity. E-mail [email protected] for details. Or
call us at (504) 483-3813 for information….
Carpe diem…Ken Vairon ’61 took a distinctive and innovative, if not
zany, approach to creating something memorable for the new Traditions
Courtyard which is under construction and will be finished this summer. In
a tribute to the final year that a Jesuit football team employed the singlewing offense, Ken diagrammed the formation and inserted the names of 58
players, coaches, and cheerleaders for the appropriate bricks to be engraved.
Retired and living in Houston, Ken orchestrated the single-wing sales effort
with help on the New Orleans end from teammate Rene Viosca ’61. They
sold enough bricks to make the project a reality. Jesuit’s 1960 state championship single-wing team will have its own designated location in the
Traditions Courtyard, apart from the other 1,600 engraved memorial
bricks…
Magna cum laude…John Lavie ’83, head basketball coach at
Brother Martin High School, for winning a second consecutive State
Championship…Allen Collins ’89, head basketball coach at John Ehret
High School, for being named “Most Outstanding Coach” in the New
Orleans metro area…Dave Moreau, Jesuit’s new assistant athletic director,
for being inducted into his alma mater DeLaSalle’s Hall of Fame…Navy
helicopter pilot Lt. J.g. Eric Lowry ’96, for playing an instrumental role
in the open-sea rescue of four crew members of another helicopter that went
down off the Virginia Coast…
Magnum Bonum…Ken Robichaux ’71 was featured in a TimesPicayune article extolling the virtues of the “Robie System” which he invented,
copyrighted, and patented as the world’s first universal measuring system.
Continued on Page 25
ALUMNI
Letter from the Lines
Jaynotes welcomes letters from alumni serving our country in the
military. Please check out the list of alumni on active duty that’s
posted on the alumni page of our website, www.jesuitnola.org. If
you know someone who is not listed or should no longer be listed,
please let us know.
Captain David M. Carey ’93 (CE CAG S-2), pictured on the right
opposite his classmate Ryan Leach ’93, sent Jaynotes this “letter
from the lines.”
Greetings from Camp Fallujah, Iraq! I wanted to shoot you this picture of a couple of ’93 grads who crossed paths over here as
reservists on active duty. Leach is going and I’m coming.
Sgt. Ryan Leach ’93 was activated with TOW Plt, 23rd Marines out of Lafayette, LA in early fall of ’04. He’ll be home soon after a
half-year in Iraq as an infantryman supporting Regimental Combat Team 1, one of the Marine regiments composing the First Marine
Expeditionary Force (“I MEF”).
I was activated out of 4th Combat Engineer Battalion in Baltimore, MD in January of ’05 to be the Intelligence Officer for the
5th Civil Affairs Group, the unit performing civil affairs for the Marine Corps in Iraq under the Second Marine Expeditionary Force
(“II MEF”). I’ll be over here for about a half-year or so.
Life is relatively good. Could be better, but it could certainly be worse. Thanks to guys like Ryan, there’s fewer bad guys running
around here, allowing for civil affairs guys like me to come in and help rebuild Iraq.
Get this. Before I left in early February, I ran into 1st Lt. Jonathan Weber, class of ’92, in Camp Lejeune, NC. We like to say “it’s a
small Marine Corps,” and it’s amazing how small it really is, especially when you run into Jesuit grads. I met Major Beau Higgins,
class of ’85, when I was going through intelligence school in the fall, and besides others from ’93 (Dave Barberot, Eric Hanemann,
Frank Jurovich, Donnie Hasseltine, and Brad Butler), I’ve run into Rafael Alfonzo ’90, Justin Ansel ’91, and Ross Parrish ’92.
I’m sure there are a few others.
Well, gotta go brief my boss. I hope all is well down in N’Awlins.
Take care,
Dave Carey ’93
[email protected]
Take Me Out to the Practice
Field…
The one-square block grass athletic field
located behind Jesuit was formally dedicated
the Will Clark Field in honor of “The Thrill”
himself. Attending the baseball-themed dedication in spring were, from left, baseball
head coach Dave Moreau, athletic director
Frank Misuraca, Clark ’82, and president Fr.
Anthony McGinn ’66. On the far left, Will looks
on as Fr. McGinn reads the proclamation.
Career Day…
Blue Jay alumni came back home to discuss
their occupations with juniors and seniors
at the annual Career Day. The April event
attracted some 60 alumni working in a myriad
of jobs, from piloting jumbo jets to journalism
to practicing veterinary medicine. At left,
Dr. Jody Morris ’87 informs the students about
the medical field. Far left, Clarion Herald
editor Peter Finney, Jr. ’74 provides insight
into the print journalism profession.
Spring/Summer 2005
5
The Life of Saint
By REV. NORMAN O’NEAL, S.J.
The last issue of Jaynotes offered the first installment of Fr. Norman
O’Neal’s The Life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. We learned of Ignatius’s early
life as a man given to worldly pleasures. We also learned of his conversion
and his dedication to become a “soldier for Christ.”
Retired from the classroom, Fr. O’Neal now serves as Jesuit’s Alumni Chaplain.
To receive Fr. O’Neal’s booklet, contact the Jesuit Provincial Office at 504-827-4043 or 1-800788-1719.
The Experience at Manresa
[Ignatius] continued towards Barcelona but stopped along the
river Cardoner at a town called Manresa. He stayed in a cave outside the town, intending to linger only a few days; but he remained
for ten months. He spent hours each day in prayer and also worked
in hospice. It was while here that the ideas for what is now known
as the Spiritual Exercises began to take shape. It was also on the
banks of this river that he had a vision which is regarded as the
most significant in his life. The vision was more of an enlightenment, about which he later said that he learned more on that one
occasion than he did in the rest of his life. It was never revealed by
Ignatius exactly what the vision was; but it seems to have been an
encounter with God as He really is so that all creation was seen in
a new light and acquired a new meaning and relevance, an experience that enabled Ignatius to find God in all things. This grace,
finding God in all things, is one of the central characteristics of
Jesuit spirituality.
Ignatius himself never wrote in the rules of the Jesuits that
there should be any fixed time for prayer. Actually, by finding God
in all things, all times are times of prayer. He did not, of course,
exclude formal prayer, but he differed from other founders regarding the imposition of definite time or duration of prayer. One of
the reasons some opposed the formation of the Society of Jesus was
that Ignatius proposed doing away with the chanting of the Divine
Office in choir. This was a radical departure from the custom, for
until this time every religious order was held to the recitation of
the Office in common. For Ignatius, such recitation meant that
the type of activity envisioned for the Society would be hindered.
Some time after the death of Ignatius, a later pope was so upset
6
JAYNotes
ALUMNI
Ignatius of Loyola
Part
about this that he imposed the recitation of the Office in common
on the Jesuits. Fortunately, the next Pope was more understanding
and allowed the Jesuits to return to their former practice.
It was also during this period at Manresa, still lacking in true
wisdom concerning holiness, that he undertook many extreme
penances, trying to outdo those he had read of in the lives of the
saints. It is possible that some of these penances, especially his fasting, ruined his stomach, which troubled him the rest of his life.
He had not yet learned moderation and true spirituality. This is
probably why the congregation he later founded did not have any
prescribed or set penances, as other orders had.
He finally arrived at Barcelona, took a boat to Italy, and ended
up in Rome where he met Pope Adrian VI and requested permission to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. (Apparently it was
much easier to get to see the Pope in those days than at the present.) Once he arrived in the Holy Land, he wanted to remain but
was told by the Franciscan superior, who had authority of
Catholics there, that the situation was too dangerous. (Remember,
the Turks were the rulers of the Holy Land.) The superior ordered
Ignatius to leave. Ignatius refused but when threatened with
excommunication obediently departed.
The Return to School
By now he was 33 years-old and determined to study for the priesthood. But he was ignorant of Latin, a necessary preliminary to university studies in those days. So he started back to school studying
Latin grammar with young boys in a school in Barcelona. There
he begged for his food and shelter. After two years he moved on to
the University of Alcala. There his zeal got him into trouble, a
problem that continued throughout his life. He would gather students and adults to explain the Gospels to them and teach them
how to pray. His efforts attracted the attention of the Inquisition
and he was thrown into jail for 42 days. When he was released, he
was told to avoid teaching others. The Spanish Inquisition was a
bit paranoid and anyone not ordained was suspect (as well as many
who were ordained).
Because he could not live without helping souls, Ignatius
moved on to the University of Salamanca. There within two weeks
the Dominicans had thrown him back into prison again. Though
they could find no heresy in what he taught, he was told that he
could only teach children and then only simple truths. Once more
he took to the road, this time for Paris.
II
At the University of Paris he
began school again, studying
Latin grammar and literature,
philosophy, and theology. He
would spend a couple of months
each summer begging in
Flanders for the money he
would need to support himself
in his studies for the rest of the
year. It was also in Paris that he
began sharing a room with
Francis Xavier and Peter Faber.
He greatly influenced a few
other fellow students (Xavier
was the hardest nut to crack,
interested as he was mainly in
worldly success and honors),
directing them all at one time or
another for thirty days in what
we now call the Spiritual
Exercises. Eventually six of
them plus Ignatius decided to
take vows of chastity and poverty and to go to the Holy Land.
If going to the Holy Land
became impossible, they would
then go to Rome and place
themselves at the disposal of the
Pope for whatever he would
want them to do. They did not
think of doing this as a religious
order or congregation, but as
individual priests. For a year they waited, but no ship was able to
take them to the Holy Land because of the conflict between the
Christians and Muslims. While waiting, they spent some time
working in hospitals and teaching catechism in various cities of
northern Italy. It was during this time that Ignatius was ordained
a priest, but he did not say Mass for another year. It is thought that
he wanted to say his first Mass in Jerusalem in the land where Jesus
himself had lived.
Ignatius himself
never wrote in the
rules of the Jesuits
that there should be
any fixed time for
prayer. Actually, by
finding God in all
things, all times are
times of prayer.
Next: “The Company of Jesus” and “The Last Years”
Spring/Summer 2005
7
T H E J AY N O T E S I N T E R V I E W
Fr. Paul Schott, S.J. ’40
Speaks of His Time at Jesuit as a Student
and an Administrator
Fr. Paul Schott attended Jesuit High School from 1936-1940. His five brothers also attended
Jesuit. His one sister did not attend Jesuit. In 1960 he was ordained a priest. After a first assignment at the Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas, he was appointed president of Jesuit College
Prep in Dallas in 1963. In 1974 Fr. Schott became the president of Jesuit High School in New
Orleans. He returned to retreat work as the Retreat Master at Manresa in 1979. Then for seven
years Fr. Schott served as the assistant to the Provincial of the Southern Province. He then
returned to Dallas to serve as pastor of St. Rita Parish. Fr. Schott now serves at Immaculate
Conception on Baronne Street. In 2003 Fr. Schott was inducted into Jesuit High School’s Hall of
Honors.
Alumni Director and Jaynotes editor Mat Grau ’68 invited Fr. Schott to share his experiences
as a student and administrator in this issue’s interview. “Fr. Schott became president of Jesuit
High School at a pivotal time in the school’s history,” reports Grau. “Daily morning assembly had
been reduced to twice-a-week, the 4A through 4F class structure had been eliminated, and ROTC
was no longer mandatory. Fr. Schott was the first president who looked to parents and alumni as
major sources of financial strength. I think it’s significant that the large mural of Jesuit
people on display in the Student Commons today features Fr. Schott in a prominent spot. The
school owes a great debt to Fr. Schott who embodies the ‘Man for Others’ philosophy that is the
cornerstone of all Blue Jays.”
Above, Paul Schott’s 1940
senior photo. Right, Fr. Paul
Schott prior to his interview
in Jesuit’s Development and
Alumni Office.
“One of the great things
about Jesuit in those
days was the first
Saturday Mass when the
whole student body
would show up at the
Immaculate Conception
Church on Baronne
Street,” Fr. Schott told
Jaynotes editor Mat Grau
’68. “Roll was checked
and you better be there
or you would get a PH.”
8
JAYNotes
Jaynotes: Why did you choose Jesuit?
Fr. Schott: My father graduated from Holy Cross, and he never lost his
loyalty to Holy Cross. As a youngster, he lived downtown on Poland
Avenue in St. Cecilia’s parish. We lived uptown in Our Lady of Lourdes
parish. I guess he thought it was a lot easier for us to go to Jesuit than to
go all the way down to Holy Cross. There were six of us brothers that
graduated from Jesuit.
Jaynotes: Did you have a good experience as a student at
Jesuit?
Fr. Schott: Yes, I did. But in those days things were so different. They
didn’t have all the things to do that they have now. I remember the
famous Fr. Mike Kammer, who was involved with drama and was a great
English teacher. He wrote the famous Writing Handbook, a great book.
He did some wonderful plays and the school newspaper the Blue Jay. He
was the one who encouraged us more than anybody else to get involved.
I did not do a lot. The only thing I remember doing at Jesuit was going
out for the tennis team, and we won all the games that I participated in.
But they didn’t have a lot for kids to do then and frankly the athletes
were the top of the heap. A lot circulated around them. I am talking
about football, baseball, basketball, and track. I don’t remember swimming, wrestling, none of the things you have now. There really were not a
lot of kids that were engaged even in athletics.
Gernon Brown taught me. He was a great teacher. I went to class
with several of his players like Leonard Finley and Louie Ford. In my
four years at Jesuit, we never beat Easton. The fall after my graduation we
beat Easton for the first time and were State Champions. Easton was the
big rival. Another good friend of mine, and he is still a good friend, was
Charlie Glueck, a great football player. Charlie was in the championship game at Tulane Stadium the year after I graduated.
Jaynotes: Tell us a little about the Easton game. We hear stories about the great rivalry.
Fr. Schott: We’d have pep rallies and a parade. Easton was a big rival but so was Holy Cross, and so was Fortier. Those
were the big teams. But if you got into the state championship there would be Baton Rouge. We would go to the outof-town games on a train. We would go to the railroad station, which was just down the street, and we would have a
whole bunch of cars that were reserved just for us.
The Blue Jay Spirit was very alive then in terms of the rivalry. The fall after I graduated we beat Easton in Tulane
ALUMNI
Stadium before something like 50,000 people—for a prep game. Years
later when I was president here, Fr. Harry Tompson and I stood on the
sidelines of the Superdome for the State Championship game against St.
Augustine and I know they had 50,000 people there. Anyway, getting
back to those days, I can remember Holy Cross at City Park Stadium
because more than anything else my father would always sit on the Holy
Cross side with a big yellow cross banner on his lapel.
Jaynotes: Was the sodality an important organization when you
were a student here?
Fr. Schott: The sodality was really the spiritual focus of the Jesuits. It
was a way of teaching young people the spirit of St. Ignatius. But we also
did the things that they do now. The sodality sponsored the
Thanksgiving Drive, but it was school-wide. But we didn’t have the freedom to move around like the kids do now to deliver the baskets. In my
senior class only one guy, Mickey Delatte, had a car, a convertible. It was
a different world.
Jaynotes: And the students attended monthly Mass
downtown?
Fr. Schott: One of the great things about Jesuit in those days was the
first Saturday Mass when the whole student body would show up at the
Immaculate Conception Church on Baronne Street. Roll was checked
and you better be there or you would get a PH. The scholastics used to
preach at those Masses, which was interesting. I used to serve Mass at
Baronne Street. I’d get up in the morning in the winter and catch the
streetcar. I was thirteen. You would get twenty-five cents for carfare and
maybe a hamburger. That was supposed to be your breakfast. That was a
great experience. Some of the suggestions of my vocation began there. I
didn’t follow those suggestions until years later.
Jaynotes: When did you realize that you had a vocation?
Fr. Schott: I had been thinking about that for a long time, but it wasn’t
until I was twenty-six that I finally caught up with the Lord who was
chasing me and I went to Grand Coteau.
Jaynotes: Any teachers stand out who influenced you
personally?
Fr. Schott: Fr. Kammer because he was such a friendly and nice man. I
remember even writing to him during the summer time. Fr. (Dick) Gaul
was very influential. He was the Student Counselor in charge of the
sodality. Fr. (Charles) Lashley was the Prefect of Discipline. Fr. (Joseph)
Walsh was a tough guy. He had been in the Navy. Fr. (Anthony)
Mangiaracina was my novice master and taught me religion. These guys
were always present in the schoolyard during recreation and sometimes
even got into the games.
Jaynotes: What was discipline like when you were here?
Fr. Schott: I’d say it was like it is today—tough. We didn’t fool around.
We knew what was expected of us. We had two principals, Fr. (Joseph)
Mulhern and Fr. Bassich, and you wouldn’t be surprised if you walked up
the stairs and they would come lurking out of the corner if a guy was
talking or something like that. We didn’t wear uniforms, but we had to
dress neatly. We didn’t wear coats.
Jaynotes: Do you remember any big moments when you were
here?
Fr. Schott: I remember two things: the Eucharistic Conference and
Archbishop Rummel’s arrival in town. It was a big year because the whole
student body marched in the parade. The whole student body went
downtown to greet the new archbishop. It was a big parade. Then for the
Eucharistic Conference we all went to City Park stadium.
Jaynotes: Do you remember Oscar Rabensteiner ’36, who
created the seal for the Eucharistic Conference?
Fr. Schott: I remember that he was crippled. He drew for the Blue Jay
newspaper. I don’t know when he did the famous painting that is hanging
in St. Ignatius Hall. Have you ever looked at Ignatius in his painting and
noticed the bulging muscles he has in his legs? They are out of proportion. That was obviously an expression of his own lack of muscles because
he was crippled, interesting because Ignatius himself was somewhat
crippled.
Jaynotes: Do you have any sense of the spirit of the alumni
back when you were a student?
Fr. Schott: I don’t think the alumni then had the same enthusiasm as
they later developed. One reason was that some of us did not feel that we
were that important. There was a big concentration on athletics. That’s a
personal thing. I was not an athlete and as a result I was a number. That
didn’t mean that some of the Jesuits were not very good to me. We had a
limited number of extracurriculars in those days. I doubt if 30% of our
student body were involved in extracurriculars compared to 70-80%
today. I went to Loyola and that’s where I really got involved. I found life
at Loyola a different life altogether. I think there were several reasons for
that: we had grown up some, we had started to drive, joined fraternities,
and there were girls there. All those things made a big difference and athletics were very low-key.
Jaynotes: Probably the most significant change from when you
were a student is the number of lay faculty here now.
Fr. Schott: Absolutely. We had twenty scholastics in the school and
maybe as many priests. So maybe forty Jesuits were here in the school. As
I remember the only laymen on the faculty were Gernon Brown, Willie
Brown, Eddie Gendron, and Mr. Michael Cupero in music and that was
it. The change happened when I was president here in the mid 70s.
Jaynotes: As an administrator, you have a reputation as a great
fundraiser. How did that develop?
Fr. Schott: Jesuit Dallas is really where my fundraising career began.
When I got there, the school had just moved from the inner-city to the
suburbs. We had a new school but no money. We had to raise money.
So that is when I got into the fundraising business. We started the parents’ annual giving drive, the alumni drive, and by the time I left we had
started the Foundation. The man whom I was replacing gave me a check
for $500 that someone had given him. That was the first contribution to
the Foundation. Today almost $20 million is in that foundation. From
1963 to 2005 it has grown to $20 million.
Jaynotes: After Dallas, you came to Jesuit High School?
Fr. Schott: When I left Dallas, the provincial told me explicitly, “I want
you to go to New Orleans as president and do there exactly what you did
in Dallas because they are in a bad way.” There was very little fundraising
here. So that is what I did. Some of the alumni who helped me in the
beginning were Emmett Fitzpatrick and Joe McCarron. We had our first
meeting and mostly dads showed up. It was a pretty good turnout.
Spring/Summer 2005
9
T H E J AY N O T E S I N T E R V I E W
Fr. Paul Schott, S.J. strikes a presidential pose in the mid 1970s.
“We got the parents involved. That was a major change. We needed the parents and
they came forward and were willing and anxious to help. We had a lot of fun and
became close friends. And through the parents we got to know the kids better.”
The Jesuits were mandated to try to
increase the minority population of the
school. I told the group that we had to
raise money and we had to increase our
minority population. The big thrust at the
time was to keep the tuition low. A very
small group thought we should charge
what it costs and raise money for those
who couldn’t afford the tuition. I was
always against that position and I still am.
One prominent alumnus at the meeting said we wouldn’t get $25,000,
especially if we were increasing our minority numbers. I got up and
frankly told the man that in addition to raising money we would be
actively searching for minority students. At the time it was not very popular. We had very few minorities. And I told him we were going to have an
annual giving drive. I had no idea what we would get. We raised a representative amount of money, and this alumnus was shown to be wrong.
So that was the beginning. That same year we began the Bazaar.
Jaynotes: I have always heard that the Bazaar really started as
a flea market.
Fr. Schott: The year before the band had had a flea market and raised
enough money to purchase new uniforms. The ladies who were helping
me—Jean O’Keefe, Carmel Tebbe, Betty Lauricella, and Marilyn
Fitzpatrick—decided to continue the flea market as a fund-raiser. They
expanded it a bit. The next year we started expanding and that was the
year that our bazaar began. I think the first year we made $40,000 or
$50,000. Then the moms added a style show. Then the auction came
along. At the same time we began the Living Endowment Fund, the LEF,
and I remember that Curtis Rome ’53 was the first chairperson. That was
the first year we got all the telephones and sat around and started calling
all the alumni. I think we made $100,000—which was darn good.
Jaynotes: I graduated from Jesuit in 1968. I don't remember
Jesuit being very student-oriented or family-oriented, for that
matter. But when I came back in 1975 to teach, so much had
changed.
Fr. Schott: That was also what I did at Dallas and what we did here.
We got the parents involved. That was a major change. We needed the
parents and they came forward and were willing and anxious to help. We
had a lot of fun and became close friends. And through the parents we
got to know the kids better. When I went to school here, my mother and
father never set foot in this school, never. There were no Parent-Teacher
Conferences. The only time they came to school was if you got in
trouble. Parents were just not involved. Now parents are very involved.
Jaynotes: A great deal of change took place in the early 70s:
daily morning assembly was reduced to twice-a-week, the 4A4F class structure was dissolved, and ROTC was no longer
mandatory. Do you remember what brought about those
changes?
Fr. Schott: Most of the changes were already in place when I got here.
The so-called modular scheduling was one of the big changes that happened in Dallas and then here. That changed a great deal. Students
became much more free, free to be outside the class. When I got to Jesuit,
I don’t think the parents were as visible in the school as they eventually
became. There was some parental involvement, certainly, but not much.
My predecessor, Fr. (Ed) Doyle, had done a little bit because he had a lay
advisory board and a small alumni advisory board.
Jaynotes: That must have been 1970 or 1972, somewhere in
that area.
Fr. Schott: Some changes were probably prompted by the decrease in
10 JAYNotes
the number of Jesuits here. The presence of lay teachers was more prominent. The presence of women teachers was important, too. The school
became a little bit more relaxed. I think the female teachers brought an
element of understanding kids a little bit better. Not that the Jesuits did
not understand kids, but they would not have known them in a way like
they are at home. That was a good change, too. I am still amazed when I
go into the school and see the kids so different.
Jaynotes: Relaxed and engaging but still doing well.
Fr. Schott: I think kids enjoy school more than we did. We did not
enjoy school. School was not that much fun, because we were always so
under the gun.
Jaynotes: Looking back at your days as an administrator here,
what are you most proud of?
Fr. Schott: Certainly that I started the fundraising which has been a very
important element of this school. Fr. McGinn oftentimes gives me credit
for that and I appreciate that very much. Also the witnessing to some of
the openness that came in. My association with the parents who served on
my boards: the advisory board, the LEF board, and the alumni board
which made me much more knowledgeable of their children.
Jaynotes: Please talk about Fr. Harry Tompson, who served as
principal when you were president.
Fr. Schott: Harry came a year after I got here. No doubt about it, my
years with Harry were exciting years. He brought that personality that he
had and he brought a lot of life that I didn’t have in my personality.
Harry left his mark everywhere he went. I think we made a good team
although we clashed sometimes. I think many people will say that
together we did a good job here.
Jaynotes: We talked about some things that you are proud of.
Any disappointments?
Fr. Schott: I always felt badly that I was not more day-by-day in touch
with the kids. Very few of the guys might know me from a picture or a
memory. I didn’t know the kids. I knew them better in Dallas, I don’t
know why that was, except that Dallas was a smaller school. Secondly,
maybe because it was so evident that I didn’t have a person like Harry in
the principal’s office who had that kind of personality. I sit back sometimes and think about how blessed I have been. I was very fortunate in
that I really was not trained to be fund raising. Running these places
(high schools) is big business, big budget, and a lot of people. Also, Al
Bertrand, my finance director, was a big help to me. Al was my real cheerleader. He was always supporting me, always pushing me and encouraging
me. I would get down and Al would come in and make me feel better. So
I always give him a lot of credit. He loved this place and Holy Cross, his
alma mater. I made so many wonderful friends here. There are very few
things I am disappointed about.
Jaynotes: Lastly, why don’t you give us your thoughts on Pope
John Paul II since we are sitting here on April 4 and he died
just two days ago on April 2.
Fr. Schott: He was an extraordinary individual, unbelievably charismatic.
He reached out to everybody. He was very ecumenical. He was a very holy
man and played an influential role in overcoming communism in a nonviolent way. It is too bad that the model couldn’t have been applied other
places. He dealt with some very difficult situations that still exist in the
church. He reached out to everybody. Particularly he really did not cross
swords with the Jews or the Muslims or anybody else. He approached
them never with a compromise in his own beliefs or his own principles but
also never condemning them. He tried to build upon where we agree and
not where we disagree. He concentrated on the agreements, not the things
that separate us—a good lesson for everybody in life.
ALUMNI
IT’S REUNION TIME!
Every five years Blue Jay classmates gather to celebrate their
years at Carrollton and Banks.
1985
(l-r) Todd Dittman, Beau “Elvis” Higgins, and
Brian Illg
1945 (l-r) Hilaire and Ethel Lanaux, Joan and Walter
Garvey, and Jane and Harold Brouphy
1955
Jesuit’s 50-year honorees and guests tour one of the school’s science labs.
1995
(l-r) Eric Bonilla, Ralph Presley, Robert
Martin, David O’Reilly, Robby McMyne, Paris
Childress; (kneeling) Marcus Scott
State Championship Teams Honored
Members of the 1980 and 1985 State Championship baseball teams were honored at the Jesuit Alumni
Baseball Game at Zephyr Field on March 18.
1980 State Championship Baseball Team
1985 State Championship Baseball Team
(l-r) Coach Frank Misuraca, Rob Treuting, Paul Robicheaux, Ray Miceli,
Gregg Barrios, John Faciane, Dennis Miller, Steve Riley, Brad Escousse,
Assistant Coach David Vignes, Rodney Lenfant, Will Clark, Pat Cuntz,
and Assistant Coach Mat Grau
(l-r) Scott Senner, Brad Murret, Assistant Coach Frank Scelfo, Marcel
Garsaud, Glenn Melville, Charles Adams, John Zollinger, Cliff Robicheaux,
Lee Prange, Chip Lococo, and Coach Dave Moreau
Spring/Summer 2005 11
W H E R E Y ’ AT
Sidney Brown ’33 intends to stay busy just
like he’s always done. Don’t believe any
rumors you might have heard about his
impending retirement. Sidney just laughs it
off and says they’re just rumors. At age 88,
he’s still working full time representing 88
different flooring manufacturers. An active
alumnus, Sidney attended the 2005
Commencement Luncheon as well as a lunch
Brother Dardis S.J. ’58 recently hosted in the
Student Commons for alums who graduated
between 1929-1942. Sidney lives in
Lacombe.
Carlos Leiva ’51 lives in the Atlanta area
and after 35 years in the insurance business is
enjoying retirement. Carlos likes staying connected to his alma mater through Jaynotes and
through his friendship with his classmate
Milton Retif ’51.
Ronald J. Jung ’58 was honored on May
19, 2005, by Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes
for 25 years of volunteer service to the
Archbishop’s Community Appeal.
J. Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD. ’64 retired
as president and chief operating officer of
Rohm and Haas Company, a Philadelphiabased specialty chemicals and materials company. Michael lives in the Philly suburb of
Flourtown.
Vic Fulham ’65 and his wife Pam were honored by the Archdiocese of New Orleans with
the Order of St. Louis Medallion given for
their faithful service to St. Pius X parish and
the school community. The Fulhams were
two of 274 lay persons across the Archdiocese
who received the award.
Mike McGlone ’68 has become a Fellow of
the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of
the premier legal associations in America. The
induction ceremony at which Mike became a
Fellow took place before an audience of 845
persons during the 2004 Annual Meeting of
the College in St. Louis, Missouri. Mike is a
partner in the New Orleans-based firm of
Lemle & Kelleher, L.L.P. and has been practicing in New Orleans for 29 years. The
newly inducted Fellow is an alumnus (Class
of 1975) of Loyola University School of Law.
Mike’s litigation practice is primarily focused
in the area of admiralty and maritime law.
12 JAYNotes
Michael “Kelly” Tillery ’72 has joined the
Philadelphia law firm of Pepper Hamilton LLP
as a partner in the Intellectual Property
Practice Group. Kelly is a national authority in
intellectual property and anti-counterfeiting
protection. He has been in the forefront of
protecting the trademarks and copyrights of
performing artists as well as major software,
novelty, jewelry, and designer manufacturers
all over the world. He has written numerous
articles and frequently lectures on issues
involving the protection of intellectual property and electronic commerce. Kelly received
his undergraduate degree with honors from
Swarthmore College in 1976 and his law
degree from the University of Pennsylvania
Law School in 1979.
Mike Rihner ’78, music instructor and former chair of the music department at
NOCCA, recently completed a commissioned symphony entitled Waterton Glacier
Suite. Mike recently went to Vancouver for
the premiere of his new symphony. He can
be found around town in various musical
incarnations—Rhino, Rhino Acoustic
Project, and Mike Rihner, solo pianist.
James Nelson IV ’81 was promoted to senior vice president of private and business
banking at Hibernia Bank.
Dr. John C. Drouilhet III ’84 was a featured speaker at a recent seminar for vascular
surgeons in Newport Beach, California. John
lives in Pass Christian while his twin brother,
Patrick W. Drouilhet ’84 resides in
Houston. Patrick recently joined the law firm
of Foreman, Perry, Watkins, Krutz & Tardy,
L.L.P.
Ray C. Baas, Jr. ’84 has joined the mortgage department at Gulf Coast Bank and
works at the bank’s new Lakeview branch.
Carlos Bertot ’86 won two wrestling titles
in the veterans division of the National
Championships. Carlos won the gold medal
in the folkstyle event and two weekends later
took first place in the freestyle event. He is
believed to be the first wrestling alumnus
from Jesuit to win a National Double Title.
Carlos enjoys a hectic schedule that involves
work, being a husband, parenting four children, attending school at UNO, training,
and serving as an assistant wrestling coach at
Jesuit.
Jarrod Broussard ’86 was elected chairman of the board of Odyssey House in New
Orleans.
Leonard Young ’86 received the “Atlas
Award” from his employer, Sewell CadillacChevrolet, for being the “most productive
sales associate for the dealership in 2004.”
Leonard has been married for seven years to
Glenny Lester, daughter of David Lester
’59, and has three boys.
Percill Griffin ’88 moved to the Houston
area in November 2003 to expand his
accounting and tax practice. He graduated
from Loyola University with a dual degree in
accounting and finance. He worked with a
local CPA firm for seven years with clients in
the construction, oil & gas, engineering,
power, retail, and computer systems industries.
Capt. David M. Carey ’93 was deployed
to Iraq on February 18, 2005. He is assigned
to the 5th CAG II MEF. (Read David’s
“Letter from the Lines” on page 5.0)
Dominic Massa ’94 was honored as a
“Rising Star” by the New Orleans
Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Dominic is a
news producer at WWL-TV and newly
installed president of the Press Club of New
Orleans.
Ralph Voorhies IV ’94 recently was awarded the title of certified hand therapist. He
was required to practice as an occupational
therapist for five years, provide 4,000 hours
of evaluation and rehabilitation to patients
with pre and postoperative hand and arm
diagnoses, and pass a rigorous exam administered by the American Society of Hand
Therapists. The CHT designation, held by
some 4,000 therapists worldwide, is the highest recognition an occupational or physical
therapist specializing in upper extremity care
can attain. He works for Chalmette Medical
Center focusing on traumatic orthopedic
injuries. His wife, Romi, works for
Millennium Rehabilitation as an occupational therapist and department director. His
stepson, Alex Talbot ’09, completed his
prefreshman year at Jesuit.
Dr. Kris Radcliff ’96 received his M.D.
from Duke University School of Medicine in
May 2004. His cousin Capt. Brandon
ALUMNI
LET US KNOW . . .
Gregoire, USMC ’91 and friend Jeremy
Broussard ’95 were present. Kris has begun
his residency at Baylor Medical Center in
Houston and will specialize in orthopedic
surgery.
Lance S. Hecker ’98 has obtained his
Police Officer Standards and Training
Certification and is currently working as an
investigator with the Office of the Attorney
General for the state of Louisiana.
Sgt. Gerard C. Conrad, Jr. ’98 is currently serving his country in Iraq. He joined the
Army National Guard after graduating from
LSU. His mom writes that he is one of the
many to “stand up and be counted” for the
USA. He is serving in the 2/156 Infantry
known as the “Blacksheep.”
Brett A. Grau ’99 completed both his
academic and his soccer careers at Spring Hill
College in May 2004, when he received his
B.A. in communications. Brett now works as
video editor for FOX-8’s new morning news
show. He arrives at work at 1 a.m. and gets
off in time for dinner at 9 a.m.
Ted Joyner ’00 and Grant Widmer ’02
were studying architecture at LSU when they
formed a band with three other musicians,
calling themselves The Eames Era in honor of
iconic mid-century industrial designers
Charles and Rae Eames. The group recently
issued a full-length CD and is currently touring the country. “Could Be Anything,” one
of the record’s “cool cuts,” was noticed by the
music supervisor for the popular ABC-TV
program “Grey’s Anatomy.” Producers paid
to use the catchy song in an episode that aired
in April. Joyner told a reporter that the band
was surprised and excited about the sudden
attention. “Does this make us famous?”
Joyner wondered, then quickly supplied his
answer. “I don’t think it will.” Check out the
band’s website at www.theeamesera.com.
Ewell Cardwell Potts IV ’00 completed
his studies at Harvard University and is
currently employed by Louis Dreyfus
Corporation in a rather sweet position—trading sugar commodities. He sailed collegiately
throughout his time at Harvard University
and was voted an honorable mention College
All-American during his freshman year. He
was a College All-American during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He was
WHERE Y’AT, MAN.
You enjoy reading about fellow Blue Jay alumni. They enjoy reading about you.
Take a couple of minutes to tell them WHERE Y’AT, MAN!
Mail to Jaynotes, Alumni Office, Jesuit High School, 4133 Banks St., New Orleans, LA 70119
or email to [email protected].
Name
Class
Phone (day)
Phone (evening)
FAX
E-mail
Address
City
State
Zip
News about yourself (or other grads); please limit your entry to 100 words:
Please remember Jesuit High School in your
will. Call 504-483-3813 for more information
about Planned Giving.
selected as College Sailor of the Year in 2004.
He continues to sail competitively and lives
in Stamford, Connecticut.
David Rodriguez ’01 is finishing up at
Loyola University. He works as the editor of
the Double Dealer, which is the journal of the
Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society. David’s
responsibilities include design and layout of
the publication.
Jared J. Fernandez ’04, who served as
Jesuit’s student webmaster, will be among the
first students in the country to work towards
an undergraduate degree in nanotechnology.
Jared completed his freshman year at
Louisiana Tech, which recently became the
first university in the country to offer such a
degree. Nanosystems engineering is the application of basic chemistry and physics to
develop technologies and products on the
nanoscale (one-billionth of a meter). Jared will
enroll in the program in the fall.
Spring/Summer 2005 13
2005 VISITING AUTHOR
Poet Dana Gioia Wows Students with
Talk of Literature, Culture, Life
Every other year a nationally recognized writer visits Jesuit High School to address
the students. Chaim Potok visited Jesuit. Willie Morris visited Jesuit. Orson Scott
Card visited Jesuit. On February 16, Dana Gioia visited Jesuit.
Just who is Dana Gioia, Jesuit’s 2005 Visiting Author? Dana Gioia (pronounced JOYuh) is a poet, a critic, an essayist, a librettist, a translator. He is a keen observer of and commentator on
contemporary culture, especially as it applies to creative expression. Dana Gioia is the contemporary
man of letters. He is the quintessential Renaissance man. Gioia is perhaps best known as Chairman of
the National Endowment for the Arts, the nation’s premier supporter and largest annual funder of the
arts. He was appointed by President Bush in 2003 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as
the ninth chairman of this independent government agency.
Dana Gioia began his day at Jesuit with a prayerful visit to the Holy Name Chapel and a quick
cup of coffee in the faculty lounge where he casually chatted with teachers and staff. Then he was
escorted to a packed auditorium to address all English II-V students. For nearly fifty minutes, Gioia
informed, explained, entertained, and inspired in an engaging, often personal way. He spoke about
culture, Catholicism, love, loss, childhood, and death. And, of course, he spoke to the students about
poetry, especially poetry’s value to them.
“I absolutely believe that in the teaching of poetry, especially in the junior and senior years of high
school, and in the first two years of college, when kids are about sixteen to twenty, that’s where you
create the audience for poetry,” Gioia said. “If you don't start reading poetry by then, you are probably never going to read it very seriously.”
Throughout his address, Gioia vivified his points by reciting his and others’ poems, without ever
glancing at a book or notes. At one point he even got a Blue Jay in the act, spontaneously calling freshman Michael Shalaby up to the stage for a dramatic reading of his poem “Money” (see sidebar).
Writing about money came naturally for Gioia who once told an interviewer, “We were poor but
the weather was free.” Born to immigrant parents in industrial Hawthorne, CA, Gioia attended
Catholic schools through high school and became the first in his family to attend college. Eventually
he put his two brothers and sister through college. After high school, Gioia went on to earn a BA in
literature from Stanford, an MA in comparative literature from Harvard, and an MBA from Stanford.
“No one in the history of Stanford Business School did less work than I did,” he confessed to the
students. “I went to Stanford Business School to be a poet.”
Gioia was certain that being a poet would not put bread on the table, but being a businessman
would. Sure enough, Gioia’s MBA from Stanford earned him a job at General Foods. Eventually, he
became vice-president of marketing, supervising the accounts of the company’s premium brands,
Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Country Time, and Crystal Light. While in the corporate world for fifteen years, he
was writing and publishing poems and essays. When one of his poems appeared in the New Yorker,
Gioia bought the entire rack of magazines in the company bookstore, sent one to his parents, and
destroyed the others to keep his identity as a poet a secret from his colleagues.
After fifteen years with General Foods, Gioia left the corporate world to devote himself entirely
to being a writer. Gioia has published three books of poetry: Daily Horoscope (1986), The Gods of
Winter (1991), and Interrogations at Noon (2001), winner of the American Book Award. He has written an opera libretto and has published several translations. As a critic, Gioia has also written numerous essays, the most famous of which is “Can Poetry Matter?,” first published in The Atlantic in 1991
14 JAYNotes
Money
Money is a kind of poetry.
—Wallace Stevens
Money, the long green,
cash, stash, rhino, jack
or just plain dough.
Chock it up, fork it over,
shell it out. Watch it
burn holes through pockets.
To be made of it! To have it
to burn! Greenbacks, double eagles,
megabucks and Ginnie Maes.
It greases the palm, feathers a nest,
holds heads above water,
makes both ends meet.
Money breeds money.
Gathering interest, compounding daily.
Always in circulation.
Money. You don't know where it’s been,
but you put it where your mouth is.
And it talks.
from The Gods of Winter © 1991 Dana Gioia
reprinted with permission of the author
Unsaid
So much of what we live goes on inside–
The diaries of grief, the tongue-tied aches
Of unacknowledged love are no less real
For having passed unsaid.
What we conceal
Is always more than what we dare confide.
Think of the letters that we write our dead.
from Interrogations at Noon ©2001 Dana Gioia
reprinted with permission of the author
and still prompting discussion and On adjacent page, Visiting Author Dana Gioia locates
his poem “Money” for a dramatic reading by freshman
debate among critics.
Dana Gioia is married and has Michael Shalaby. Above right, creative writing seniors
Ryan Monica, Travis Andrews, and Danny McCullough
two sons, one of whom attends continue the discussion with Gioia following his
Gonzaga High School, a Jesuit high interview with their class.
school in Washington, D.C. The
Gioias’ first child, Michael Jasper, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at four months of
age. Several of the poems in The Gods of Winter are a response to their personal tragedy.
Gioia’s poetry represents a return in the American canon to form, a fact he acknowledged
in his address: “I’m notorious in American poetry for being one of the people who revived
rhyme and meter, revived story telling in poetry during the 80s and 90s which at that point
had been sort of forbidden and now is rather mainstream again.”
With candor, wit, and depth, Gioia answered the students' questions. One student
wanted to know why he left General Foods. “I had a number of changes in my life,” said
Gioia. “Most importantly was that my son had died. My best friend had died of a brain
tumor at 39. I had a heightened sense of mortality, a sense that you have one life and you
need to spend it as well as you can. I realized I had a choice in my life of what was more
important to me, money or a more defined sense. So I really quit to be a writer and I had
enough money saved to pay off my mortgage.”
Asked by another student if his Catholicism has played a role in his writing, Gioia
responded that he doesn’t write many poems that are outwardly religious. “I think that almost
every poem I have written is deeply Catholic,” he said. “A lot of it is about the examination
of conscience… I think I am a deeply Catholic poet but not a devotional poet. You know
Protestants tend to be more literal in a lot of ways than Catholics. They don’t see that if I am
Continued on page 22
Dana Gioia Speaks…
On a Jesuit education: “Not having been educated by the Jesuits, one of the things I admired so much
about a Jesuit education is the commitment that the
Jesuits and the Jesuit education system have always
had about the formation of complete adults. And
part of that is the direction and refinement of your
emotional energy, especially for guys, to take that
competitive energy you have and direct it in a way
which helps you rather than confuses you.”
On his job at the National Endowment for the
Arts: “I deal with the President. I deal with the
House of Representatives. I deal with Senators. It’s
not a matter of speaking well. It’s a matter of listening well—hearing what kind of common ground you
can build on.”
On why he is a poet: “The reason I am a poet is
that I couldn’t not be a poet. There was something
that felt true to me about writing poetry. I had an
urge to do it.”
On the unique nature of poetry: “There are some
things about the world that we can only know as
stories. There are some things about the world that
we can only know as poems, or we only see as dramas
or see as images or as paintings, statues, or photographs. If you don’t believe this, why then when
Christ preached did he preach in parables?”
On poetry as a new language: “Poetry is language raised to the highest level of power, of expressivity, of memorability. It gives us words to express
things…that would be almost impossible to express
adequately otherwise.”
On why he’s viewed as controversial: “I’ve been
a controversial figure since I first began publishing. I
think the main reasons that I was considered unacceptable by parts of the literary establishment is that
I was a businessman, that I wrote in form, and that I
was Catholic—an unapologetic Catholic. To those
three mortal sins I’ve added a fourth, unforgivable
one, which is that I’m a Republican.”
On writing poetry for a diverse audience: “I
really do think that a good poem should be appealing
to different sorts of readers. So I try to imagine at
least three different readers who have different life
experiences when I’m writing a poem. How would a
Mexican kid who is eighteen read this? How would a
seventy-year-old woman from Massachusetts read
this? How would a twenty-year-old girl from the
South read this?”
On the thrill of reading and writing poetry:
“Poetry makes the reader and the writer collaborate.
I create this room, I invite you into it, and I leave
something out, that you have to pull out of your own
life experience to complete. When you do that, you
get that thrill from poetry that you don’t always get
from other kinds of literature.”
Spring/Summer 2005 15
P R I N C I PA L ’ S C O R N E R
Reflections on the Kairos Retreat
In the previous issue of Jaynotes, I discussed
the benefits of faculty retreats. In this issue,
I write about the many benefits of student
retreats.
Since I’m not a classroom teacher on a
regular basis, it is difficult for me to get to
know students really well. I can certainly
speak with them in the halls, during the 10minute break, at lunch in the cafeteria, and
in the Student Commons, at various athletic
competitions, at other extracurricular events, and at numerous school functions. But in four years as principal, I have found that student retreats are wonderful opportunities to learn about students on a personal, individual basis.
As all Jesuit High School students have traditionally done for many
decades now, current juniors attend a mandatory retreat as part of their graduation requirement. And while the retreat program here at Jesuit has always
been solid, students were given more opportunities to complete this requirement in 2004-2005 than in the 1981-1982 school year when my classmates
and I made our retreat.
One such opportunity is the Kairos retreat. In its sixth year at Jesuit,
Kairos provides students with one more day than the regular junior retreat
experience. Juniors who choose this expanded retreat do so knowing that a
bit more is asked of them, not simply by staying away from home an additional day, but, most importantly, by sharing their faith in a deeper way with
their fellow classmates, with several seniors (who attended a Kairos retreat the
year before and who moderate small group discussions), and with faculty
members who share in the small group discussions and activities.
Since I have been principal, I have made a point to attend at least one
Kairos every year. My involvement on these retreats has provided some of my
most treasured moments with students. Sharing thoughts and beliefs on these
retreats with 16, 17, and 18 year-old students has made me realize how
blessed I am to be an educator at a school whose mission has as its core belief
that all our talents, gifts, and blessings mean nothing unless they are used for
the benefit of others.
When I sit in small group discussions with seven or eight juniors and one
senior, I am always amazed at the depth of thought and feeling of these young
men. These small group discussions are not open-ended times for general discussion about whatever topics might arise. Quite the contrary. These discussions call for the students to reflect on topics such as their gifts, personal
weaknesses, fears, most painful experiences, heroes, those things which bring
them joy, those obstacles which make it difficult for them to love God/themselves/others, those times when they truly felt like a man for others, and
whether they have claimed their Christian faith as their own.
After small groups have shared thoughts and feelings about these and
other topics, there is the real sense that a bond has been formed among the
group members. When the bus leaves to return to Jesuit, new friendships
have been formed, friendships which would not have been possible without
the retreat experience. And when the bus pulls into the yard at Jesuit, I can
relish not only the blessing which the retreat was for me personally in my
own faith life, but also the thought that I have really come to know well a
group of students. And, hopefully, during our time together, they have come
to know me better—not as their principal, but as a man who is trying, just
as they are, to walk the path that God has in store for each of us. AMDG
Mike Giambelluca ’82
MORNING ASSEMBLY
On April 22, 2005, Fred LeBlanc ’81 spoke to the student body at morning assembly. Later that day
he was on stage at Jazz Fest per forming as the front man, lead singer, and drummer of the popular rock
band Cowboy Mouth. Fred is known for his energetic per formances, and he was just as energetic as
he spoke to the students…well, maybe not quite as energetic. It is, after all, morning assembly.
Rocker Fred LeBlanc ’81 Marches to a Different Drum
Good morning. Thank you for having me here this morning. During my
time here at Jesuit High School, I didn’t think it was a positive experience. I
was not a good student, I was not an athlete, and my family did not have any
money or political influence. So I was kind of a zero around here.
But going to Jesuit taught me two major things that helped me in my life.
Number one, I learned how the real world works. Outside those gates, outside the front doors of your home, nobody gives a damn. Nobody cares about
you. Nobody is really going to worry about you. Nobody is really impressed
with where you went to school or who your parents were or if you were a jock
or if you were a dork. None of that matters.
In the real world the only thing that matters is if you can deliver what is
necessary at the precise moment when it’s needed. That is one thing that
Jesuit helps you prepare for. The only way you can deliver those things is
through hard work and preparation.
Now I have seen other schools where the idea is that if the kids get into
the school that they are the best simply because they are in the school. Jesuit
never taught me that. They always said we have the tools necessary to bring
out the very best in us. Once we leave these schools, it’s “Show us what you’ve
got.” That is the real world, gentlemen.
When I came here, there was a guidance counselor who saw me play the
drums one day. He called me into his office and said, “LeBlanc, see me after
school.” And I thought, “Oh, great, I’m going to get reamed again.” So I go
to his office after school and he gives me this stern look. He sits there and says
to me, “LeBlanc, whatever you do in your life, don’t ever stop playing the
drums because you are too good.”
In spite of all the trouble I had here and all the hassle I had with the kids
16 JAYNotes
that were more popular, I held on to
that moment. Because in the long run
it doesn’t matter what people think of
you. The most important thing you will discover in your life is what you
think of yourself is the important thing.
I have played in front of hundreds of thousands of people on a regular
basis. But I also know what it’s like to be homeless. I know what it’s like to
sleep on a sidewalk because I had nowhere else to go. If I didn’t have that
sense of self deep inside me that was instilled here at Jesuit, then I wouldn’t
have had the courage and the faith to pull myself out of that hole and become
successful.
In the long run life is very short. There is an old axiom that says we’re not
here for a long time, but we are here for a good time. High school is nothing
more than a dress rehearsal, and Jesuit gives you the tools to approach life
with the most positive outlook and with everything you need to be successful in the real world.
Through those lessons of hard work and faith in myself, I have been able
to persevere and achieve things that a lot of people in my field were not able
to. Truth be told, I’ve done what I have wanted to do and done it my way for
twenty years. That does not suck. That is a good thing. Because, like I said,
life is short. We are not here for a long time, but we are here for a good time.
People ask me all the time, “Did you enjoy going to Jesuit?’ I tell them,
“Hell, no.” Then they ask, “Do you regret going to Jesuit?” Not for one
single solitary second.
Thank you.
Fred LeBlanc ’81
INTERVIEW WITH DENISE DUPUIS
J AY TA L K
In this issue of Jaynotes, a
regular feature makes its debut.
We call it JayTalk because it’s a
conversation up close with someone connected to Jesuit High
School, be it a teacher, parent,
student, alumnus, or employee.
This inaugural JayTalk is a
conversation with Denise Dupuis,
who recently celebrated her 25th
year as an English teacher at
Jesuit. This makes Denise the
longest-tenured female teacher
ever at Jesuit.
Malcolm Villarrubia ’66 is Denise’s
colleague, former department chair,
and friend. “Denise’s creative teaching methods, her student-centered
approach to learning, and her willingness to work with students outside of
class (to go the extra mile) make her
one of Jesuit’s beloved masters,” said
Villarrubia, who as Director of
Professional Development works
closely with the entire Jesuit faculty.
For many years Denise oversaw
Jesuit’s Visiting Author Program and
currently is a co- moderator of the
National Honor Society.
Jaynotes: What courses have you taught at Jesuit?
Denise Dupuis: For quite some time now, I have been teaching three sections of English II and one
section of 8th grade English. I have also taught English I, reading/study skills, and English III & IV in
summer school.
J: How would you describe yourself as a teacher?
DD: I hope that I’m kind and caring and that students feel that I am very approachable. I know my
material and believe that I do a good job in helping students come to understand the material.
J: What stand out as good moments?
DD: The best moments are those moments when my students are asking good questions and are
beginning to understand the material and concepts that I’m teaching. It’s really amazing to see the
guys suddenly “get it.” Also, when students come to me to talk about personal issues that are
weighing on their minds, I feel honored.
J: And what about the flip-side? Any bad moments?
DD: I’m always sad when a student is not successful.
J: What are you most proud of during your 25 years at Jesuit?
DD: HA! I’m proud that I have enjoyed such longevity in my association with Jesuit High School.
And, of course, I’m proud of students I’ve taught who have gone on to lead happy, successful lives.
Oh, and one last thought, I’m proud of the fact that my current department head, Jeff Wilson, class
of 1991, was my former student. Very interesting.
J: What changes have you noticed in students through the years?
DD: Although students seem to have shorter attention spans than they did when I began teaching
here, one positive change is that most students have become much more aware of the world that
surrounds them and the literature they read.
J: And how about changes at the school in general?
DD: Other than the obvious physical changes, there is certainly greater diversity among the faculty. I
think the faculty as a whole is quite in touch with the students’ world, especially the younger faculty
members.
J: What do you enjoy doing outside of Jesuit? Any hobbies or special interests?
DD: Well, I work two evenings a week as a server at Pontchartrain Point Café, and I also take French
lessons two evenings a week. I’ve become something of a Francophile since my daughter, Emily,
moved to Paris. As a matter of fact, I’ll be spending this summer with her!
J: What is your favorite book and movie?
DD: Favorite book is easy: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, followed by Gregory Maguire’s
Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Favorite movie…hmm…maybe Monty
Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail.
J: Anything else you want to say?
DD: I’d like to thank the many, many students and faculty with whom I have become friends over
the years. All of them have helped me grow in so many ways, and I am sincerely grateful for their
friendship. I have gained so much by knowing them and from working with them. Also, I am
honored to have been—and to continue to be—associated with Jesuit High School and the Society
of Jesus, two institutions that have enriched the lives of so many people for so many years.
Spring/Summer 2005 17
BASEBALL
“Team of Heart”
Shows True Grit in Winning State
Coach Dave Moreau’s Blue Jay baseball team took on all comers in the
state baseball tournament and walked away with the school’s 19th State
Baseball Title. Three of those titles have been won by Moreau-coached
teams—1985, 2002, and 2005.
This year’s state championship came as a result of a
10-0 shutout over St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals, a close
win over Southwood, 2-1, in the semifinals, and a sweet
victory over Destrehan, 8-2, in the finals before 4,000
fans at Zephyr Stadium.
And this was not supposed to be Jesuit’s year.
Sportswriters, bloggers, and Internet chat room critics
When the Jays defeated Destrehan
for the state championship, they handed
their mentor, Coach Dave Moreau, his
532nd win as the skipper
of the Jesuit varsity team.
After 22 years at the helm of the
Jesuit baseball program, Coach
Moreau’s record stands at 532-161,
for a winning percentage of 77%.
predicted the Jays would do OK this season, but few had them making it to
the state tournament’s final game due mainly to an inexperienced pitching
staff. Before the season began, starting pitcher Danny King ’05 went down
with an injury leaving senior Jerad Comarda as the only returning pitcher.
The prognosticators had forgotten about a baseball program at Jesuit that is
steeped in talent and consists of four teams—8th, 9th, JV, and varsity—not
just one, but a program that prepares players to step in at the varsity level
when needed. They had forgotten about one key intangible—Blue Jay
Spirit. And they had underestimated the size of the Blue Jays’ heart. These
combined factors produced a team that was prepared, determined, and
motivated to excel.
The 2005 edition of Blue Jay baseball featured a relentless and brutal
hitting attack that often sent opposing pitchers to the whirlpool and the
aspirin bottle. Take St. Paul’s pitchers, for example, in the quarterfinal game.
The Jays pounded out ten hits against the Wolves, six of them going for
extra bases. Junior Kyle Vincent and senior Johnny Giavotella each hit a
homer, senior Joey Hron legged out a triple, and Comarda, Giavotella, and
junior Matt Dozier all stroked doubles. Senior Anthony Scelfo and junior
Ryan Adams contributed singles to the hitting attack. Sophomore lefty
Michael LeBreton went the distance for the Jays giving up only two hits.
With a 10-zip lead after five innings, the game was over and the Wolves
faced a long drive home across the Causeway.
It looked as if the hitting barrage would continue in the semifinal game
against Southwood when shortstop Adams put the Jays up 2-0 in the top of
the first with a two-run blast. But this game would take on a different tenor
when the Southwood pitcher settled down and blanked the Jays the rest of
18 JAYNotes
Blue Jay baseball players let everyone know who’s #1
as they celebrate with the State Championship
trophy.
the way. Starter Comarda limited the Cowboys to one run
through 6 1/3 innings before handing the ball over to
LeBreton with the tying run on third base. The southpaw
delivered and whiffed the next two hitters, sending the
Cowboys into the sunset, and putting Jesuit in the title
game against Destrehan.
The Wildcats drew first blood, jumping to a 1-0 lead
in the top of the first. But the determined Jays answered
with two runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of
Adams who socked his second homer of the day. The Blue
Jays would not look back, treating fans to an impressive
hitting clinic. Sophomore John Faciane’s sacrifice fly in the
second and Hron’s double in the third, which plated Scelfo
who had tripled, each added a run to the Jays’ total.
Then the floodgates opened in the fourth inning
when senior David McChesney’s single drove in a run and
Comarda’s bases-loaded double cleared the decks. When the deluge subsided, the Jays had themselves an 8-2 lead, sparking the confidence of
Giavotella who was in the midst of throwing lots of strikes and pitching a
four-hitter. Not bad for someone who typically plays second base.
Winning the state championship capped off a memorable season for the
Blue Jays and did much to avenge a heart-breaking loss in last year’s title
game. The Jays won the District crown with a 14-1 record and compiled an
impressive 34-5 overall record.
Tournament MVP Giavotella summed it up best when he described the
Blue Jay team as “all heart.” Indeed, it was.
RECOGNITION
Ryan Adams ’06 (SS)
All-State, All-Metro, All-District
Jerad Comarda ’05 (utility)
All-State Honorable Mention,
All-District
Matt Dozier ’06 (OF)
All-District
Johnny Giavotella ’05 (2B, P)
StateTournament MVP
Michael LeBreton ’07 (P)
All-District
David McChesney ’05 (OF)
All-State, All-Metro, All-District
Anthony Scelfo ’05 (3B)
All-State, All-Metro, All-District,
District MVP
Coach David Moreau
District Coach of the Year
J E S U I T T O D AY
SOCCER
Focused and Determined, Jays Reclaim State Trophy
For the third consecutive year, cross-state rivals Jesuit and
Lafayette met on the soccer field to compete for top honors
in the State Championship match. The Jays won in 2003, but lost
last year’s match to the Lions in a defeat that only left the Jays looking to
the 2005 season with great expectations. From start to finish, the Blue Jay
Soccer team played the 2005 season with remarkable focus, intensity, and
determination.
Winning state
this year was no picnic
in the park. Before
5,000 spirited and anxious fans at Tad
Gormley Stadium, the
Jays found themselves
behind, 0-1 and 1-2,
against the Lions. The
Jays had to battle back
from two deficits in the
second half to send the
game against the Lions
into an overtime
Jubilant Jays had to come from behind twice
thriller.
to win and bring the State Soccer
B r a n d o n
trophy back to Carrollton and Banks.
Chagnard ’05, the
game’s Outstanding Player, didn’t even make an appearance until the second
half. The Lions didn’t know what hit them as Chagnard scored both tying
goals, the second with just a minute to spare in regular time.
In overtime, Brandon Retif ’05 scored the winning goal when he
received a cross from Travis Barbara ’05 in the center of the penalty box,
drilling it past the Lions’ goalie into the net.
SCOOOOOOORE!
The defense, led by All-Everything keeper Scott Rosman ’05, shut out the
Lions the rest of the way. When the final whistle blew ending the match, the Jays
had achieved their goal of reclaiming the state title, turning back the Lions, 3-2.
The nature of the championship win was characteristic of the 2005 team,
which had to come from behind to win several times during the season.
“This team refused to lose,” said Coach Hubie Collins, describing both
the title match and the season. “The players had to dig deep and they
refused to give up.”
The soccer Jays posted some impressive numbers in claiming the district
and state titles. Several seniors, along with Coach Collins, received post-season recognition. And the Blue Jays’ undefeated season—30-0-2—caught
the eye of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas,
which ranked the team 1st regionally and 6th nationally.
Now isn’t that a kick?
RECOGNITION
Travis Barbara
Brandon Chagnard
Kevin Cowley
Keith Gaffney
Wayne Pierce
Brandon Retif
Scott Rosman
Reece Thomas
Jay Trusheim
Coach Hubie Collins
(all are from the Class of 2005):
All-District, All-Orleans
All-District
All-District, All-Orleans, All-Metro
All-District
All-District, All-Orleans, All-Metro
All-District
All-District (MVP), All-Orleans (MVP),
All-Metro (MVP)
All-District, All-Orleans, All-Metro
All-District
District, Orleans, and Metro Coach
of the Year
TENNIS
Real Love: Seven Consecutive State Triumphs
The Blue Jay tennis team finished with an overall 20-2 record and enjoyed another wildly
successful season in 2005—successful in district, metro, and regionals—and best of all,
for the seventh year in a row, successful in state.
The Jays were the undefeated district champions with an unblemished record of 8-0, beating district foes
Rummel, St. Augustine, and Holy Cross twice each and Brother Martin and De La Salle once. The team also
captured the New Orleans Boys’ Tennis League metro championship (6-2) by defeating Newman and St.
Martin's twice and Country Day and Ben Franklin once. They defeated the Greenies, 5-0, in the championship
match.
In winning the Division I, Region IV tournament on April 26-27 at Aurora Country Club, Taylor Fogleman
’05 captured his third consecutive regional singles title. Jon Pastorek ’05 was the regional singles runner-up.
Tommy Maestri ’05 and Ryan Tusa ’05 won the regional doubles title while Alex Faust ’07 and Carson Kadi
’08 were the regional doubles runners-up. Reiss Eagan ’05 and Curtis Lew ’08 played in the third doubles spot.
At the state tournament at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, the Jays were crowned 5A champions,
outdistancing St. Paul’s by five points, 13-8. Fogleman and Pastorek each made it to the quarter-finals in the
singles draw and scored four points. Maestri and Tusa were state doubles champions for the second time and
scored five points. Faust and Kadi finished as the state doubles runners-up, scoring the remaining four points.
Outside of league play this season, the Jays won the Baton Rouge Team Tennis Tournament, posting victories over Parkview Baptist, St. Thomas More, St. Martin’s, and Vandebilt Catholic. They also defeated Strake
Jesuit of Houston in a dual match.
“We had superb individual efforts on the part of all our players which only strengthened our team’s overall
effort,” said Coach Mitch Chapoton ’87. “I’m really proud of the team’s success in capturing the 2005 state title.”
Tennis Jays once again bring home the
hardware, the State Championship trophy. From left, Carson Kadi ’08, Alex
Faust ’07, Jon Pastorek ’05, Tommy
Maestri ’05, Taylor Fogleman ’05,
Ryan Tusa ’05, Reiss Eagan ’05, and
Coach Mitch Chapoton ’87.
Spring/Summer 2005 19
TATE
WRESTLING
Impressive: Wrestlers Make All the Right Moves
to Repeat as State Champs
Impressive. That’s the only way to put it. Before a crowd of 2,500 at the
Pontchartrain Center, Jesuit’s wrestlers consistently pinned their opponents in
impressive fashion to repeat as District I State Champs.
How impressive were they? First, consider that Jesuit qualified a wrestler in each of the fourteen
weight classes. In those fourteen classes, nine Blue Jays made it to the finals and six Jays beat their
opponents to be crowned state champs.
Not entirely impressed yet? Consider this statistic: after the consolation finals and the semifinals, the Jays had already racked up enough points to successfully defend their state title. All Jesuit’s
wrestlers had to do was show up. Of course, they did more than just show up—they outscored their
nearest opponent by 82 points.
Need another stat to be firmly pinned and convinced? In the state finals it was the third match
before a Blue Jay wrestler trailed at any point. Four Jesuit wrestlers finished the season with three
or fewer losses. And, by the way, the Jays were unbeaten in the state in team scoring.
Individual 2005 State Champions were junior Philip Mahne (103), senior Daniel Re (110),
junior Pat Braud (135), senior Paul Hebbler (152), senior Roger Irion (160), and junior Michael
Bossetta (189). Runners-up were junior Brad Gruezke (119), senior Cory Burks (140), and senior
Douglas Smith (215).
Since wrestling began at Jesuit in 1945, the Blue Jays have captured 21 state titles, 13 of which
have been won since 1988 when Jesuit grapplers began a winning streak that stretched 11 years.
During this 60-year span, some 150 Blue Jay wrestlers have been crowned state champs in their
respective weight classes, including a few who repeated their feat.
Completing his fifth year as the leader of the Jesuit wrestling program, Coach Mark Strickland
appreciates the team’s winning traditions but avoids any discussion of a dynasty. Clearly, he’s comfortable with the direction of the program. “We have a pretty good formula for success,” Strickland
said. “And success breeds success. Right now we’re in a very positive place.”
A national wrestling publication, WIN Magazine, took notice and named Jesuit’s wrestling
program as the second most improved high school program in the country. Coach Strickland
Above, the referee acknowledges
junior Pat Braud as the 135-pound
State Champion. Right, joyous Blue
Jay wrestlers and their fans surround
the 2005 State Championship trophy.
20 JAYNotes
attributed much of the team’s success to several
seniors who have been wrestling since their prefreshman year, including state champs Re, Hebbler, and
Irion, and runners-up Burks and Smith.
Coach Strickland told a Times-Picayune reporter
that the seniors made Jesuit’s state title even more
special. “They fought so hard, with so much passion,” Strickland said. “It’s hard to compare state
championships, but this group of seniors is a memorable group. I’m very close with them, and with their
parents. It’s so great to see them smiling so much.”
Hopefully, the Jays will continue to smile and
work hard to remain in that enviable, positive place
next year.
Now that would be impressive.
J E S U I T T O D AY
BLUE JAY BASKETBALL
“Overachievers” Make It to the State Playoffs
Nick Darensburg shoots
and Jayson Lavie
positions for a rebound
against Br. Martin
before a packed house
in the Bird Cage.
When asked to sum up Jesuit’s 2005 basketball team, Coach Chris Jennings ’78 talked about “overachievers,” “defensive effort,” and “great team chemistry” to describe his players.
Those characteristics resulted in a district runner-up finish with a 7-3 record, an overall record of 27-11, and an
appearance in the state playoffs. Those 27 wins rank near the top of the list of most season wins for a Jesuit varsity basketball team.
“This season was very enjoyable,” said Coach Chris Jennings, who completed thirteen years at the helm of Jesuit’s basketball program. “The kids played extremely well together. They understood their roles. The effort was always there.”
Coach Jennings said the team’s superior defensive effort earned Jesuit the #1 ranking in the state in defense.
Two seniors who helped anchor the team, Jayson Lavie and Nick Darensburg, were named to the All-District and the
All-Academic State Composite teams. Though Lavie and Darensburg have graduated, the future looks good as the varsity
returns two starters and receives an infusion of young players from a junior varsity team that went undefeated in district.
One hallmark characteristic of Jennings’s basketball team through the years has been its dedication to service that
extends beyond the court. This year was no different as the team spent two weekends painting a house that was part of the
Christmas in October program. The team also found time to run a basketball clinic for the local Boys Club of America.
BLUE JAY GOLF
BLUE JAY TRACK
Golfers Finish 4th in State
Tournament
Run, Brett, Run
After a bogey start in the fall, Jesuit’s golf
team climbed back into the district hunt
with wins over Shaw, Holy Cross, and
Rummel at the beginning of the spring half
of the season. The Jays lost to Brother Martin,
142-150, to finish as district runners-up.
But the Jays bounced back by winning the
regional tournament, which included wins over
district rivals Brother Martin and Rummel. The
team score of 307 was high enough for Jesuit’s
golfers to qualify for the state tournament.
At the end of the opening day of the state
tourney, the Blue Jays were in a good position,
just three shots off of the lead. With their opponents playing great golf the second day, the Jays
could not make up the difference as they finished
at 300-301 for a 601 total, five shots off the lead.
The result was a 4th place state finish.
Individually the Jays were led by juniors
Ryan Peters and Neal Ajubita, who finished in a
10th place tie at 148. Also competing for the
team were senior Taylor Mitchell (153), sophomore Scott Lawless (154), and senior John
Cerniglia (156).
“We are hoping next year will be better,” said
Coach Chad Laborde ’98. “We will have lost only
two seniors from this year’s squad and
several veterans will
return. The team
believes it will once
again be in contention
for a state title.”
John Cerniglia was
one of the seniors
who helped anchor
the Blue Jay golf
team.
Track is a sport, like most sports, where the
success is directly proportional to the
amount of preparation. Throughout the season
the Jesuit track team consistently prepared and
worked diligently to improve. By season’s end, their
efforts were rewarded.
Junior Brett Guidry finished the track season
the same way he began—winning. Guidry won the
3200-meter run at the state indoor meet in
February with a time of 9:47, breaking the old state
meet record by nine seconds. He then broke the
meet record for the 3200-meter run at the Rummel
Invitational with a time of 9:45.
Guidry’s performances secured an invite to the
Challenge of Champions Invitational in Mobile,
AL, where he ran the
outstanding two-mile
time of 9:28:57, breaking his own school
record by more than 10
seconds. When converted (9:25:37), Guidry’s
time also breaks the
school’s
20-year-old
3200-meter record.
Guidry then competed in the prestigious
and highly competitive
Texas Relays in Austin,
where he finished 12th
Junior Brett Guidry ran to victories and records
during the track season.
in an elite field of 24 runners, with a time of 9:36.
Guidry then went on to win the 3200-meter run in
the district and regional track meets. At the state
meet, Guidry won both the 1600-(4:24) and 3200(9:35) meter races, concluding one of the most successful track seasons for a Jesuit distance runner.
In addition to Guidry, other Blue Jays performed
well during the season, including junior Adam
Tosh, who was selected the Most Valuable
Trackman at the Rummel Classic by virtue of his
winning the 1600-meter race and placing second in
the 800-meter event. Another distance runner, junior Ernie Svenson, concentrated on the 3200-meter
run and took 3rd in district and the regionals and
6th in state.
Sophomore pole vaulter Kyle Rose placed 5th
in the state indoor track meet with a vault of 12'
8". In the outdoor season, Kyle took 1st in the
district and regional meets. The Jays’ other pole
vaulter, freshman Mark Schellhass, finished 6th
in the district meet. Another fieldman, junior
javelin thrower Steve Sewell, took 3rd in district
and 4th in the regionals.
Versatile junior Charles Wilson improved
throughout the season in the long jump, triple
jump and the 110-meter high hurdles. Wilson
took 5th in the long jump in district. Freshman
Ben Duhe also showed improvement in his events,
the high jump and the triple jump. In the triple
jump, Duhe finished 2nd in district and 5th in the
regionals.
Jesuit’s 4 X 400 relay team of Michael
Modica '06, Rougie Odor '06, Daniel Walk ’06,
and Jeff Giordana ’07, finished 4th in district.
Senior Brett McMann placed 5th in district in
the 800-meter run.
Track Coach Ken Hrapmann credited his
assistants, Troy Baglio (javelin, discus, shot put),
Peter Kernion (distance runners), Rodney
Louque (jumpers, hurdlers, pole vaulters) and
Tyrone Hughes (sprinters), for doing an excellent
job of guiding the Jay trackmen this spring.
“A strong work ethic and determination have
helped this group of young athletes to consistently improve all spring,” said Hrapmann,
adding, “As the season progressed, the Jays continued to come together as a team.”
Spring/Summer 2005 21
B L U E J AY R U G B Y
Poet Dana Gioia
Blue Jays Ruck,
Maul, and Run
Their Way to State
and Regional Titles
Jesuit’s fledgling rugby team has achieved success
with lightning speed.
Under the guidance of Coach Rob Markel, father of
two Jesuit alumni, the team captured the state title with
hard-fought wins over Rummel and Brother Martin. This
qualified the Jays to compete for the 2005 USA Rugby
South Regional Championship in Columbus, Georgia on
the weekend of April 30-May 1.
In the semifinal contest, the team defeated the Palmetto
Ridge Bears of Naples, Florida, 26-3, setting up the
championship match against the Highlanders of Chapel
Hill, North Carolina.
Prop Lawrence Comiskey scored the first try of the
game and got the team pumped. Youssef Bou-Mikael
stepped up to the tee and successfully converted the try.
In the second half, flanker Eric West scored a try and sealed
the victory for the Jays. Jesuit beat the Highlanders 12-5,
becoming the first USA Rugby South Champions in Jesuit
history.
Rugby is not an officially sanctioned high school sport
in Louisiana so the team’s achievements are not recognized
by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association
(LHSAA).
22 JAYNotes
Continued from page 15
not writing about singing in the church or Jesus on the cross that it could be
Catholic. But I think a Catholic reader reading my poems could see that, especially when I get to the longer poems where I’m telling stories. I realize that all of
the longer works I have done are overtly religious."
And another student asked if the death of his son affected his writing.
Gioia’s response: “Absolutely. First of all, I stopped writing for a year. If you are
a writer, the events of your life shape your work. Very few of my poems, maybe
four or five, are directly autobiographical where they literally happened point by
point. “Planting a Sequoia” is one of them. In most of my poems I will take one
thing from my life, one thing that I heard a friend of mine say, something from
the imagination, and I create a poem…So I began to write more about mortality,
about death, and my poetry darkened.”
The students sat spellbound during Gioia’s live performance in which he
recited several of his creations with the pace, inflection, emphasis, and gesturing
that words on a page cannot adequately convey. Their response to this preeminent and outspoken literary commentator was unbridled enthusiasm: “Mr.
Gioia provided insight into the state of poetry in today’s world,” said creative
writing student Brett Bodin ’05. “He was insightful, entertaining, and very
professional.”
Another creative writing student, Ryan Monica ’05, said Gioia was inspiring: “We could tell that he really wanted to help us, to inspire us and our writing. He answered all of our questions thoroughly. He looked us in the eye and
made his point. I got a lot from his talk with us. We could tell he really cared.”
Ford duQuesnay ’05, another creative writing student, echoed the sentiments of many others: “Dana Gioia helped me see poetry beyond the textbooks
we see everyday in school.”
As if to stress one of the great truths of poetry, that it is a way of expressing
both the expressible and the inexpressible, Gioia framed his address by beginning
and ending with a recitation of his poem “Unsaid” (Interrogations at Noon).
Following a presentation by Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu
’78, who recognized Gioia with a certificate of appreciation for his efforts to
enhance the arts in the state and the country, the faculty hosted a luncheon in
Gioia’s honor in the Resource Center. After lunch, Gioia met for nearly fifty
minutes with Jesuit’s spring creative writing class, again drawing rave reviews.
“I was blown away by his knowledge,” said Michael Mims ’05. “When we
asked him questions, he would cite random poems completely off the cuff and
apply them perfectly to the subject we were discussing. I’ve never met someone
so insightful.”
Travis Andrews ’05, Editor-in-Chief of the Blue Jay, was impressed with
Gioia’s vast knowledge of literature. “He was able to use quotes from Orwell to
Continued next page
Jesuit Senior Places Second in
National Pro-Life Oratory Contest
Jesuit senior Tommy Slattery was runner-up in the Jane
B. Thompson Oratory Contest, which was held during the
National Right to Life’s annual convention this summer in Minneapolis.
Tommy was awarded the all-expense paid trip to the national Pro-Life
convention after earlier winning regional and state competitions
sponsored by the Louisiana Right to Life Federation. In the national
contest, Tommy competed through four rounds against the winners
from 22 states.
J E S U I T T O D AY
Dante (in their respective languages!) on the spot to
answer our questions,” marveled Andrews. “He never
faltered and still gave complete and well-considered
answers. He is easily one of the most impressive people
I have met in the field of English.”
In addition to mingling with faculty and students,
Gioia graciously signed his books with personal
messages for faculty, staff, and students. Theology
teacher Jody Fortunato ’98 was grateful to Gioia who
“dropped the students smack in the middle of his
culture. It was clear to me that his love of his roots has
plenty to do with his success and happiness now. As he
recited the words of his heart, he had the boys reflecting on their own stories and how they might celebrate
that in what they do. They couldn't help but be
changed by that experience.”
Senior guidance counselor Jessie Skipwith was
equally impressed. “We were confronted with a gentleman so well versed in his particular art,” said Skipwith.
“It was great that our students could come together and celebrate the gifts of intellectual thought. Dana
Gioia truly is the ‘Real Deal.’”
Fr. Richard Hermes, Jesuit’s chaplain, said of
Gioia’s visit: “It was a great event in the best Jesuit tradition—an accomplished man of letters, a Catholic, offering to the students a sort of ennobling vision of the life
of the mind and the vocation of the poet and writer.”
Bringing Gioia to Jesuit was a daunting challenge
for Mat Grau, a longtime Jesuit English teacher and
the school’s resident poet scholar. After twenty-eight
years, Grau transitioned from the classroom to the
Development and Alumni Office. He was appointed
Alumni Director in 2003 but still oversees the Visiting
Author’s Program with the fervor of the poet-at-heart
that he is. Grau persistently negotiated tentative dates
with Gioia’s staff in his Washington D.C. office for
more than a year.
“A date was finally nailed down only to become as
shaky as the Jello-O product he once supervised,” Grau
recalled. “A Congressional committee wanted Gioia to
discuss the NEA budget on the day he had agreed to
visit Jesuit. His office called to warn me that Gioia
might not be able to keep the date. We actually
thought of contacting our delegation to see if they
could somehow postpone the hearing, but it turns out
we didn’t need to. Fortunately, like most tentative hearings on Capitol Hill, it was postponed freeing Gioia to
come to Jesuit in the midst of his incredibly busy and
difficult schedule.”
Grau is justifiably proud of the Visiting Author’s
Program and the contributions of these giant literary
dignitaries to the enrichment of Blue Jays. Long-time
theology teacher Thomas Spitzfaden, who is not easily
awe-inspired, gave this triumphant overview of Jesuit’s
2005 visiting author: “To have a thousand adolescent
males riveted on every word of a poet, asking him
intelligent questions, and giving him a standing
ovation—what a school!”
Indeed, what a school. And what a day, the day
on which Jesuit’s students met an important American,
Dana Gioia.
BIG FISH
“That came from
City Park?”
That’s what onlookers kept asking
Jesuit junior Ross Reboul as they
ogled the 44-pound catfish he
caught in one of the park’s lagoons.
Reboul’s catch is the largest fish
ever caught in City Park, eclipsing
the old record by two pounds (a
42-pound sheepshead). Biologists
estimate the fish’s age at 20-25
years. Ross donated the blue cat to
UNO biologists who are helping
direct the park’s fishing restoration
plan. “I never expected anything that big in the park,” Ross said. “I still
can’t believe it.” (Photo credit: Bob Marshall of The Times-Picayune)
Blue Jay Senior Designs
Columbia Memorial
On the second anniversary of the
Columbia space shuttle tragedy, NASA’s
Michoud plant dedicated a memorial to
the seven astronauts who died. In
conjunction with the Boy Scouts’ Eagle Scout
program, senior Hersh Fernandes designed
the 13-foot tall stainless steel sculpture which
now stands in front of the facility where
Lockheed Martin Space Systems makes external
fuel tanks for the shuttle program.
History Students Place
in Essay Contest
Each year students in Jesuit’s American History classes participate
in the Society of Colonial Wars’ Essay Contest. Congratulations to the
following Blue Jays who performed well in this year’s south Louisiana regional
competition: Trevor Jackson ’07 took second place and went home with
$500; Connor Deegan ’07 was third and won $300; James Barrios ’07
placed fourth and won $200; honorable mentions and $150 each went to
Kenny Ehrhardt ’07 and Paul Fitzmorris ’06; receiving special recognition
and $75 each were Drew DiZinno ’07, Chris Staudinger ’07, Tony
Thomas ’07, Bob Gardner ’06, and Jeff Giordano ’07.
Spring/Summer 2005 23
MEN FOR OTHERS
Geary Mason ’79 Organizes Operation
Homefront Support
Jesuit alumnus Geary Mason ’79, who served in Afghanistan for a year as a member
of the U.S. Army, helped create Operation Homefront Support, a program that
provides much-needed school supplies for war-torn children in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At morning assembly, Geary urged the students to participate by donating school
supplies, especially at the end of the school year. The idea behind the program is to
help the people of Afghanistan and Iraq to become more self-reliant. Knowledge is
freedom. If you are interested in participating in the program, go to
www.operationhomefrontsupport.org for more information.
Theologian Michael Novak
Speaks to Pro-Life Club
Theologian, author, and former U.S. ambassador Michael Novak visited
Jesuit High School to address the Pro-Life Club, faculty, and special
guests. Novak spoke to about 125 students on the topic “The Spirit of
Democratic Capitalism.” He currently holds the George Frederick Jewett
Chair in Religion and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute in
Washington, D.C., where he is Director of Social and Political Studies.
Phils Produce “Rain”
in Jesuit Auditorium
Exhuberant cast members of the
Philelectic Society’s production of
Singin’ in the Rain are all smiles.
Five nights and one afternoon of April
showers brought out hoards of
enthusiastic audiences eager to see the
phenomenon of rain falling on Jesuit’s
stage. The Phils did not disappoint.
“Spitz” Honored by MCJROTC
Each year during its Parade and Review, Jesuit’s MCJROTC honors a
teacher or staff person. This year the ROTC honored long-time theology
teacher Dr. Thomas Spitzfaden, affectionately known to all in the Jesuit
community as “Spitz.” In recognizing Spitz at the ceremony, Fr. McGinn
said, “His professionalism, dedication, and exemplary service have
brought great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest
traditions of Jesuit High School.” (See Spitz on cover as “St. Ignatius.”)
24 JAYNotes
J E S U I T T O D AY
From the
Jays’ NEST
Continued from Page 4
Described in the article as a “mild-mannered engineer” by day for the state fire marshal and a “tinkering fiend” by night, Ken rarely misses the opportunity to conduct a little public relations on behalf of
his Robie System which he believes will make
Louisiana the first metric-literate state in the country, if only the right people will pay attention. He’s
driven thousands of miles, er kilometers, all over the
place promoting his Robie System. Two years ago,
the State Legislature passed a resolution praising
Ken for “his contribution to the important but
often slighted field of standards and measurement.”
His company’s slogan is: “The Robie Ruler will one
day rule the world.” That’s fine with us, as long as
it’s not a Third World dictator….
Sic erat in fatis…Mike White ’95, assistant
basketball coach at Ole Miss, was happy to be
reunited with his Jesuit class ring after being separated from it for several months. Apparently, Mike’s
brother, Danny ’98, had lost the ring while visiting
their father, Kevin, who is athletic director at the
University of Notre Dame. A New Yorker came
across the ring on the South Bend campus and forwarded it to Jesuit’s Alumni Office. Lesson: don’t
give your ring to your brother…
Schola cantorum…The following bands with
Blue Jays made an appearance at this year’s Jazz
Fest: Cowboy Mouth (Fred LeBlanc ’81), Ellipsis
(Eric Heigle ’02, Craig Paddock ’02, and
John-Michael Rouchell ’03), Ivan Neville’s
Dumpstaphunk (Ian Neville ’00), Rhino Acoustic
Project (Mike Rihner ’78, who is a music instructor at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts),
and Jim McCormick & the Full Band (Jim
McCormick ’86)…Prior to his annual appearance
at Jazz Fest, singer-songwriter McCormick moderated a poetry panel discussion at the Tennessee
Williams Festival, then took off for Zihuatanejo,
Mexico to participate in a writing conference…
Ellipsis, busy at work on their second album due
out later this year, heads west to Colorado in
August to play a few gigs. Fans can check out the
band’s web site at www.ellipsismusic.com...
In fine…What do the numbers 6-6-6 have
in common? It’s not a religious reference and, no,
they’re not Buddy D’s favorite lottery numbers.
They’re also not a reference to any hidden numbers
in UPC product bar codes. Give up? We’ll just tell
you. Six—the number of State Championships
won by Jesuit in 2004-05, a school record that
includes cross country, swimming, wrestling,
tennis, soccer, and baseball. Six—the number
of Jesuit football games that will be broadcast on
radio station Biz 990-AM this fall. Audio
of the games will also be streamed live on
www.broadcastmonsters.com (see the schedule on
page 27). Six—Jesuit welcomes six sets of twins
who will be entering as prefreshmen for the
2005-06 school year. Just a coincidence or should
we point a finger at the water coolers?
Big Brothers Help New Students
Break the Ice
Jesuit’s newest Blue Jays converged at school and paired off with their Big Brothers
who helped them become familiar with their surroundings. The day began with
Mass and an orientation program, followed by the always-popular barbeque
hamburger lunch. Above, Big Brothers Michael Modica, Marc Sketchler, and Daniel
Walk sit among our fledgling Jays.
Jesuit Welcomes
Parents of
Incoming Students
Parents of incoming students met
at Jesuit on a recent Sunday to
become familiar with their sons’
new school. Following Mass in the
Chapel of the North American
Martyrs, the parents moved to the
auditorium for a lecture by “St.
Ignatius” (theology teacher Thomas Spitzfaden) and then to the Student Commons
for an informal brunch.
Quiz Kids Bowl Over Opponents
Jesuit’s varsity and junior varsity Quiz Bowl teams continued their
tradition of performing and achieving at the highest levels of
competition. While several are the old-fashioned, live, in-person competitions,
many are the new-fangled kind, via computer. The former provides exciting
head-to-head competition while the latter allows for frequent contests against
other schools. The Jays excelled in both types of competition.
U.S. History teacher Ron Rossi’s varsity team competed in the Knowledge
Master Open Tournament and placed in the top 6% in their division in a
national field of 845 schools. At the end of the year, the team had amassed
1,794 wins and only 65 losses. Representing the varsity were senior Robert
Mattamal (captain), junior Dale Flint, Dominick Cvitanovic, junior
Kenneth Lota, senior Justice Buras, and junior Matt Slattery.
The junior varsity team, coached by science teacher Mike Dufresne, also
competed in the Knowledge Master Open Tournament and took first place in
the state. Competing against 142 schools from around the country, the Jays
extended their national first place streak to four, a feat never before accomplished in the competition. With the success of the young Jays, the future does
indeed look bright.
Spring/Summer 2005 25
Message to Chairladies:
THANK YOU!
At the annual Volunteer Workers Party
held during the height of the crawfish
season, Fr. McGinn recognized the chairladies for their hard work and dedication in
connection with three important events.
From left, Karen Matthews and Kim
DeVun, co-chairs of the Bazaar; Clara
Cerniglia and Denise Currault, co-chairs of
2005 Celebration; Fr. McGinn; and Sheila
Vocke and Betsy White, co-chairs of the
Celebration Auction.
Blue Jay
Bazaar
Bazaar Sunday is a time
of Blue Jay fun for
students, parents,
alumni, friends, and
their families. At left,
Ken Krobert ’70 prepares some Bazaar sustenance that might power
Max Gruenig ’06, on
right, as he attempts a
bull’s-eye.
2005 Celebration
Strategy is everything when it comes to deciding
what Auction items to chase after and how high
to bid at the 2005 Celebration which was held in
March in the Student Commons. The annual
fun(d)raiser attracted hundreds of Blue Jay
supporters, including from left, Jesuit parents
Michele and Jim Rooney and Renee Long.
26 JAYNotes
J E S U I T T O D AY
2005 HOMECOMING CELEBRATION SET
Back-to-Banks
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Homecoming
Football Game
3:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
The newly-renovated Jesuit Traditions Courtyard
Saturday, October 29, 2005
• The entire family is invited.
7:30 p.m.
Jesuit vs. Carver
• Food, refreshments, clowns, magician, face-painting,
train ride, and lots of fun for everyone
Tad Gormley Stadium
• Live music
• Pep rally
Alumni Mass
and Jazz Brunch
• Recognition of the state championship basketball
teams of 1964, 1965, and 1966
Sunday, October 30, 2005
10:00 a.m.
2005 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE
OPPONENT
SITE
TIME
August 26 (Friday)
City Park Jamboree—McDonogh*
Tad Gormley
8:00 p.m.
September 2 (Friday)
East St.John
East St.John
7:00 p.m.
September 8 (Thursday)
Sarah Reed*
Tad Gormley
7:30 p.m.
September 16 (Friday)
South Lafourche
So.Lafourche
7:00 p.m.
September 24 (Saturday)
Varnado*
Tad Gormley
2:30 p.m.
October 1 (Saturday
L.W.Higgins*
Pan American
7:30 p.m.
October 8 (Saturday)
Holy Cross
Tad Gormley
7:30 p.m.
October 15 (Saturday)
Rummel*
Tad Gormley
7:30 p.m.
October 22 (Saturday)
St. Augustine
Tad Gormley
2:00 p.m.
October 29 (Saturday)
G.W.Carver (Homecoming)*
Tad Gormley
7:30 p.m.
November 5 (Saturday)
Br. Martin*
Tad Gormley
7:30 p.m.
*denotes home game
Listen to the game on Biz 990-AM or www.broadcastmonsters.com
Chapel of the North American Martyrs/
Student Commons
• Alumnus of the Year presentation
• Recognition of the classes of 1955
and 1980
• Jazz brunch in Student Commons
following Mass
Spring/Summer 2005 27
J E S U I T T O D AY
BIB LIST
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Prendergast ’50 on
the birth of their seventh grandchild, second grandson, Aidan Costigan, February 6, 2005.
Bro. William J. Dardis, S.J. ’58, Francis J. Dardis
’62, and Joseph M. Dardis ’64.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Blereau ’53 on the
birth of their second grandchild, a boy, Justin David
Russell, January 29, 2005.
Mr. and Mrs. Greg L. Johnson ’88 on the birth
of their children (triplets!), Allyson Ainsley Johnson,
Christian Gregory Johnson, and Bailey Clare
Johnson, January 14, 2005.
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Browne ’56 on the
birth of their granddaughter, Caroline Louise
McDearman, December 28, 2004. Caroline is the
niece of Patrick J. Browne, Jr. ’88 and Stephen B.
Browne ’91.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Simons ’88 on the
birth of their third child, a girl, Kate Anne Simons,
December 21, 2004. Kate is the granddaughter of
Dr. Stanley C. Simons ’60 and the niece of Jody J.
Fortunato ’98.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack O. Dodson ’61 on the birth
of their grandson, Burton Stubbs, April 28, 2004.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Falk, Jr. ’89 on the
birth of their first child, a daughter, Meredith
Ashton Falk, November 30, 2004. Meredith is the
granddaughter of Mr. Michael P. Falk ’65.
Dr. and Mrs. J. J. Bravo ’63 on the birth of
their fourth grandson, Ryan Jude Bravo, January 31,
2005.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashton R. O’Dwyer, Jr. ’65 on
the birth of their fourth grandchild, a girl, Anna
Katerine Day, December 15, 2004. Anna is the
great-granddaughter of the late Ashton M.
O’Dwyer ’40 and the grand-niece of Michael P.
O’Dwyer ’74.
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Alberts ’83 on the birth
of their first child, Amelia Devereaux Alberts,
October 15, 2004. Amelia is the grandchild of
Emile P. Lafourcade, Jr. ’60 and the niece of Emile
P. Lafourcade III ’90.
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Becker, Jr. ’84 on the
birth of their daughter, Brenna Jane Becker, March
28, 2005. Brenna is the granddaughter John D.
Becker ’57 and the niece of Brian P. Becker ’85.
Mr. and Mrs. Kyle S. Brue ’84 on the birth of
their daughter, Holly Jean Brue, December 29, 2004.
Holly is the granddaughter of Peter E. Brue ’53.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Adams III ’85 on the
birth of their son, Charles "William" Adams IV,
May 20, 2004. Charles is the nephew of James M.
Adams ’88.
Drs. Daniel ’87 and Sarah Scott on the birth
of their daughter, Alexis Elizabeth Scott, April 11,
2005. Alexis is the granddaughter of James F. Scott,
Jr. ’61 and the niece of James F. Scott III ’86.
Mr. and Mrs. David Gibbons, Jr. ’87 on the
birth of their son, David Cartan Loker Gibbons III,
August 9, 2004. David is the nephew of Michael T.
Charbonnet ’83.
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory P. Brewster ’88 on the
birth of their second child, a girl, Emma Lauren
Brewster, August 13, 2004. Emma is the niece of
Arthur J. Brewster ’80 and Bradley G. Brewster ’84.
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Dardis, Jr. ’88 on the
birth of their daughter, Mary Josephine Dardis,
March 19, 2005. Mary is the granddaughter of
John J. Dardis ’59, niece of William C. Dardis ’90
and Stephen P. Dardis ’97, and the great-niece of
28 JAYNotes
Mr. and Mrs. C. Todd Thomas ’89 on the birth
of their son, Clay Elliot Thomas, March 8, 2004.
Clay is the grandson of Wayne E. Thomas ’65 and
the nephew of Timothy Wayne ’93.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Daigre ’90 on the
birth of their son, Shaun Michael Daigre, October
11, 2004. Shaun is the great-grandson of the late
Frank J. Daigre, Jr. ’31, the grandson of Paul J.
Daigre ’64, the great-nephew of Richard G. Daigre
’56, and the nephew of Paul J. Daigre ’87, Frank J.
Daigre ’89, and Mark P. Daigre ’03.
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey B. Morris ’90 on the
birth of their son, Grant Brennan Morris,
December 3, 2004. Grant is the grandson of Dr.
George B. Morris III ’62, and the nephew of Dr.
George B. Morris IV ’87 and Garrett B. Morris ’89.
Mr. and Mrs. Todd E. DiMaggio ’91 on the
birth of their daughter, Brooke Catherine
DiMaggio, January 6, 2005. Brooke is the greatgranddaughter of Nicholas A. DiMaggio ’33, greatniece of Claude H. Bourgeois, Jr. ’58, and the niece
of Duane T. DiMaggio ’84, Keith N. DiMaggio
’90, and Richard J. Slattery ’83.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles G. Haddad, Jr. ’91 on the
birth of their second child, a daughter, O’Neil Ann
Haddad, September 20, 2004. O’Neil is the granddaughter of Charles G. Haddad ’63, the niece of
O’Neil J. Parenton, Jr. ’73, Patrick J. Parenton ’74,
Thomas G. Parenton ’77, Timothy M. Parenton
’80, Michael J. Parenton ’84, Kelly L. Parenton ’90,
Stephen J. Haddad ’96, Warren A. Cuntz, Jr. ’80
and the cousin of Joseph W. Reilly, Jr. ’01.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard H. Aucoin, Jr. ’92 on
the birth of their daughter, Patricia Randle Aucoin,
April 2, 2004. Patricia is the great-granddaughter of
Jules J. Vulliet ’37, the late Leon Sarpy ’24, and the
cousin of Benjamin W. Cozard ’05.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlos A. Calix, Jr. ’92 on the
birth of their first child, Maggie Elise, October 29,
2004. Maggie is the niece of Michael Hall ’92.
Mr. and Mrs. David P. Joint ’93 on the birth of
their son, Grayson Patrick Joint, December 24,
2004. Grayson is the grandson of George T. Joint,
Jr. ’68, the great-grandson of George T. Joint, Sr.
’32, and the nephew of Richard O. Joint ’01.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. O’Neill ’93 on the
birth of their son, Michael Vincent O’Neill,
February 21, 2005. Vincent is the nephew of
Richard L. O’Neill, Jr. ’84 and David J. O’Neill II
’87.
Mr. and Mrs. Lance J. Schilling ’94 on the
birth of their daughter, Lauren Marie Schilling.
Lauren is the granddaughter of Louis J. Schilling
’69 and the niece of Lyle J. Schilling ’99.
Mr. and Mrs. Tevis B. Vandergriff IV ’94 on
the birth of their first child, a son, Kees Lewis,
September 30, 2004. Kees is the nephew of Sean L.
Vandergriff ’98.
Mr. and Mrs. Brian H. Villavaso ’94 on the
birth of their daughter, Morgan Marie Villavaso,
March 24, 2005. Morgan is the granddaughter of
Hugh C. Villavaso ’47 and the niece of Darrin C.
Villavaso ’82.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy D. Broussard ’95 on the
birth of their daughter, Lauren Monique Broussard,
January 10, 2005.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott H. Clark ’95 on the birth of
their son, Cameron Scott Clark, February 22, 2005.
Cameron is the grandson of the late William N.
Clark ’57 and the nephew of Willam N. Clark, Jr.
’82.
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Dodson ’95 on the birth
of their son, Conner Daniel, March 4, 2005.
Conner is the grandson of Jack O. Dodson ’61.
Mr. and Mrs. Todd P. Golemi ’95 on the birth
of their son, Harrison Walker Golemi, January 13,
2005. Harrison is the nephew of Charles N.
Montgomery III ’95 and Randall E. Montgomery
’97.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Guste ’95 on the birth
of their son, Henry Joseph Guste, December 28,
2004.
Mr. and Mrs. Alan J. Stevens ’95 on the birth
of their son, Sean Patrick Stevens, March 31, 2005.
Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Usner ’97 on the birth
of their son, John Patrick (Jack) Usner, December
29, 2004. Jack is the nephew and godson of Taylor
M. Norton ’98.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey T. Higuelos ’01 on the
birth of their son, Aiden Thomas Hijuelos,
February 13, 2005. Aiden is the grandson of Alfred
L. Hijuelos ’69 and the nephew of Jonathan C.
Hijuelos ’99.
T
IN MEMORIAM
Each edition of Jaynotes lists those members of the Jesuit High School
community who have recently died. Please remember our recently deceased
in your prayers.
Joseph A. Rando ’26, William F. Lytle, Jr. ’32,
Joachim T. Sutera ’34, William P. Boulet ’37,
Alfred R. Pierce, Jr. ’37, Bernard J. Schott ’37,
Max J. Derbes, Jr. ’39, Albert E. Richard, Jr.
’40, Harold V. Alfred, Jr. ’41, Frank J. Andel,
Jr. ’42, James A. Comiskey ’43, Thomas C.
Erwin ’43, George C. Stringer, Jr. ’45, Harry J.
Waldo, Jr. ’45, Harry S. McDonald ’48, Jerry
L. Gardner ’50, Robert M. Fortinberry ’55,
Harold A. Kuhnell, Jr. ’58, Emile F. Lerouge,
Jr. ’60, Gerald A. Butler ’66, John T. Stewart
’79
WIFE OF…
The late John E. Baudean ’42, Leon F. Fournet
’58, Stanley B. Garlepied, Jr. ’43, Frank B.
Guarisco, Jr. ’34, the late Felix H. Lapeyre ’32,
Matthew C. McCarthy ’55, the late Charles J.
Moseley ’33, the late William F. Scheyd, Jr.
’29, Val G. Sevin ’70, Joseph G. Stassi, Sr. ’53,
the late John H. Toledano ’25, Paul F. Vitrano,
Jr. ’50, the late Albert J. Winters, Sr. ’31, the
late Gerald A. Zitzmann ’29, the late John J.
Zollinger, Jr. ’29
FATHER OF
Christopher J., Jr. ’70, Charles V. 72, James L.
’74 and Michael G. Bellone ’78 (stepfather),
William P., Jr. ’73, John G. ’75, Andrew J. ’76
and Thomas M. Boulet ’79; Marion J., Jr. ’79
and Frank P. Caluda ’81, Michael L. Cognevich
’68, the late Patrick T. Doody ’70, Don F.
Erwin ’78, William A. Evans III ’95, Reynaud
M. ’71, Andre S. ’75 and Rene C. Farve ’78, J.
Kevin Ford ’86, David E. ’60 and Christopher
M. Gaines ’69, Louis M. Genard ’68, Jack A.
’58 and Walter H. Grant III ’61, Benjamin S.
Gravolet, Sr. ’63, Vincent J. Greco ’45, Sergei
J. Hillery, Jr. ’79, George H. ’60, Thomas H.
’64 and Daniel F. Jones ’67, David J. Lavie ’84,
David G. Lentz ’64, August D. Leopold, Jr.
’61, Andre D. Livaudais ’68, John R. McKee
’73 (step-father), Bruce E. Naccari ’72, the late
Clifford J. Perret, Jr. ’70, A. Rene Pierce III
’64, Stephen N. Rando ’61, Albert E. III ’65
and Steven T. Richard ’74, Earl Robinson III
’85, Marcus G. St. Julien ’71, James K.
Treadway ’65, Matthew L. Troescher ’99,
Michael J. Waldo ’70, James B. Whitlow, Jr.
’83
MOTHER OF
John D’Arcy Becker ’57, Barra L. Birrcher ’56,
Michael A. Bossier ’87, Frederick P. Coogan, Jr.
’46, W. David Crumhorn ’71 (step-mother),
Donald C. Davis ’65, Keith G. ’83 and Kevin
M. Fournet ’83 (stepmother), Robert R.
Generes ’67, Michael E. ’71 and Patrick D.
Hoctel ’74, Charles F. King ’60, Paul M. ’57
and Felix H. Lapeyre, Jr. ’59, George H. Loker,
Jr. ’71, Gary D. Lummen ’62, Paul L. Marsh
’74, Charles J., Jr. ’64 and Edward J. Moseley
’66, David H. Naumann ’51, Lester C. St.
Amant ’62, Bradley G. Sevin ’98, Michael D.
Singletary ’88, the late Sidney L. Soniat, Jr.
’60, Anthony J. Spano ’85, Joseph G. Stassi, Jr.
’82, John T. Strickland ’73, Patrick C. Uli ’76,
Antoine H. Williams III ’68, Albert J., Jr. ’59,
Rehm T. ’61, Michael E. ’63 and Brian D.
Winters ’70, John J. III ’54, William D. ’58,
Robert W. ’60, Karl D. ’67 and Philip I.
Zollinger ’69
Mullins ’97, David A. III ’87, Jeremy L. ’99
and Alexander T. Nusloch ’03, Brian J. Olivier
’94, Antoine P. Pedeaux ’99, Brian K.
Pomerleau ’95, Michael M. Richard ’99, Fred
H. III ’96 and David M. Rodriguez ’01,
Gregory F. Rouchell ’96, Scott V. Scheurich
’09, Martin R. Schott ’93, Kyle D. Smith ’98,
F. Andrew Tessier, Jr. ’07, James K. Treadway,
Jr. ’97, Fred M. Trowbridge III ’03
SISTER OF
The late J. Alfred Alost ’25, Lester H., Jr. ’49
and Edward B. Arbo ’52, Albert Baril, Jr. ’43,
the late William E. Blake ’30, Joseph P. Cashen
’39, David J. Cortes ’68, Clinton F. ’58 and
Gregory J. Cucullu ’66, Peter J. Fortier ’70,
William F. Freeling III ’75, Vincent J. Greco
’45, Paul P. ’52 and the late Rev. Thomas J.,
Hatrel, S.J. ’39, George A. Lara, Sr. ’53,
Claude V. Perrier, Jr. ’46, the late Amand A.
Ruhlman, Jr. ’25, the late John A. Staiger, Jr.
’44
GRANDMOTHER OF
Philip R. Adams ’91, Mark K. Annino ’89,
Andrew J. Baer ’07, John D., Jr. ’84 and Brian
P. Becker ’85, David B. Birrcher ’00, Bryson J.
Blount ’07, Terry L. Christiansen ’88, Stephen
M. Crouch ’88, Mark D. Deane ’93, Scott T.
’94 and Shane M. Dupaquier ’02, Warren S.
Fitzmorris ’08, Clinton P. Gary ’87, Matthew
A. Gaudet ’97, Michael B. Grodsky ’98, Sean
M. Hardy ’02, Spencer B. III ’89 and Christian
K. Harris ’91, the late Jonathan E. Lorino ’99,
James S. ’08 and Christopher M. McKinnie
’10, Robert L. Menard, Jr. ’87, Vincent J.
Miranti ’95, Anthony J. Montalbano III ’08,
David H. Naumann II ’89, Michael R. Percy
’00, Douglas M. ’92 and Stephen M. Pesce ’97
(step-grandmother), Jeffrey M. Philastre ’03,
Scott W. Radosta ’96, Louis J. Sardenga ’83,
Keith M. Schaefer ’88, Stephen J. Strickland
’01, Christian D. Tortorich ’92, Karl A.
Williams ’96, Michael E., Jr. ’93, Albert J. ’01
and Patrick C. Winters ’04, Felix H. III ’82,
Leonard A., Jr. ’86 and James R. Young ’89, Jay
C. Zainey ’01, Michael P. Zeringue ’97, John J.
IV ’85 and Eric P. Zollinger ’00.
SON OF
The late John A. Bastian, Jr. ’20, Jeffrey P.
Juhas ’00, John D. Manzella ’58
GRANDSON OF
Louis J. Brown, Jr. ’42, the late Bernard J.
Kruse, Jr. ’44
DAUGHTER OF
The late Philip E. Bolian ’22, William F.
Freeling, Jr. ’57
GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF
Raymond V. ’98 and Gregory G. Vogel ’99,
Robert W. ’00 and Kyle J. Wooderson ’07
GRANDFATHER OF
Zachary C. ’99 and John W. Bellone ’07, Allen
I. Boudreaux III ’93, Preston A. ’94 and Russ
M. Cantrelle ’00, Joseph P. Carrere ’02,
Jonathan B. Cerise ’88, Timothy N. ’04 and
Christopher C. Deano ’07, Thomas B. ’92 and
Christopher C. Delsa ’99, Cullen R. Doody
’08, Paul F. Duvoisin, Jr. ’83, John T. Erwin
’04, Curtis D. Eustis ’94, Extell A. Farve ’10,
David M. Gaines ’83, Scott C. Grant ’89, B.
Seth Gravolet ’89, William R. N. ’80 and
David R. J. Howell ’83, Derek H. ’86, Ryan F.
’92 and Devin A. Jones ’02, Regan R. Leopold
’94, Eric A. Lorio ’09, Jason A. Lotz ’00,
Nicholas C. Marzoni ’93, Creighton A.
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF
Brad D. Guilmino ’97, Timothy M. Harris
’10, Parker C. Lapeyre ’09, Brett D., Jr. ’03
and Gregory S. Pellerin ’05, Peter C. ’02 and
John B. Stanton ’05, William J. III ’03 and
Brandon M. Walker ’08
BROTHER OF
James T. Boulet ’37, Jesse A. Danna ’36,
Lawrence H. Iverson III ’61, David G. Lentz
’64, Patrick D. McGuire ’75, Arthur O. ’36,
the Rev. Paul W., S.J. ’40, Steven H. 46, Patrick
M. ’47 and Matthew J. Schott ’53, Morgan G.
Stewart ’85 , John S. ’48, Martial E. ’49 and
Francis X. Waldo ’54
We frequently update our website with
funeral information on deceased
members of the Jesuit community. Look
for the “In Memoriam” link on the home
page, www.jesuitnola.org.
It’s Reunion Time—Blue Jays Return to the Nest
From April to July, Blue Jays from around the world head “home” to celebrate their years at Carrollton and Banks. Members of the Class of
1985 celebrating 20 years since graduation are, from left, Glynn Cyprien, Calvin Thompson, Kris Heigle, Alfred Doughty, and Terry Scott.
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New Orleans, La.
PERMIT No. 313
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Parents: If you are receiving your son’s copy of Jaynotes and he no longer lives with you, please let us know so we can change our records and send the magazine
directly to him. If you enjoy reading your son’s copy of Jaynotes, let us know that as well. We will be glad to send a copy to his new address and a copy to you.