veritas - Bishop Montgomery High School

VERITAS
SPRING/SUMMER 2007
The magazine for the Bishop Montgomery High School community
IN THIS ISSUE:
Celebrating Wolf
Fran DonohoePitts ‘67
Commencement 2007
Winter Sports
Wrap-up
Black & Gold Night
Class Notes
WOLF
1942-2007
VERITAS
T h e
P r e m i e r
I s s u e
Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery,
Welcome to our first issue of the Bishop Montgomery magazine, Veritas. Why Veritas? There is
the obvious answer, of course. Our school motto
is “justice, truth, honor” and the case can be made
that all pursuits, if they are valid, must first be
rooted in truth. We, as a school community,
certainly strive to achieve that goal. When considering the title of the magazine, however, I recalled
the thoughts of a Harvard professor of education,
Parker Palmer, who wrote an article titled, “Good
Teaching: A Matter of Living the Mystery” in
which he addresses the place of truth in the classroom. Since, in my view, the individual classroom
is where the mystery and the magic happen, it is,
indeed, where the truth is explored.
Palmer says that “Good teaching is an act of generosity… a risky business… Good teaching comes from
the integrity of the teacher,
from his or her relation to the
subject and the students, from
the capricious chemistry of it
all.” He says that “To teach
is to create a space in which
the community of truth is
practiced… Good teaching,
whatever its form, will help
more and more people to learn
to speak and listen in the
community of truth, to understand that truth is not in the
conclusions so much as in the
process of the conversation
itself, that if you want to be ‘in
truth’ that you must be in the
conversation.”
Publisher
Rosemary Libbon, Principal
Editors Andy Marafino, Director of Development
Dione Dierks, Asst. Director of Development
Amy Traxler, Asst. Director of Development
John Hong, BMHS Publications Director
Photographers BMHS Yearbook Staff; Mark Comon
Contributing Writers Andy Marafino, Dione Dierks,
Amy Traxler, Georgiana Troin
This truth is an eternal conversation about things
that matter, conducted with passion and discipline.
This, indeed, is Palmer’s definition of critical thinking.
To be a good teacher and to be a good student is a
challenge; to be willing to participate in that “risky
business” demands a generous spirit. For us, as
members of the Bishop Montgomery community,
there is another dimension, however, our faith. The
measure of our dedication to education as teachers
and students in the Bishop Montgomery community
does not only depend on academic achievement, but
more important, on the courage of each member of
the community to witness to God’s call to holiness.
That call--to work daily for intellectual excellence,
to be spiritually alive, open to growth, loving, and
committed to the needs of others is rooted in the
truth that God has created us to be in His image and
likeness and that our call is to recognize and honor
that truth by expecting the best from ourselves.
We hope that this magazine, Veritas, provides you
with a window into the world of the Bishop Montgomery community, a window that reveals our
efforts at being “in truth”, at participating in the
eternal conversation about things that matter, conducted with passion and discipline, love and faith.
We are proud to call ourselves Bishop Montgomery.
Rosemary Libbon
Principal
VERITAS magazine is published two times a year by Bishop
Montgomery High School for alumni, parents,
and friends. For more information, please contact:
Bishop Montgomery High School
5430 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, California 90503
(310) 540-2021
www.bmhs-la.org
Contents
COVER STORY
Celebrating the Life of a Legend
The BMHS community remembers
longtime teacher Bill Wolfenbarger.
4
SPIRITUAL
Fran Donohoe-Pitts ‘67
Christian Service
6
7
ACADEMIC
Dulcie Galdamez
Commencement 2007
8
9
PHYSICAL
Dynamic Duo
Winter Athletics
10
11
SOCIAL
Black and Gold Night
Mothers’ Club
12
13
DEPARTMENTS
Development
Class Notes
50th Anniversary
14
16
19
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
3
COVER STORY
Celebrating the Life of a LEGEND
or more than thirty years, room 306 at
Bishop Montgomery High School was
the place where students could go to
travel to distant lands, visit ancient ruins,
and listen to tales about the Aztecs, Mayans,
and Incans. This is the same room where it is
estimated that Bill Wolfenbarger taught over
8,000 young people during his career at BMHS,
which began in 1975.
F
BELOW:
BMHS Hall
of Famers Bill
Wolfenbarger,
left, and Dietmar
Farkas.
4
Through many years and many class periods,
Wolf always managed to skillfully balance
academic instruction with tales of different
cultures and far away worlds that came from
his first-hand experiences of traveling to over
twenty countries. How appropriate, then, that
he taught world history and anthropology up
until his death on March 28, 2007.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
Wolf accomplished great things and served
many roles in his time at BMHS. In 2002,
Wolf celebrated 25 years with the school at
his induction into the school’s Hall of Fame,
an honor he shared with his longtime friend
and colleague, Dietmar Farkas. In addition
to teaching world history and anthropology
courses, Wolf taught a variety of other classes,
including driver’s education, geography, and
drafting. He also served as the social studies
department chairperson for many years, and
for each of the last fifteen years, he was chosen
by the faculty as their representative on the
school’s administrative council.
The incredible impact that Wolf had on his
students, colleagues, and friends was evident
on April 23 when a capacity crowd filled the
Bishop gymnasium for Wolf’s memorial. The
entire faculty, staff, and student body were
joined by many alumni, former faculty, and
friends, including Rev. Charles Hill, the principal who hired Wolf, who came back to be a
part of the celebration of Wolf’s life. Longtime
friend and former BMHS administrator Carolyn Quijano spoke about the “gift of Wolf”
and what he meant to so many people. “Look
around,” Quijano told those gathered for the
mass, “and you can see what friendship meant
to him. He had a plethora of friends - from
Panama to New York to Arizona to Oregon
to Huntington Beach to Pine Street to Bishop
Montgomery.”
There is no doubt, though, that Wolf’s greatest contribution to Bishop Montgomery High
School was the tremendous impact that he had
on his students both in and out of the classroom.
Throughout his distinguished teaching career,
Wolf always had a special connection with his
students because
he had a passion for teaching
and an unfailing
respect for the
young people in
his classroom.
Senior Brian Ivey, who had Wolf as a teacher
in his sophomore year for World History and
Cultures, spoke at the memorial Mass and recalled Wolf’s teaching style and the way he made
learning enjoyable. “Wolf had a ballad style of
telling a story,” Ivey said. “I think the only place
Wolf hadn’t
been was
space; and I am
convinced that
if he had lived
long enough
he would
have gotten there, too.” Ivey also spoke for all of
Wolf’s former students when he concluded that
“learning wasn’t boring in
his class because of the excitement he brought to the
world in which we live.”
“Mr. Wolf cared about you
simply because you were you.”
At his Hall of Fame induction, Wolf stated that
his best memory was, “and always [had] been,
the students and the way they [made him]
laugh.” BMHS Principal Rosemary Libbon reiterated this sentiment to the student body at his
memorial. “I think what is most important for
you to know,” she told the students at Mass, “is
that [Mr. Wolfenbarger] cared about you simply
because you were you. You made him laugh and
he liked being with you. That, in itself, was his
amazing gift to every student.”
What Wolf may not have realized is that he had
as big an impact on his students as they had on
him. For decades, hundreds of alumni have come
back to visit Wolf on campus, with many visiting
years and years after their graduations. Others
not only carry fond memories of Wolf beyond
graduation, but also appreciated his teaching
while they were still in Room 306.
Wolf spent his life discovering the world and bringing these adventures to life
for his students in room
306. Soon, a plaque will
sit outside the classroom,
marking it as Mr. Wolfenbarger’s room, a place
where students “saw” the
world through the eyes of
a courageous, generous,
and loving teacher.
William Wolfenbarger Scholarship Endowment Fund
Following the passing of Mr. Wolfenbarger, Bishop Montgomery High School established the William
Wolfenbarger Scholarship Endowment Fund to create a legacy in his name. Donations to this endowment fund will be used for tuition assistance to help students who would otherwise not be able to
attend Bishop Montgomery. An initial gift of $10,000 was given by the school to establish the scholarship fund. Wolf’s passing has since elicited a wave of gifts, including a matching $10,000 gift from an
anonymous donor. “It seems to me,” joked BMHS Principal Rosemary Libbon, “that this scholarship
should probably be awarded yearly to someone who is mischievous, adventuresome, loves to travel,
and is a little bit naughty.” It is certain that Wolf would not have wanted it any other way.
If you would like to make a gift to the William Wolfenbarger Scholarship Endowment Fund, please contact Andy Marafino,
Director of Development, at amarafi[email protected] or by calling (310) 540-2021 ext. 246.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
5
FEATURE
A Thrifty Way to
SERVE
ABOVE:
Fran DonohoePitts ‘67 stands
among the clothing racks at Palos
Verdes Resale
thrift shop in
Lomita.
W
hen Fran Donohoe-Pitts ‘67 gets an
idea, watch out - it’s bound to be a
rousing success. Ten charitable organizations in the South Bay, 75 volunteers at a thrift
shop in Lomita, and a ton of happy customers will
vouch for that!
After graduating from BMHS and Cal State Long
Beach, Fran worked at Rockwell and Garrett
AiResearch in Torrance and married her husband,
Bob. Together, they have two children, Brian, 25,
and Laura, 24. After moving to Palos Verdes, Fran
and Bob became active members of St. John Fisher
Parish when their children attended the elementary
school. Their involvement continued through the
years with Fran chairing St. John Fisher’s successful
flea markets for a number of years as well as becoming a member of the National Charity League. Fran
worked regularly at the league’s thrift shop, relinquishing her membership once her daughter entered
college, but she didn’t leave behind the merchandising skills she learned. She soon began wondering
why she couldn’t start a similar shop to serve the
South Bay area. “Since we were more or less ‘booted’
out of the Charity League once our girls went off to
college, starting a thrift shop in the South Bay area
just seemed like a natural,” Fran rationalized.
With this goal in mind, Fran approached her friends
and encouraged them to join her in this venture.
Betty Wall, whose two daughters, Laurie ‘89 and
Estelle ‘95, graduated from BMHS and Georgianna
Troin, whose granddaughter, Amanda Pierce, is a
2003 BMHS graduate, helped Fran lead the way. After months of investigation and research, obtaining
the necessary non-profit status requirements, and
finding a suitable site, Palos Verdes Resale was born.
6
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
In August 2005, the thrift shop opened for business in Lomita, and has been going strong ever
since. In little more than 18 months, the thrift
shop has distributed $220,000 to charitable organizations throughout the community. The current
list of beneficiaries of this all-volunteer, non-profit
organization includes Agape, a St. John Fisher
outreach program; Casa de los Angelitos, a home
for unwed mothers; Christian Outreach in Action,
a Long Beach organization that feeds the homeless; the Downtown Women’s Center, a homeless women’s center; House of Hope, a San Pedro
alcohol and drug abuse center for women; Meals
on Wheels, a provider of meals for the homebound;
Presentation Learning Center in Watts run by the
Presentation Sisters; Sts. Peter & Paul Poverty
Program, a distribution program for the very poor;
the Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills, which provides food, clothing, and household items to the
poor; and STAR (Society to Aid Retarded, Inc.), an
organization that owns and operates two houses
in Torrance for developmentally disabled young
adults.
Fran, president of the board of Palos Verdes Resale, is quick to credit the help and cooperation
she received from members of the board, fellow St.
John Fisher parishioners, and former members of
the National Charity League. “Without the invaluable help and assistance of all the members of the
board – as well as all our wonderful volunteers
- we could never have become such an outstanding
success,” she shares. “The nice part about Palos
Verdes Resale is that everyone can contribute to
this ministry. Whether it’s making donations,
volunteering to work in the store, or shopping for
merchandise, everyone is contributing something
to our charitable organizations. It’s truly a winwin situation.”
Palos Verdes Resale is located at 2321 Pacific Coast
Highway in Lomita. They are open from 10:00 am
- 4:00 pm,Tuesday through Saturday. If you are
interested in more information or would like to
make a donation, call the store at 310-534-1722.
Students Receive
Christian Service Award
A
t the May Crowning Mass on
May 2, Lina Borgo and Carlos
Rodriguez were recognized by
our own Bishop community for their
exceptional dedication and commitment to serve others. This recognition
on campus followed a special Mass at
the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
in March, where these two seniors were
awarded the Archdiocesan Christian
Service Award. Each year, this Archdiocesan award honors those individuals
who, having been nominated by their
peers and teachers, exhibit significant
Christian service within their local and
church communities.
A MISSION REALIZED: SPIRITUAL
ACADEMIC
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
the many service activities he was involved in at BMHS, he was also an active member of St. Joseph’s parish in
Hawthorne and a volunteer for many
organizations in his local community.
The wonderful part of his willingness
to serve, noted Renna, was that all
of it was done “with equal commitment,” selflessly and passionately
with nothing asked for in return.
Bishop math teacher and Habitat
Club moderator Jake Roehl thanked
Lina Borgo for inspiring him and her
fellow classmates with her tremendous
donation of time and energy to so many
service projThe wonderful part of his
During the Mass
ects. “Lina
in May, Lina’s
willingness to serve, noted Renna, has inspired
and Carlos’ teachbuilding
was that all of it was done “with the
ers were invited
of one house,
to share with the
equal commitment,” selflessly six dorms,
Bishop commu23 beds, a
and
passionately
with
nothing
nity their insights
classroom,
into these two
a Christasked for in return.
students. Tomas
mas, and a
Renna, Carlos’
library on
Italian teacher, described Carlos as an
wheels. There now is an orphanage in
all-around student, “a gift to Bishop.”
Mexico, a church group in Manhattan
Addressing his call to serve and share
Beach, a school in Watts, a student
the Gospel with others, Renna portrayed body at Bishop Montgomery and a
Carlos as “a Christ-centered individual”
teacher in room 317 who all lead difwho frequently shared “his insights on
ferent lives because of Lina.”
how and what it means …to live as a
Christian.” Renna also noted that most
Clearly moved by her selfless actions,
mornings, when the rest of campus was
Roehl, speaking for himself and “all
still sleepy, Carlos could usually be found the future victims of [her] irresistible
in the chapel, “out and about, making
will,” concluded his speech by sharsure that morning prayer [got] running.”
ing the secret to her accomplishments
with the rest of the students: “It’s no
Carlos’ ministry, however, did not end
big secret-- she’s real.”
with the Bishop campus. In addition to
ABOVE:
Lina Borgo ‘07
ABOVE:
Carlos Rodriguez
‘07
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
7
FEATURE
Dulcie Galdamez
S
ince the 2000-2001 school year, eleven members of the faculty
and staff have celebrated twenty-five years of service to Bishop
Montgomery. This past year alone, four distinguished members
of the staff, Dulcie Galdamez, Karin Heckethorn, Dee Masters, and
Rose Martinez, were inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame as part
of their 25th anniversary celebration. So what brings these remarkable educators to BMHS and what keeps them here for so long? We
recently sat down with Dulcie Galdamez to find out.
When did your association with BMHS begin?
It started in the 1981-82 school year. I was hired to teach French 1, 2,
3, 4 AP.
ABOVE:
Dulcie Galdamez,
center, is honored
at the 2006-07 Welcome Mass along
with fellow Hall
of Fame inductees,
Dee Masters, Karin
Heckethorn, and
Rose Martinez.
What are some of your fondest memories of BMHS?
There are so many! When Cathy Keesling received a grade of five on her AP French Language test my
first year of teaching high school; when Lisa Roehl and Michael Walle, both former students, came
back to let me know that they were engaged to be married as I had predicted years before; when the
students in my classes got together and organized an incredible baby shower in February 1993 when
I was expecting my son, Jonathan; when former students like Rudy Garbalosa and Amy Meehan and
many others have returned to BMHS as part of the faculty…
Why have you chosen to work at BMHS?
In September 1981, Carolyn Quijano called my house to ask me if I wanted to come to BMHS for an
interview for a French language teaching position. It was love with Bishop at first sight. I liked the
students, the faculty, and the school. I have never wanted to go anywhere else.
Your son will be a freshman in the fall. Why have you chosen to send him to BMHS?
We are sending Jonathan to BMHS because this is a great school. In addition to the excellent academic program, there is a true sense of community here.
What is the biggest change that you have seen in the school in your 25 years?
In 25 years I’ve seen many changes for the better in BMHS. The school facilities have improved
tremendously; a faculty house, an art room, a theatre, and the new gym facility are just a few of the
physical improvements that the school has undergone. We offer more AP and honors courses and
more opportunities for students to take summer school classes. As a teacher, one of the changes that I
am grateful for is the decrease in class size. I can work more closely with my students in a class of 25
than in a class of 42 students.
How do you think today’s high school experience differs from when you were a
student?
When I was a high school student I was very busy trying to learn English (I arrived from Cuba when
I was 14 years old), but regardless of the language we spoke, my classmates and I spent lots of hours
at the library doing research for our papers. We did not have computers and Internet access at home
like the students today do. After the research was finished I had to type my papers using an electric
typewriter and lots of correcting tape to blank out the mistakes before I could retype the correct
word.
What was your most embarrassing moment as a teacher?
I’ve had very many! One that stands out is (many years ago, of course) tripping on a backpack on the
floor and speeding out of control down the aisle until the last student on that row kindly stood up
and saved me with a rescuing embrace from impaling myself in the back wall.
8
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
A MISSION REALIZED: SPIRITUAL
ACADEMIC
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
2007
Commencement
“Today we all become teachers: teachers of values
that our experiences at Bishop have instilled in us - justice, truth, and honor.”
Harry Mai ‘07, Salutatorian
O
n Friday, June 1, 262 graduates from the class of 2007 received
their diplomas and officially became alumni of Bishop Montgomery. Before a near-capacity crowd of over 2,500 family members
and friends, the seniors spent one last moment together as a class
before leaving BMHS and opening the next chapters of their lives.
LEFT:
Class of 2007 graduates, left to right.
Tim Donahue,
Brent Watanabe,
and Alex Stellato.
In his speech, Co-Valedictorian Harry Mai appropriately compared
their journey to a novel that they, together, had written. Recalling
freshman year as one spent mostly “yearn[ing] for the glory of…
graduation day;” sophomore year as being the ‘wise fools’ of the
school,” and junior year as a time when the class began to feel its presence in the school community, Harry acknowledged that their unique story was one that took four whole years to write.
He concluded his analogy by acknowledging that it was going to be
difficult to part ways with 261 friends, but praised his class for demLEFT:
onstrating “great humility and tolerance to really come together and
Chris Dippel ‘07,
who received an
unite… [as] seniors” for the final chapter of their story.
The class’ unity was especially evident during the ceremony when
Ms. Libbon announced this year’s Outstanding Graduates, A-lan
Holt, Carlos Rodriguez, Kyle Rosso, and Brent Watanabe, to a thunderous round of applause from the class, and also when the graduates remembered their fellow classmate, Adam Guymon, who passed
away in the spring of 2006. Escorted to the stage by Adam’s best
friends and graduates John Haberstroh and David Mares, Adam’s mother, Eileen Guymon, accepted his diploma posthumously.
appointment to
the U. S. Naval
Academy, is given
a standing ovation at the senior
awards ceremony.
Now, though the high school chapters are finished for the graduates of the class of 2007, we
know that these students will continue to write their own amazing and adventurous stories. As
the newest members of the BMHS alumni community, these graduates go out into the world as
representatives of their alma mater who “speak truth, seek justice, and serve with honor.”
Class of 2007 College Matriculation
100% of Seniors to Attend College
• 262
• 220 (84%)
• 38 (14.5%)
• 4 (1.5%)
• 262 (100%)
• 238 (91%)
• 233 (98%)
• 113 (43%)
• 42 (16%)
• 34 (13%)
• 41 (16%)
• 32 (12%)
Seniors
Seniors attending 4-year institutions
Seniors attending 2-year colleges
Seniors attending vocational schools
Seniors attending college
Seniors who applied to 4-year institutions
Applicants accepted to 4-year institutions
Cal State System
UC System
Private California Colleges
Junior Colleges/Trade Schools
Out of State Colleges
Members of the Class of 2007 will attend:
Boston University
Santa Clara
Cal Poly Pomona
Stanford
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
UC Berkeley
Cornell University
UC Davis
George Washington Univ.
UCLA
Howard University
USC
Johns Hopkins
US Naval Academy
Loyola Marymount
Washington Univ. (MO)
Notre Dame
Yale
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
9
FEATURE
Dynamic DUO
O
ver the years, BMHS has graduated many outstanding studentathletes who have gone on to great success both collegiately and
professionally. Many former Knights are currently competing
in college and two football alumni are starters for their NFL teams. The
last ten years have been an especially fruitful time for BMHS athletics
- 45 team league titles and 11 CIF titles. What is most impressive about
the last decade is that arguably the two greatest female athletes in the
school’s history, Noelle Quinn ‘03 and Carmelita Jeter ‘98 - have made
their way through BMHS and have made their marks in the world.
ABOVE:
Noelle Quinn
‘03, right, at the
WNBA Draft with
WNBA Commissioner Donna
Orender .
BELOW:
Carmelita Jeter
‘98 finishes 3rd
in the 100m at
the U.S. Track &
Field Championships.
When Noelle Quinn graduated from BMHS, she left as the most decorated student-athlete in school history. In basketball, she was a four-time
CIF Southern Section and State Player of the Year, a three-time Del Rey League MVP and twice
the Daily Breeze Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American. She was also CIF and Daily Breeze
Player of the year in volleyball and a four time Scholar-Athlete who carried a 4.0 GPA throughout
high school. On January 30, 2007, the school honored Quinn by retiring her #45 jersey in a ceremony
at halftime of the girl’s’ basketball game against St. Joseph, marking
it as the first number retired by BMHS. “This is an amazing honor,”
Quinn said. “I feel truly blessed.” The stream of accolades for Quinn,
however, was far from ending.
Quinn recently completed an outstanding basketball career at
UCLA where she was a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 pick
and a two-time All-American. She is the only UCLA player, man
or woman, to record 1,700 points, 700 rebounds, and 400 assists.
Quinn capped an incredible 2007 on April 4 when she was
selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the fourth overall pick in
the WNBA Draft.
Referring to Carmelita Jeter as one of the fastest women in the world
today is certainly not a stretch. Since graduating from BMHS, where
ABOVE:
she was an outstanding sprinter and the 1998 Female Athlete of the Year, Jeter has Noelle Quinn ‘03 has
made her mark locally, nationally, and worldwide. Two years ago, Jeter returned to her #45 jersey retired
at a ceremony in JanuBMHS to head the track program and serve as an Assistant Athletic Direc-ary.
tor. Prior to her return to campus, Jeter completed a spectacular career
at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she was a six-time Division II AllAmerican and the first athlete in the school’s history to qualify, in 2004, for the U.S. Olympic
Trials. In 2000, Jeter was named the NCAA Division II West Region Female Track & Field
Athlete of the Year and, in 2004, she graduated as the CSUDH record holder in the 100m and
200m sprints (11.40 and 23.20 seconds, respectively).
This year has been especially successful for Jeter. In January, at the USA Indoor Track &
Field Championships in Boston, Jeter finished second in the 60 meter dash with a time of
7.17 (the winner finished in 7.16). In May, she finished fourth in the 100 meters at the Adidas
Track Classic. The highlights of the year to date have come in recent months. In April, at the
Mt. SAC Relays, Jeter won the women’s 100 meters in 11.16 seconds. In May, she finished first
in the 100 meters at the Road to Eugene ‘08 Invitational in Oregon with a time of 11.29. To
top it all off, Jeter finished 3rd in the 100 (11.17) at the U.S. Championships on June 22. Her
third place finish qualified Jeter for the World Championships in August in Osaka, Japan
and makes her a strong candidate to make the U.S. Olympic team.
For Jeter and her fellow alumnae Quinn, an amazing pair of athletes, more accolades are sure
to follow as they represent themselves and BMHS on the local, national, and world stage.
10
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
Winter Sports Wrap-Up
Boys’ Basketball
There was nothing more that they could have done. Coach
Doug Mitchell’s boys’ basketball team ran off eleven consecutive victories at one point, finished undefeated with another
Del Rey League title and finished 23-4 overall. However, the
Knights fell short in their quest for the CIF crown when they
lost in the quarter-finals to Arroyo Valley. Many players turned
in outstanding performances. Leland Jones ‘08 was named Del
Rey League MVP and 1st Team All-CIF in Division II. Joining
him on the All-Del Rey League first team were Aaron Ware
‘08 and Justin Cobbs ‘09. Cobbs was also a 2nd Team All-CIF
selection. Three other players were named to the All-Del Rey
League 2nd Team: Erik Vaughn ‘07, Brandon Bibbons ‘09, and
Mike Panaggio ‘09.
A MISSION REALIZED: SPIRITUAL
ACADEMIC
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
LEFT:
Leland Jones ‘08
prepares a free
throw against
Serra HS.
Girls’ Basketball
The girls’ basketball team reached the post season once again,
finishing 18-9 overall. With her team finishing 2nd in the Del
Rey League, coach Bryn Britton is optimistic for the future of
the team as they graduate only four seniors. The Lady Knights
made the playoffs, but lost in the second round to a powerful
Troy squad. Many team members received post-season recognistion for their performances. Team captain Rheina Ale ‘08
was named 1st Team All-Del Rey League and 2nd Team All-CIF.
Other impact players were 1st Team All-Del Rey League selections Lauren Cooper ‘07 and Bridgette Conejo ‘08.
LEFT:
Rheina Ale ‘08
drives past a
St. Joseph HS
defender.
Boys’ Soccer
The boys’ soccer team, under the guidance of new head coach
Clive Hulbert, proved to be quite competitive, as they finished
with a record of 7-8-3, including four 1-0 losses. With a 4th
place finish in the Del Rey League, the team advanced to the
post season, but lost in the first round to Santa Maria Righetti
High School. Captain Adrian Burgess ‘07 was named to the Del
Rey League 1st team and will head off to study and play soccer
at UC Irvine in the fall. Bishop had four players named to the
All-Del Rey League 2nd Team: David Mares ‘07, Michael Kim
‘08, Zack Comon ‘08, and Paul Mares ‘10.
LEFT:
Zach Comon ‘08
battles for the ball
against La Salle
HS.
Girls’ Soccer
The girls’ soccer team, coached by Shannon Maddox-Martinez,
recorded an 11-5-3 overall record and finished 2nd in the Del
Rey League. The girls’ march through the playoffs ended in the
CIF finals when they lost to their Del Rey League rivals, La
Salle, 1-0. First team All-Del Rey League honors went to Danielle O’Neil ‘07, Jaclyn White ‘07, Lauren Hernandez ‘07, Jessica Gerski ‘09, and McKenzie McGoldrick ‘09. Second team
honors were awarded to Lauren Proano ‘07, Justine Zavala
‘07, and Courtney Monzon ‘08. Special congratulations to the
Lady Knights who will further their soccer careers in college:
Jaclyn White at the University of Nebraska, Danielle O’Neil at
UNLV, and Carrie LaPonza ‘07 at Cal State Monterey Bay.
LEFT:
Jacklyn White
‘07 prepares to
play league foe St.
Joseph.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
11
FEATURE
WALK ON THE
WILD SIDE
Black & Gold Night fundraiser brings
school and community together
O
n March 24, 2007 Bishop Montgomery’s new Student
Activity Center was transformed into a desert oasis for
the 7th Annual Black & Gold Night, “Walk on the Wild
Side.” The evening’s festivities included live and silent auctions,
Bishop’s own South Bay Restaurant Sampler, casino-style gaming,
dancing and Hall of Fame inductions.
ABOVE (l to r):
Kathleen Hammerle, Pam
York-Altobelli ‘73,
Maggie Wilbanks,
Tom Boren, and
Miranda Boren.
BELOW (l to r):
Cindy Percz, Bryn
Britton, Amy
Meehan-Pilon
‘89, and Celeste
Adams ‘94.
On the auction tables, over 350 items were up for bid. Highlights included trips to Florida, Lake
Tahoe, Breckenridge, and Cabo San Lucas; an evening in a
Staples Center suite watching the Lakers take on the Trailblazers; autographed caps from Mike Scioscia, Vladimir Guerrero,
and Andrew Bynum; a Luke Walton autographed basketball; a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take flight in a military combat plane and engage in simulated dogfights over the skies of
Southern California; and, of course, the most hotly contended
item of the evening—ten extra tickets with reserved parking
for the 2007 BMHS Commencement ceremony.
When they weren’t bidding, guests could be found “big game
hunting” at the many poker, blackjack, and roulette tables that
filled the room or dining on unlimited menu samples from local restaurants, bakeries and specialty shops in the South Bay.
Participants in this year’s “South Bay Restaurant Sampler”
included perennial Torrance-based favorites like Aliotta’s Via
ABOVE:
Firenze, Trader Joe’s, El Pollo Inka and Mexican Riviera; Rizzo’s Pizza and CreKarin Heckethorn,
left, and Dee Masters
ative Cakery of Redondo Beach; Dulan’s Catering and Catered Occasions of Los
Angeles; and, New York Food Company of El Segundo. Crowd-pleasing newcomers are inducted into the
included Dream Dinners, the Marriott Hotel, Chipotle, and Sally’s Boston Pizza, all Hall of Fame.
from Torrance.
The highlight of the evening was the induction of four faculty and staff members into the BMHS Hall
of Fame: Dulcie Galdamez, foreign language; Karin Heckethorn, fine art; Rose Martinez, school registrar; and, Dee Masters, theatre arts and English. These wonderful individuals were recognized for
25 years of service to BMHS.
The evening’s festivities brought together over 400 current and past
parents, alumni, faculty, staff and benefactors all for one very good
cause. This one night of “walking on the wild side” helped
Bishop gross over $75,000 to
fund the completion of the new
Student Activity Center which
opened earlier this year to serve
our short flags, dance, basketball
and volleyball teams.
LEFT:
Brenda and Greg Dulan,
current BMHS parents,
enjoy the night.
12
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
Mother’s Club Gives Back in Many Ways
M
others’ Club holds a long-standing tradition of service to Bishop
Montgomery. For over forty years,
they have been a driving force behind many
activities and events here on campus including the Black and Gold Breakfast, the annual
teacher appreciation luncheon, the decorating
and assistance in setting up for the graduation ceremony, helping to host Back to School
Night, college fairs, the Senior Luau and the
Undergrad Awards, and hosting parents and
teachers of incoming freshmen at the freshman interviews and Open House. Supplementing these annual events are their monthly meetings, fundraising and social events,
and other projects that support our school
and our students.
One of Mothers’ Club’s largest and most
anticipated events each year is the annual
Christmas boutique and luncheon. Held in
December, the school’s gymnasium is transformed into a holiday festival with booths
of handmade jewelry, purses and handbags,
Christmas wreaths and ornaments, and gift
baskets full of beauty treatments and care.
A MISSION REALIZED: SPIRITUAL
ACADEMIC
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL
With over 350 women in attendance and a
catered lunch, this very successful event not
only celebrates the friendships among many
significant women in Bishop’s history, but
also raises funds for various campus improvement projects. In the past three years,
Mothers’ Club has donated over $15,000
towards the new Student Activity Center,
with most of the funding supported by this
annual luncheon.
A mother’s connection to Mothers’ Club
does not end with graduation; rather, every
mother of a Bishop Montgomery student
holds a lifetime membership to this elite
group of women and many continue to
serve long after their children are off to
college. With the commitment of so many
mothers throughout the years, Bishop Montgomery has always been able to provide our
students, their families, our alumni, and
our benefactors a campus that is warm and
welcoming, with events that are rooted in
tradition, friendship, and camaraderie.
Alumnus Pedals His Way to Make a Difference
J
ustin Boren ‘98 is like many of us, leading
a very busy life and dealing with a hectic
schedule. The Torrance native now resides
in Arizona and spends much of his time as a
doctoral student and graduate teaching associate at Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs
School of Human Communication. With his
own studies and a teaching schedule to keep
up with, it is amazing that he has time for
anything else, but he manages to find time to
make a difference in people’s lives by volunteering with AIDS/Life Cycle.
On June 3, 2007, Justin began the AIDS/Life
Cycle 6, a 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in support of AIDS foundations nationwide. Justin completed the ride
on June 10 when he pulled into the VA Center
on Wilshire Boulevard for the finish and the
closing ceremonies. “What an incredible journey...” Justin said upon completing the ride
for the second year in a row. “...[there were] so
many amazing people I met along the way.”
ABOVE:
Lifetime Mothers’
Club members
include alumni
moms who are
also on staff at
BMHS: Nancy
Piechocki, Pam
York-Altobelli ‘73,
Shirley Forsythe,
Maggie Wilbanks,
Kathy Dieter, and
Rose Martinez.
The AIDS/Life Cycle ride attracts approximately 1,800 cyclists annually and this
year raised over $11 million. Each rider is
required to raise a minimum of $2,500 and
Justin’s goal this year was to double that
amount. Even though the ride is completed,
he is still soliciting donations in order to
reach his goal.
Prior to the start of this year’s ride, Justin,
in his blog, thanked all those who supported him to date: “I am very happy with
the generous donations that everyone has
contributed, especially the student body
at Bishop Montgomery - you are all very
special!” In fact, many sponsors of the event
were touched by the generosity of the students at Bishop Montgomery in support of
Justin and this cause.
If you are interested in learning more about
Justin’s journey and the AIDS/Life Cycle ride,
log on to his website at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/1069.
ABOVE:
Justin Boren
‘98 celebrates
half-way to Los
Angeles during
the 2006 Aids/Life
Cycle ride.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
13
ADVANCING THE MISSION OF
BISHOP MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL
DEVELOPMENT
Dear Friends of Bishop Montgomery,
Each June, as I watch our graduates receive their
diplomas, I am reminded of how quickly another school year has hurried by. I find myself
reminiscing about the year’s highlights—the
school masses, the championship games, seniors
receiving acceptances to their colleges of choice,
and individual students and student groups
volunteering in the community— and smiling
as I recall all of the good things that I have had
the privilege of which to be part. Usually, and
almost simultaneously, I also marvel at how
quickly these young adults have grown, hardly
believing that four years have passed since these
same students were just freshmen, navigating the
halls of Bishop Montgomery and trying to find
their niche among a class of approximately three
hundred equally anxious, curious and adolescent
peers.
BELOW:
Rosemary Libbon,
far left, enjoys
the Black & Gold
Night with development office
staff members
Amy Traxler, Andy
Marafino, and
Dione Dierks.
14
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Bishop
Montgomery High School opening its doors to
the young men and women of the South Bay
in September of 1957, I have to wonder if this
school, with its faculty and its students, was
also a bit apprehensive about finding its niche
and establishing itself as a leading Catholic
institution among a group of highly-regarded
public and private schools in the Los Angeles
area. There can be no doubt that those first few
months, and probably even years, were challenging ones for this
new school community;
but, I imagine that they
were also ones filled with
hope, imagination, and
purpose—very much like
to those 262 graduates I
watched process a few
weeks ago.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
Even though now, almost half of a century later,
our lives are different in so many ways, Bishop
Montgomery, its mission, its core values, and its
purpose remain relatively unchanged. We are
still a school that strives to nourish our students
spiritually, academically, athletically, and socially and to extend that support to our students’
families, our alumni, and our benefactors. We
are still a school that continues to develop daily,
monthly, and yearly, working to meet the changing needs of our student community and of the
global community in which they must prepare
to live. Most importantly, we are still a school
proudly rooted in Christ and guided by His
Gospel.
As the Development Office looks forward to the
next era of Bishop Montgomery, we have decided
it is an appropriate time to give our publications
a bit of a face-lift and create a new look for a new
chapter in our school’s history. We start with
this new magazine, Veritas, for our entire school
community; and, although we have retired our
previous newsletter, Knights of Olde, we offer this
new format and hope that it will not only appeal to our alumni supporters, with sections like
“Class Notes” and feature articles, but to all of
those people in our community who remain connected to Bishop Montgomery.
I would like to thank you for joining us as we
venture into our next 50 years and thank you for
your continued support of Bishop Montgomery,
its mission, and its students. While we fondly
remember the past and the wonderful memories
created there, we gratefully embrace the future
and look forward to the realization of the many
goals and dreams that await us.
Andy Marafino
Director of Development
ScholarshipsGROWat BMHS
O
ne of the greatest areas of growth at Bishop Montgomery High School in the
last ten years has been the number of scholarships available to students and
their families. Having grown from just a handful to the seventeeen that are
available today, all of the scholarships provide tuition assistance to either current students or college-bound seniors. “We are honored that each of the scholarship donors
has chosen to give back to BMHS,” says Andy Marafino, Director of Development.
“Without these scholarships, many students would not be able to attend Bishop and
receive the quality, Catholic education we offer.” This year, over $122,000 in scholarships was awarded to deserving students and that number continues to grow annually.
ABOVE:
William Lucas ‘07,
center, receives
the Sumer Alvarez
Scholarship from
Sumer’s father,
Dave. At left is
William’s mother,
Rosa.
One highlight of the year, however, was the $1,000,000 gift the school received from
the George and Virginia Schneider family, much of which has been earmarked for
tuition assistance. George, who passed away in 2005, and Virginia are the parents
of eleven BMHS graduates. Even before the doors of Bishop Montgomery opened in
1957, George and Virginia made their mark on the entire school community. George,
the founder of Bay Cities National Bank, was involved in the purchase of the property
on which to build BMHS and he and Virginia volunteered endless hours while their
children were in school. “The entire Schneider family has demonstrated a great dedication to Catholic education,” says Marafino. “Their family is a blessing to our school
and, especially, to our students.”
Scholarships at Bishop Montgomery High School
Sumer Nicole Alvarez ‘03 Scholarship
Jimmy Clarke ‘86 Scholarship
Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation Scholarship
Adam Guymon ‘07 Memorial Scholarship
Kathryn Kelly ‘91 Scholarship
Joshua Lopez ‘03 Scholarship
Jeffrey J. Mahowald Memorial Scholarship
Val Manalansan ‘97 Memorial Scholarship
George H. Mayr Foundation Scholarship
Damion Mendoza Scholarship
Morgan Miranda ‘00 Memorial Scholarship
Jean Miyoshi Scholarship
Piechocki Scholarship
Robert Roach ‘82 Memorial Endowment
The Michael B. Ruggera, Jr. ‘69 Memorial
Endowment Scholarship
The George and Virginia Schneider
Charitable Foundation
William Wolfenbarger Endowment Scholarship
Cathloic Education Foundation
ABOVE:
Mary-Kate Hett
‘07, left, receives
the Mahowald
Scholarship from
Lisa Mahowald.
If you would like more information on scholarships, or you would like to make a gift to
the scholarship program, call the Development Office at 310-540-2021 or e-mail us at
amarafi[email protected].
KNIGHT PRIDE: Making a Difference
One of the many ways the members
of our community make a difference
in the lives of our students is through
Knight Pride. Through this program,
parents, alumni, and friends make a gift
to a specific area or give an unrestricted
donation. Every gift received through
Knight Pride is used to enhance the educational experience
of our students; none of these funds are used for operational
expenses. Projects completed in past years, through Knight
Pride, include the renovation of the library, the purchase of
laptop computers for teachers for classroom use, the renovation of TMH into an on-campus theatre, and the construction
of the new Activity Center. Additionally, benefactors can
make a gift to Knight Pride for an even more specific need of
their choosing. Highlighted at right are just a few of the ways
our community has given back to BMHS.
CAMPUS MINISTRY
GIFT-IN-KIND
This year, two Bishop Montgomery
past parents made a generous gift
to Campus Ministry to help seniors
who could not afford to go on their
Kairos retreat.
Last Spring, a past parent and
alumna donated a Nautilus exercise machine to the PE department
and a Baldwin piano to the Music
department.
A LASTING MEMORY
EDUCATION
In the fall of 2006, a past BMHS
family took a tremendous step
by making a gift to purchase the
new stained glass windows for the
chapel.
This spring, a past BMHS family
made a gift to provide a full year of
tuition assistance for a student who
could not otherwise afford to attend
BMHS.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
15
CLASS NOTES
ABOVE:
Students gather
at the front of
campus for the
dedication of the
school, circa 1957.
1970’s
1980’s
Susan Day-Crum ’74 celebrates her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, Greg. She
and her husband have a son, Greg, who graduated from Stanford University and is currently
attending Loyola Law School. Their daughter,
Megan, will be entering her senior year at Pepperdine University.
Joana Alvarez-Delgado
‘88 and Alonso Delgado
welcomed Justin, right,
on September 4, 2006.
Mike Foley ’74 and Denise Mascola-Foley
’75 celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary
in April. They have four children, Matt and
Kevin, class of 2005, Nicole ’07, and Michael,
11. Nicole is the 19th member of the MascolaFoley family to graduate from BMHS.
Steve Baumgartner ‘76 lives in Charlotte, NC
with his wife, Kim. They have three daughters,
Hilary, 22, Michelle, 21, and Allison, 18. Allison
recently signed a letter-of-intent to play volleyball at Montreat College (NC).
16
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
1990’s
Jo Newville-Montoya ‘90 and Ruben Montoya
welcomed their second child, Sophia Grace, on
May 24, 2007.
Cynthia Forsythe-DeLay ’92 and Donald DeLay welcomed their first
child, Lucas Andrew, left,
on September 26, 2006.
1990’s
Marcy Perry-Herrera ‘96 and Carlos Herrera
welcomed their first child, Aiden Joseph, above,
on October 4, 2006.
Two alumnae and three current BMHS students recently participated in the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
This festival, held annually the week after Easter, is the most
prestigious hula competition in the world. Pictured above from
left to right are Lorraine Labayan ’08, M. Clarizza DalisayOsorio ’88, Krystin Conroy ’07, Tiffany Nyi ’05, and Dannielle Cruz ’08. All five are members of Hula Halau O’Lilinoe in
Carson.
In Loving Memory
Angela David-Nguyen ‘97 and Lam Nguyen
‘97 welcomed their first child, Steven, above.
Bishop Montgomery extends its prayers and
symphathies to the members of its
community who passed away.
Sakura Bryant-Hollis ’98 and Simon Hollis were married on March 31, 2007. Sakura
works as a custody assistant for the LA County
Sheriff’s Department. She is pursuing a career
as a deputy sheriff.
Alumni
Mary Dowd-Foster ’62, November 2006
Jim Rudnick ’65, May 6, 2007
Kathy Nagle-Hargrove ‘68, June 17, 2007
Michael Edward Griffin ‘70, May 5, 2007
Ryan Hall ‘99 and Jaime Soto ‘98 are engaged
to be married.
Alumni Parents
Michael Walsh, January 19, 2007
2000’s
Alix Taylor ‘02 received her MBA from Florida
A & M University. She works at Eli-Lilly Pharmaceutical and resides in Florida.
Sgt. Gregory Dillon ’03, United States Marine
stationed in Yuma, AZ, was selected in January
as Non-Commissioned officer of the Quarter for
MCB Camp Pendleton. He also scored a perfect
300 on the Marine Corps physical fitness test.
Pfc. Kevin Dillon ’03, United States Army,
finished at the top of his class for Unmanned
Aerial Flight Reconnaissance Vehicle Operators. He is stationed in Washington State.
Former Faculty
Angela Kozubek, April 2, 2007
Bill Wolfenbarger, March 28, 2007
Send us news of your new job, marriage,
births, latest adventure, or other significant event for
publication in the next issue of VERITAS.
Send in your news by e-mail to amarafi[email protected]
or drop us a note and put it in the mail to: Development
Office, Bishop Montgomery High School, 5430 Torrance
Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503.
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
17
KNIGHT PRIDE
ALUMNI
CHALLENGE
O
ABOVE (l to r):
Senior soccer players
Lauren Proano, Danielle O’Neil, Jacklyn
White, and Lauren
Hernandez.
n page 15 of this issue of VERITAS
ERITAS, we
highlighted our Knight Pride annual giving
program and the wonderful things we are
able to provide our school and our students through
the generosity of our parents, alumni, and friends. As
we celebrate 50 years of excellence in education,
we look back at where we have been as a school and
where we are headed. In order to continue to provide
our students with an outstanding educational experience, we need the support of our 13,991 alumni
who have personally reaped the benefits of a Bishop Montgomery education.
This fiscal year represents an exciting challenge - we are asking each alumnus to make a commitment to Knight Pride by donating $1 for every year since graduation. The class of 1961, for example,
had 195 graduates 46 years ago. If each member of the class donated $46, the class total would be
$8,970. Our goal is to raise $200,000 in alumni contributions, but if every BMHS graduate participated, the total contribution to Knight Pride would be $308,303!
Please join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bishop Montgomery by making a gift to Knight
Pride. All gifts to Bishop Montgomery are tax-deductible as we are a 501 (c) (3) organiztion. You
may direct your gift to a destination of your choice, or you may make an unrestricted gift. All contributions to Knight Pride are used to enhance our school and its programs and are not used for operational expenses.
You can make a difference in the lives of our students and in the future of Bishop Montgomery High
School. All gifts received before June 30, 2008 will be included in our annual report.
It is our goal to raise $200,000 in alumni contributions. If every BMHS alumnus donated $1 for each
year since graduation, this goal is attainable.
18
Class (Grads)
Years Since
Graduation
Financial
Goal
Class (Grads)
Years Since
Graduation
Financial
Goal
1961 (195)
1962 (215)
1963 (197)
1964 (215)
1965 (245)
1966 (261)
1967 (285)
1968 (255)
1969 (284)
1970 (283)
1971 (277)
1972 (277)
1973 (246)
1974 (265)
1975 (258)
1976 (270)
1977 (274)
1978 (288)
1979 (290)
1980 (320)
1981 (323)
1982 (360)
1983 (368)
1984 (327)
1985 (361)
1986 (347)
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
$8,970
$9,675
$8,668
$9,245
$10,290
$10,701
$11,400
$9,945
$10,792
$10,471
$9,972
$9,695
$8,364
$8,745
$8,256
$8,370
$8,220
$8,352
$8,120
$8,640
$8,398
$9,000
$8,832
$7,521
$7,942
$7,287
1987 (375)
1988 (401)
1989 (364)
1990 (351)
1991 (355)
1992 (369)
1993 (318)
1994 (333)
1995 (365)
1996 (330)
1997 (331)
1998 (326)
1999 (283)
2000 (306)
2001 (306)
2002 (286)
2003 (262)
2004 (273)
2005 (234)
2006 (275)
2007 (262)
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
-
$7,500
$7,619
$6,552
$5,967
$5,680
$5,535
$4,452
$4,329
$4,380
$3,630
$3,310
$2,934
$2,264
$2,142
$1,836
$1,430
$1,048
$819
$468
$275
$262
VERITAS Spring/Summer 2007
Total
$308,303
Join us during the 2007-2008 school year as
we celebrate the 50
50th
th anniversary of
Bishop Montgomery High School
Homecoming BBQ
Friday, October 19, 2007
2:00 – 5:00 pm
In the Student Lunch Area
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homecoming Football Game
vs. St. Bernard
4:00 pm
Knight Stadium
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8th Annual Black & Gold Night
“A Knight of a Thousand Stars”
April 12, 2008
Dinner Dance, & Auction
Hall of Fame Induction
Redondo Beach Historic Library
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2007-08 Hall of Fame Honorees
Mr. Greg Goettsch ‘74
Mrs. Tricia Miller-Goettsch ‘79
Mr. Craig Leach ‘73
Mrs. Judy Kruzic-Leach ‘73
Mrs. Debbie Skelley
-----------------
50th Anniversary Mass
TBA
VERITASMagazine
VERITAS
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