The Magazine of Jesuit High School of New Orleans
VOL. 40 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
The Whizzes
of Quizzes
Jesuit's Quiz Bowl Team
Buzzes to a National Title
INSIDE
Class of 2014 — Off They Go! • Class Reunions • Teacher Testimonial • Blue Jays Trump Kidney Disease
Jaynotes, the magazine about
Jesuit High School of New Orleans, is
published twice a year by the Office of
Institutional Advancement. Opinions
expressed in Jaynotes are those of the
individual authors.
3
34
President
Anthony McGinn, S.J. ‘66
mcginn@jesuitnola.org
Assistant to the President
Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ‘76
fitzgerald@jesuitnola.org
Director of
Institutional Advancement
Thomas V. Bagwill II
bagwill@jesuitnola.org
Director of Communications
Pierre DeGruy ’69
Jaynotes Editor
degruy@jesuitnola.org
51
52
Director of Alumni
Mat Grau ’68
grau@jesuitnola.org
Director of Special Projects
Br. William Dardis, S.J. ’58
dardis@jesuitnola.org
Creative Director
Meghan Weaver
weaver@jesuitnola.org
Executive Development/
PAG Coordinator
Krista Roeling
roeling@jesuitnola.org
WHAT’S INSIDE
28
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Off They Go! 6
State of the School Address 17
Commencement Luncheon 18
Quiz Bowl Team Champions 40
Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo 44
Career Day 45
Medallion Stories 46
Profile of a Jesuit Teacher Award 54
Full Education Fund Established 56
Teacher Testimonial 57
IN EVERY ISSUE
President’s Message 2 The Next Chapter
Where Y’at 20 Blue Jays here, there, & everywhere
Bib List 25 Baby Jays
In Memoriam 26 Remembering our loved ones
Annus Mirabilis 32 Mining the depths of Jesuit’s archives
Principal’s Corner 43 Observations of Peter Kernion '90
Flying with the Jays 48 The latest achievements in sports
LEF/Events Coordinator
Logan Diano
diano@jesuitnola.org
Alumni Events &
Social Media Coordinator
Wendy Schneider
schneider@jesuitnola.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Marilyn Beauford
beauford@jesuitnola.org
Articles, photographs, and
Where Y'ats may be submitted
to degruy@jesuitnola.org, or online at
www.jesuitnola.org/alumni-updates
Contact info and address
changes should be emailed to
alumni@jesuitnola.org, or call
Jesuit’s alumni office at (504) 483-3838.
ON THE COVER
Two weeks after their graduation with the
Class of 2014, (from left) Ian Calamari,
Jack Caliva, Stanley Dai, and
Kevin Yokum “buzzed” their way to a
National Academic Championship,
the first for a Jesuit Quiz Bowl team.
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Dear Blue Jays:
The genesis of the kidney disease
stories that begin on page 34 goes
back to 2012 when Jason LaHatte
of the Class of 2015 was nearing
the end of his freshman year here
at Jesuit High School. That’s when
doctors gave him and his parents,
Jonnie and Joseph LaHatte,
the medical news they had been
dreading. The kidney that a family
friend so generously donated when
Jason was initially diagnosed with
chronic kidney disease (CKD) at the
tender age of 6 was now, some 10
years later, failing fast.
Jason’s name was added to the
list of about 1,500 CKD patients
in Louisiana who were waiting
for kidney transplants. The list is
maintained by the Louisiana Organ
Procurement Agency and syncs with
a national computer registry. The
phone call for the patient to go to
the hospital can come at any time.
Unfortunately, some patients never
receive the call. The demand for a
new kidney far exceeds the available
supply.
For six months Jason was hooked
up nightly to a dialysis machine that
washed his blood. His one working
kidney was barely functioning at 2%
when that phone call finally came.
The story of Jason and his medical
ordeal occupied an editorial back
burner. Then last fall I had lunch
with John Meunier, my friend
and fellow Blue Jay from the Class
of ’69. We go way back to second
grade at Our Lady of the Rosary
School. John and I were altar boys,
we played CYO sports, we hung
out under the Magnolia Bridge over
Bayou St. John, and we both had
eyes for the same girl, not that she
had hers on either one of us. I hadn’t
seen John in awhile and we had
some catching up to do. Over lunch
John casually mentioned that he
was diagnosed with kidney disease
and six years ago received a kidney
donated by his older brother Jerry
Meunier ’66.
Against a backdrop of staggering
statistics — 26 million Americans
William “Billy” Dwyer '94 A Jesuit alumnus (Class of 1994) whose diminutive frame
belied that of a talented athlete, Mr. Dwyer played soccer
with unbridled passion making him a star among his
classmates. While soccer was his choice sport, Mr. Dwyer was
also a member of the Blue Jay tennis team.
Jason LaHatte and the Meunier
brothers tell their inspiring stories in
the first person. Perhaps other alums
will be inspired to write their own
stories for Jaynotes.
Pierre DeGruy ’69
Editor
(August 26, 1975 - July 9, 2014)
As a senior, Mr. Dwyer was offered scholarships to play soccer
at the College of Charleston and the University of Kentucky.
At the time, he was only the second Blue Jay soccer player to
receive scholarship offers. Mr. Dwyer held a bachelor’s degree
from the University of Kentucky, where he played on the
Wildcats’ soccer team, making the SEC Academic Honor
Roll in 1998. He later earned a master’s degree from UNO.
Mr. Dwyer returned to his alma mater in 2003 as a guidance
counselor. He accepted a two-year assignment in 2008 to
teach at-risk youth at the Good Shepherd School, which is
one of the educational ministries of the Jesuit’s Southern
Province.
Mr. Dwyer returned to Jesuit’s guidance department at the
start of the 2010 school year.
“Billy was a very dedicated guidance counselor who loved
working at Jesuit and counseling students,” said Mary
Favalora, director of guidance. “The students highly respected
him and he was our beloved and revered colleague. We
mourn his loss and will miss him tremendously.”
FROM THE EDITOR
William Patrick “Billy” Dwyer,
who mentored hundreds of
students as a guidance counselor
and coach for nine years at Jesuit
High School, died unexpectedly
on July 9, 2014. He was
38-years-old. Mr. Dwyer was an
assistant coach of the varsity
tennis team, and he also spent six
weeks at the beginning of the
summer break tutoring future
students in Operation Upgrade,
an academic program for
economically disadvantaged boys in elementary grades.
have kidney disease and an
additional 76 million are at high
risk to develop it — I wondered
how many other Jesuit alumni are
dealing with their own CKD? How
many, like John, have experienced
the ultimate gift of generosity
and are alive today because others
donated their kidneys? How many
other Jerry Meunier’s are among our
alumni? How many alumni have
already made provisions to have
their organs donated at the time of
death? How many alumni know
that an abnormal amount of protein
in urine is a sign that something is
wrong with the kidneys?
2 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
The Next Chapter
Delivered to the Class of 2014 at the Commencement Exercises held May 22 at the Pontchartrain Center.
I
’m going
to ask you
to brace
yourselves
for an
ambiguous
sentence.
“No class
leaves Jesuit
High School
unchanged.”
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
This evening may well have been an occasion for each of
you to reflect on how you have been changed over the last
four or five years. However, you have also changed Jesuit.
Had I several days to wax eloquent on this point, I could
speak of the many ways in which Jesuit is now a better
place than it was four or five years ago.
Lacking that luxury, I leave you with this image. Your
senior gift has made possible the restoration of the station
of the cross in the small chapel that depicts Simon of
Cyrene helping Jesus to carry His cross.
You made this choice, thinking of Simon as a man
for others, a quality that makes this a most fitting
commemoration of your class.
Therefore, I wish to point out two features of Simon’s
action that I offer as counsels for you as you move from
Jesuit to a wider world.
When he helped a battered man carrying a heavy
crossbeam, Simon did not know the full import of his
act. Placed into a position of helping a person in need, he
simply did so without the realization that he was in fact
helping the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
Each of you has been and will be placed in positions of
helping others. In giving that help, you — like Simon —
encounter Jesus, Who has said that what we do for the
least of His brethren, we do for Him.
When, as men for others, you aid your neighbors, may
your formation as men of faith enable you to see Jesus in
them and through them.
Moreover, Simon himself was not unchanged by his
act. St. Mark’s Gospel speaks of him as the father of two
disciples, suggesting that Simon did not walk away from
this encounter with Jesus unaffected, but that he and his
family joined the new community centered around this
same Jesus.
Just so, my beloved brothers, my prayer for you — for
each of you — is that every deed whereby you change
others for the good likewise change you by bringing you
closer to God.
You leave Jesuit to write new pages in the books of your
lives. May these also be new pages of the epic of God’s
sharing His love and life with you, a saga wherein, in the
words of C.S. Lewis, “every chapter is better than the one
before.”
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BUILDING A
By Kevin Yokum ’14
Nine members of the Class of 2014 earned the honor of being valedictorians based on their grade point average.
The one graduating senior with the highest total numerical semester grades in the prescribed core curriculum for
his senior year is selected to be the speaker at the Commencement Exercises. Kevin Yokum had the honor of
delivering the Class of 2014 valedictory address.
R
everend Father Fitzgerald, Mr.
Kernion, faculty, family,
friends, and fellow members of
the Class of 2014:
Tonight we celebrate Commencement in
the 167th year of Jesuit High School.
During these years, more than a few
traditions have been established; and a
legacy has been built. It is the
responsibility of every class to embrace
this legacy, to enhance it, and to entrust it
to future classes. In our short time at
Jesuit, the Class of 2014 has done just
that.
This class has been a part of a pivotal time
in the evolution of Jesuit’s legacy. We have
New programs have also blossomed
during our time at Jesuit. We have seen
the rise of the student sodality and a
revival of the intramural program. New
clubs and organizations that cater to
interests ranging from robotics to urban
farming have sprung up during our time.
We have seen a series of personnel
transitions over the years. Mr. Jeremy
Reuther, Mr. Matt Orillion, and Ms.
Helen Swan have stepped into new
leadership positions. The legendary PSAT
“dragon slayer” Mr. Charlie McGannon
retired. The office of principal has
transitioned from Mr. Michael
Giambelluca to Mr. Peter Kernion. Fr.
Anthony McGinn moved on after 19 years
of service at Jesuit, and we have been
blessed with Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald as
president for the past 3 years.
I believe that all these developments can
serve as a reminder that tonight, this
ceremony, marks a significant
development for us. Of course, tonight
marks the end of our time at Jesuit High
School – a time full of great
accomplishments, friendships, and
memories. Yet it is also the beginning of a
bright future for us – a time full of great
freedoms, responsibilities, and
opportunities. Our years at Jesuit and the
people who have guided us have surely
prepared us for whatever awaits us in that
future.
That is not to say that it has always been
easy. There are “growing pains” involved
with any development. We have
experienced loss, defeat, and hardship. But
we kept our heads held high, we came
together, and we persevered through these
times of adversity. And we have been
blessed with an outstanding model of this
perseverance through adversity. Fr.
Fitzgerald, if you will permit me to use
your own words to us at one morning
assembly, “harbor no doubts about what a
source of encouragement, joy, and
consolation you are” to us, the Class of
2014, and to the entire Jesuit High School
community.
Now we go on. We move forward. We
continue to strive for excellence, accepting
our successes with grace and humility and
our failures as opportunities for growth.
And perhaps that is the greatest lesson we
have learned here at Jesuit. Perhaps that is
the true Jesuit legacy, a legacy that we now
carry forward as we leave, a legacy that
reminds us to always work for the greater
glory of God. Thank you.
Watch the videos of Kevin Yokum’s and
Fr. Fitzgerald’s addresses at the
Commencement Exercises for the Class
of 2014 on the Commencement Page:
jesuitnola.org/commencement.
GRADUATION 2014
We have worked tirelessly to build upon
Jesuit’s tradition of excellence. Our effort,
our determination, and our support of
one another have allowed us to
accomplish much. As a class, we have
captured state titles in tennis, lacrosse,
quiz bowl, mock trial, and debate. We
have produced 35 National Merit
Semifinalists. We have served others
through the Thanksgiving Drive, the
Mission Drive, and our Junior Service
Projects. We have grown spiritually
through retreats, Pro-Life trips, and World
Youth Day pilgrimages. And we have
contributed to Blue Jay Spirit by creating
the largest banner in the history of Jesuit
High School, starting the “Blue Jay Shift”
at basketball games, and packing the
student section on numerous occasions.
The Class of 2014 has indeed left its mark
on Jesuit High School.
witnessed the completion of a new
baseball stadium and a new student
parking lot. The Roussel Building has
been renovated, and a restoration of the
2nd floor chapel is just beginning. The
Commons was closed so many times this
year that I believe that it, too, must be
undergoing renovations.
4 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Graduates Honored with Special Awards
A
t the end of each school year, the faculty of
Jesuit High School nominate deserving seniors
who will, following a second and final round
of voting by the faculty, become the newest recipients
of three special awards that are presented at the start of
the graduation ceremony. Traditionally the identities of
the honorees are shrouded in secrecy up until the very
moment of the announcement by the principal, who
serves as master of ceremonies at Jesuit’s commencement.
GRADUATION 2014
In Jesuit High School’s 167th year, Commencement
Exercises for the Class of 2014 were held on May 22 at
the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. At the beginning
of the ceremony, Jesuit’s principal, Peter S. Kernion '90,
announced the names of the honorees: (right photo, from
left) John A. Guerra received the Reverend Father President’s
Spiritual Leadership Award, which is presented to the
senior who has exerted the greatest spiritual influence on
others by living a life exemplifying his Catholic faith.
Quentin E. Marks received The Julia Ferguson McEnerny
Memorial Trophy, Donated by Will Gibbons McEnerny of
the Class of 1914, an award established 100 years ago to
honor one graduating senior who has a good scholastic
record, actively participated in co-curricular activities,
and possesses those qualities which symbolize “the
most representative student of Jesuit High School.”
Brandon D. Myers was the recipient of the Very Reverend
Father Pedro Arrupe Award, which recognizes the senior
who has exemplified the spirit of being a man for
others by his participation and excellence in service.
Additionally, The Blue Jay Parents’ Club Award for
excellence in scholarship was awarded to nine seniors
who are the co-valedictorians of their class, having
graduated with the highest grade point average for four
years at Jesuit: (left photo, from left) Stanley H. Dai,
Reuben A. Hogan, Zhen P. Huang, Christopher M.
Mire, Thomas J. Nimmo, Patrick B. Ryan, Sean E.
Stephens, Cullen M. Walsh, and Kevin E. Yokum
(who delivered the valedictory address).
Special Commendations Presented at 2014
Awards Ceremony
Each year, Jesuit High School recognizes seniors and underclassmen who have achieved significant academic and athletic
honors. Unless designated otherwise, recipients were members of the Class of 2014. Among the awards presented on May
8, 2014 in the Jesuit Auditorium were the following:
The Frank T. Howard Memorial Award — for excellence in
English — was merited by Kevin E. Yokum.
The Jesuit 500 Club Award — for excellence in Latin — was
merited by Kevin E. Yokum.
The William Helis Memorial Award — for excellence in
Greek — was merited by Quinn G. Stiller.
The Loyola University Award for Mathematics — for the senior with
the highest overall average in mathematics — was merited by
Sean E. Stephens.
The Reverend William J. Ryan Memorial Award — for excellence in
social studies — was merited by Kevin E. Yokum. (Donated by the
late Dr. J. Joseph Ryan in memory of his brother, Rev. William J.
Ryan.)
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The Frank T. Howard Memorial Award — for excellence in
physics — was merited by Kevin E. Yokum.
The Jimmy Kuck Award — for excellence in chemistry — was
merited by Steven H. Stradley ’15.
The Award for Excellence in Biology was merited by
Troy A. Broussard, Jr. ’17.
The Paquette Family Award — for overall excellence in
French — was merited by John C. Landry.
The L’Union Français Award — for excellence in French
conversation — was merited by Abel A. Lopez III.
The Ubaldo Trelles Memorial Award — for excellence in Spanish
— was merited by Herbert Spurlock III.
The Susan & Garic Schoen Award — for excellence in computer
studies — was merited by Ian A. Calamari.
The Philelectic Society Award — for outstanding achievement in
dramatics — was merited by Eric J. Hartupee.
The Culture of Life Award — for the student who has shown
exemplary leadership as a member of the Pro-Life Club at Jesuit
High School — was merited by Brendan J. Besh.
The Giunio Socola Memorial Award — for excellence in public
debate in the Lincoln-Douglas senior division — was merited by
Reuben A. Hogan. (Donated by Mrs. Anita Socola Specht.)
The Lea Naquin Hebert Memorial Award — for excellence in
debate in the Public Forum senior division — was merited by
Mako C. Giordano ’15. (Donated by her late sons, the Honorable F.
Edward Hebert ’20 and Mr. Gordon Ray Hebert ’23.)
The Felix J. Hebert Memorial Award — for excellence in debate in
the Public Forum junior division — was merited by
Andrew J. Cerise ’16. (Donated by his late sons, the Honorable F.
Edward Hebert ’20 and Mr. Gordon Ray Hebert ’23.)
The Coach Gernon Brown Memorial Award — for the best
all-around athlete on the junior varsity teams during the 2013-14
school year — was merited by Mark R. Beebe, Jr. ’16.
The Rusty Staub Award — for the senior baseball letterman who
exhibited exemplary leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit — was
merited by Spencer A. Miller.
The Donald R. Ford Award — for the outstanding lineman on
Jesuit’s varsity football team — was merited by
Michael T. McCombs.
The William D. & Maybelle Postell Award — for the senior
basketball player who exhibited exemplary leadership,
scholarship, and spirit — was merited by Grant N. Nichols.
(Donated by their son, Mr. John Blake Postell ’59.)
The “Fighting Jaylet” Award — for the junior varsity basketball
player who demonstrated the highest quality of excellence as a
student athlete — was merited by Mark R. Beebe, Jr. ’16.
(Donated by Mr. Charles W. Heim, Jr. ’59 in honor of the
undefeated 1968 Fighting Jaylets.)
The Morris B. Redmann, Jr. Memorial Award — for the
outstanding senior football letterman who best combined
scholarship and athletics — was merited by James J. Mickler.
The Edwin F. Stacy, Jr. Wrestling Award — for the outstanding
wrestler who made a major contribution to the varsity team,
excelled in academics, and exhibited exemplary leadership — was
merited by Nicholas A. Charles.
The Michael D. Conway Award — for the most valuable player on
the varsity soccer team — was merited by Nicholas D. Tadros.
The Rodriguez Family Award — for the most valuable swimmer
on the varsity swimming team — was merited by
Brett J. Dipuma.
The Aloysius J. Cahill Memorial Award — for proficiency in
oratory — was merited by Rishab M. Chimmanamada ’15.
The Chester M. Rieth Award — for the senior track letterman who
exhibited exemplary leadership, sportsmanship, and spirit — was
merited by Anthony J. Genova.
The John D. Schilleci Memorial Award — for excellence in
elocution in the senior division — was merited by
Mayank Mardia ’16.
The Stanley Ray Award ­— for the most improved letterman on
the varsity track team during the 2013-14 school year — was
merited by Patrick G. LaCour.
The Professor Michael Cupero Memorial Award — for overall
musical excellence — was merited by Quinn G. Stiller.
(Donated by his grandson, Col. Hamil M. Cupero ’56.)
The Most Valuable Golfer Award — for the golfer who made a
significant contribution to the varsity team, exhibited exemplary
leadership, and performed in an outstanding manner in
tournament play — was merited by Charles G. Glorioso ’16.
The Reverend Francis A. Fox, S.J. Memorial Award — for
proficiency in instrumental music — was merited by
Richard A. Williams, Jr. (Donated by Mr. Harry Morel, Jr. ’61 in
memory of his late father, Mr. Harry J. Morel.)
The Coach Edwin E. Toribio Memorial Award — for the senior
who best combined scholarship and athletics — was merited by
Joseph D. Hebert IV.
The Robert T. Casey Memorial Award — for the varsity athlete
who displayed exemplary sportsmanship and spirit — was
merited by Evan M. Kramer.
The Larry Gilbert Family Memorial Award — for the best
all-around athlete on the varsity teams during the 2013-14
school year — was merited by Joseph D. Hebert IV.
The Most Valuable Tennis Player Award — for the senior player
who made a significant contribution to the varsity team,
exhibited exemplary leadership, and performed in an outstanding
manner in tournament play — was merited by Andrew J. Tufts.
The Christopher Morgan Memorial Award — for the cross-country
letterman who exhibited exemplary courage, leadership,
sportsmanship, and spirit — was merited by
Jonathan C. Blanchard.
The Joseph Michael Worley Memorial Award — for the senior who,
by his unselfishness, sportsmanship, and spirit during his career
at Jesuit, enhanced the athletic program either as a player,
manager, trainer, or student — was merited by
Joseph D. Hebert IV.
6 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
The 260 graduates who comprise Jesuit High
School’s Class of 2014 move on to 55 different
universities, from California to New York, but
mostly they remain here in Louisiana.
GRADUATION 2014
The information in the “Off They Go” section was provided by the guidance
department’s college counselors who compiled data submitted online by the
seniors and their parents.
Universities or colleges listed in bold under the names of graduates are the
institutions they are attending. (H) indicates the graduate was accepted to that
school’s Honors College. Majors or courses of study are listed for the majority of
graduates, although a few are “undeclared.”
The various scholarships listed pertain ONLY to the university or college which the graduate has indicated he will attend. Other
universities and colleges that accepted the graduates for admission are also listed.
Congratulations to Jesuit’s Class of 2014! Now, OFF THEY GO!
Daniel Gerard Abadie, Jr.
LSU
Construction Management
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Jorge Miguel Abadin
LSU
English & Political Science
TOPS Opportunity Award,
Balanced Man Scholarship
Zachary Joseph Adams
LSU (H)
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award, Great American Rivalry Series
Student Athlete Award
Loyola University New Orleans (H),
Tulane University (H)
Matthew Sam Alikhani
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Business
Southeastern Louisiana University,
Loyola University New Orleans
Arman Lee Alizadeh
LSU
TOPS Honors Award,
Flagship Scholars Award
Accounting
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Opposite page: The Class of 2014 chose to
have the traditional senior class photo taken
on the front steps facing Carrollton Avenue.
Left: When the 3 p.m. bell rang on their
last day of class, seniors gathered to celebrate
on Will Clark Field.
Mark Raoul Alvarez
Christopher John Babin
National Merit Finalist;
National Hispanic Scholar
University of Alabama (H) Pre-Medicine &
Business
Presidential Scholarship, Achievement
Scholarship Stipend, Presidential National
Housing Scholarship, Study Abroad
Stipend, National Merit Scholarship
LSU (H), Vanderbilt University, Fordham
University, University of Notre Dame
Blake Matthew Baker
Pablo Vidal Amador
Loyola University New Orleans
Social Justice Scholarship
Business
Joseph Alexander Anderson
Iona College (H)
Mathematics
Iona College Presidential Scholarship,
The Zurich Classic Tournament
Chairman Scholarship
Davidson College, Furman University, Loyola
University New Orleans (H), Fordham
University (H), LSU (H), Wofford College
Adam Anthony Aucoin
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Psychology
Austin Joseph Aucoin
LSU (H)
Business Finance &
Business Accounting
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award, LSU Alumni Association’s Global
Leaders Award, St. Matthew the Apostle
Catholic Youth Leadership Award
Rhodes College (H), University of Notre Dame,
University of Texas at Austin (H), University
of Georgia (H), Saint Louis University (H),
Tulane University (H), Spring Hill College (H),
Loyola University New Orleans (H)
Corey Edward Avrard, Jr.
Delgado Community College Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Athletic Scholarship
LSU, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, UNO
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University
of Mississippi
UNO
Pre-Medicine
TOPS Performance Award, Athletic
Scholarship
LSU
Brendan Joseph Besh
University of Notre Dame
Program of
Liberal Studies
University of Dallas, College of William & Mary,
Fordham University (H), Boston College, LSU
(H)
Colton Johari Blagrove
LSU (H)
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic
Scholars Award
Spring Hill College
National Achievement Finalist
Spring Hill College (H)
Biopsychology &
Pre-Medicine
Spring Hill College Service Award, Portier
Leader Award, Athletic Scholarship, The
Mackel Foundation Junior Golf Scholarship
Award, Proctor & Gamble Scholarship
Award, Tau Iota Omega Chapter
Scholarship, Robert J. Taylor Scholarship
Emory University, Baylor University (H),
University of San Francisco, Loyola University
New Orleans, Millsaps College, Samford
University, Fordham University, Tulane
University
Christopher Conway Bellone, Jr.
Jonathan Charles Blanchard
Joshua Stephen Baldassaro
LSU (H)
Chemical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Spring Hill College
Peter Alexander Belleau
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Mississippi
Geology
Matthew Randal Bennett
LSU
Biological Engineering &
Pre-Medicine
TOPS Performance Award
University of Mississippi, Spring Hill College
Collin Mark Bergeron
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Opportunity Award
Ryan Edward Bergeron
Baton Rouge Community College
(LSU Tiger Bridge Program)
Business & Finance
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Alabama
Aerospace
Engineering
Engineering Scholarship, Foundation in
Excellence Scholarship, Academic Common
Market Award
Matthew Joseph Blasini
LSU
Geology
TOPS Performance Award, Geology Field
Camp Scholarship
Southeastern Louisiana University
Stephen Milford Blum
University of
Southern Mississippi
Psychology
Regional Scholarship
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Adam Jonathan Boe
UNO
Computer Science
LSU, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
OFF THEY GO!
Harrison Samuel Cates
LSU (H)
Digital Advertising
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award, Louisiana Independent
Tire Dealers Association Scholarship
University of Dallas, Texas Christian University
Nicholas Anthony Charles
LSU
Computer Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Ian Gerard Brown Cogswell
Baton Rouge Community College
(LSU Tiger Bridge Program) Psychology
TOPS Opportunity Award
At their final assembly, seniors Quentin Marks and Jack Hebert (right) present Fr. Fitzgerald with a gift on
behalf of the Class of 2014 — a generous donation to the Holy Name of Jesus Chapel Renovation Fund.
Vincent Joseph Bonadona
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Criminal Justice
Southeastern Louisiana University
Daniel Joseph Boudreau
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Business
Presidential Endowment Scholarship,
National Merit Finalist Scholarship, In-State
Tuition Waiver Scholarship
LSU (H), Purdue University, University of Texas
at Austin, Fordham University, Spring Hill
College (H), Millsaps College
Brian John Burvant
Clayton Nicholas Colombo
Texas A&M University
at Galveston
Marine Transportation
Freshman Global Scholarship, Non-Resident
Competitive Scholarship Tuition Waiver
Keith Andrew Collins, Jr.
National Merit Finalist
University of Oklahoma (H) Dramaturgy
Oklahoma Academic Scholars Program,
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
Fordham University, University of Alabama (H),
LSU (H)
Mitchell Joseph Bourgeois
Christian Brothers University Engineering
University Scholarship
LSU, Huntingdon College
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University
of Mississippi
Riley Harrell Conroy
Alexander Charles Boustany
Ian Alfred Calamari
UNO
TOPS Performance Award
LSU
UNO
Matthew Leonhard Brandt
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Psychology
Business
Nathan Quinn Braquet
LSU
Political Science
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Fordham
University, University of Alabama, Mississippi
State University, University of Mississippi,
Spring Hill College
Alexander Joseph Brewster
LSU TOPS Performance Award
Christian Taylor Bruno
University of Colorado
University of Denver, LSU
Engineering
Philosophy
Grady Murphy Burnett
John Francis Caliva
Psychology
National Merit Finalist
Texas A&M University
Biomedical
Engineering
Cameron Shedrick Coulon
Brian Chappell Crosby
Kennesaw State University
Dance
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Ryan McCarthy Cambias
Tristan Ray Culotta
LSU (H)
General Business
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Tyler Duy Khan Cao
Saint Louis University
Spring Hill College, LSU
Theology
Psychology
Fordham University
Political Science
Fordham Scholarship
Fairfield University, Trinity University, Creighton
University, LSU (H), Saint Louis University
Jason Thor Crumb, Jr.
Delgado Community College
General
Studies
Business
Weldon Paul Cousins
College of the Holy Cross
English
Holy Cross Scholarship
Sewanee: The University of the South, College
of Charleston, Fordham University, Rhodes
College, Emerson College, Wofford College
August Joseph Cannon
Colin Jarrett Burgess
University of Louisiana
at Lafayette National Merit Finalist;
National Hispanic Scholar
University of Mississippi (H)
Computer
Science
Academic Excellence National Merit Finalist,
Academic Excellence Non-Resident
National Merit Finalist, Academic
Excellence Housing Award, Barnard
Scholarship, National Merit General
Dynamics Scholarship
Tulane University
TOPS Performance Award
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University
of Mississippi
LSU
Pre-Medicine
TOPS Opportunity Award
Southeastern Louisiana University
Stanley Hu Dai
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
Georgetown University
Economics
Fordham University (H), Bowdoin College,
Northwestern University (IL)
w ww.je su it nola .org | 9
Justin Michael Daigle
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Jon Marc Daniels
LSU
Spanish
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Phillip Alexander d’Aquin
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Performance Award, The Snyder Family
Education Assistance Program
Nicholas Patrick David
LSU TOPS Performance Award
Accounting
Bradley Edward Davis
Colorado School of Mines
Petroleum
Engineering
Freshman Merit Scholarship
Ian Joseph DeBautte
UNO
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of North Florida,
Loyola University New Orleans
Film
Clayton David Deron
LSU (H)
TOPS Honors Award
Tulane University
Electrical Engineering
Christopher James Dupré
Brett Joseph Dipuma
Wheeling Jesuit University (H) Theology &
Literature
Dean’s Award, Blessed Francis Xavier
Seelos Scholarship
Canisius College, Franciscan University at
Steubenville, Fordham University,
Spring Hill College
Sean Michael Dobies
LSU (H)
General Business
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University at Albany (State University of New
York), Clemson University, University of
Delaware, Spring Hill College
Patrick Kenneth Doell
National Merit Semifinalist
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Economics
Will Primo Dufour
LSU
General Business
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
UNO
Award, Alvarez & Marsal Junior Golf
Business Management
Scholarship Award, Tommy Moore New
TOPS Opportunity Award
Orleans Golf Association Junior Golf
Scholarship Award
Evan Cornelius DeHoog
LSU of Alexandria
Business
Arthur Harrison Dunlap
Administration/ Finance
National Merit Semifinalist
Merit Award Scholarship
University of Alabama (H)
International
Zachary Michael DeChristopher
Chase Alexander DeMonte
LSU (H)
Undeclared
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic
Scholars Award
Loyola University New Orleans
The Class of 2014 is formally dismissed from
their final Morning Assembly.
Fordham University, American University,
Dickinson College
Studies
Presidential Scholarship, Achievement
Scholarship Stipend, Presidential National
Housing Scholarship, Study Abroad
Stipend, National Merit Scholarship
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Michael Sean Dwyer
UNO
Biology
Biological Science
Efosa Sylvester Eboigbe
Wartburg College
Criminal Justice
Jake Lawrence Eccles
University of Nebraska
Psychology &
Pre-Medicine
Ruth Leverton Scholarship
Wartburg College, LSU, University of Louisiana
at Lafayette, King’s College, Luther College
Chase Joseph Eckholdt
Loyola University New Orleans Undeclared
Loyola University Recognition Award
Spring Hill College, University of Dallas,
Millsaps College
Ryan Poché Ellinghausen
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Spring Hill College
Dominic Michael Engolia
UNO
TOPS Opportunity Award
Kinesiology
Nursing
Joseph Lykes Eustis
National Merit Semifinalist
Southern Methodist University Engineering
Discovery Scholarship
Charles John Everhardt IV
LSU (H)
Geology
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award, Halliburton Field Camp Scholarship
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute
OFF THEY GO!
Gaston Thomas Eymard
Delgado Community College
King’s College
Business
Charles Patrick Farley
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University of Arkansas, University of Alabama
Christopher Blake Fasone
National Merit Finalist
University of Alabama (H)
General
Communications
Presidential Scholarship, Achievement
Scholarship Stipend, Presidential National
Housing Scholarship, Study Abroad
Stipend, National Merit Scholarship
LSU (H), Fordham University, Loyola
Marymount University (H), Boston College
(H), University of North Carolina, Loyola
University New Orleans (H)
Taylor Samuel Ferris
University of Mississippi (H)
Biology &
Pre-Medicine
Academic Excellence Scholarship, Academic
Excellence Non-Resident Scholarship,
Holmes Scholarship, STEM Major
Non-Resident Scholarship
University of Alabama, Spring Hill College,
LSU (H)
Liam Baudouin Fitzgerald
National Merit Finalist
Washington University in St. Louis
American Culture Studies
Danforth Scholars Program Scholarship
Loyola University New Orleans (H), Fordham
University (H)
Jorge Alejandro Galdamez
LSU
Architecture
Austin Joseph Galy II
LSU
International Business
TOPS Opportunity Award
Spring Hill College
Stephen Lee Ganucheau
Mississippi State University
Mechanical
Engineering
Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, Freshman
Academic Scholarship
Grant Flores Garrison
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Undeclared
Anthony James Genova
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Michael Paul Frank
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Political Science
Glenn George Fraychineaud
John Carroll University
Business
University Scholarship, Boys Hope Girls Hope
National Fund
University of Scranton, Saint Louis University,
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Biology
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award
Michael Deane Hanley, Jr.
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Finance
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Fordham University
Fernando Fidel Gonzales
Louisiana Tech University (H) Mechanical
Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Presidential Scholarship
University of Dayton (H), Saint Louis University,
Marquette University
Loyola University New Orleans
Physical
Therapy
Akshay Sandeep Gopal
Boston University
Undeclared
University of Colorado (H), LSU (H), University
of Denver (H)
Charles Matthew Graham
Kyle Thomas Gresham
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
Indiana University, Southeastern Louisiana
University, University of Louisiana at
Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Tulane University
Business
TOPS Honors Award
Spring Hill College, Loyola University New
Orleans
Patrick Daniels France
Dominick Michael Frank
Luke Ellis Hahn
Kory Joseph Hannan
Connor Gregory Gillen
Rhodes College
Pre-Dental
University of Mississippi, Spring Hill College
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Marine Transportation
Freshman Global Scholarship
LSU
Reverend Father President’s Spiritual
Leadership Award
University of Dallas Theology & Philosophy
Dean’s Scholarship
Spring Hill College, Franciscan University at
Steubenville, Loyola University New Orleans,
LSU
Charles Henry Hamilton
High Point University
Biology
Presidential Fellowship
College of Charleston (H), Fordham University,
LSU (H), Saint Edward’s University (H),
Southern Methodist University (H), Texas
Christian University (H), Tulane University,
Washington and Lee University
Evan John Fitzpatrick
John Altazan Guerra
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Engineering
Joshua Michael Griener-Hickey
Spring Hill College (H)
Undeclared
Portier Leader Award, Spring Hill College
Service Award
Hampden-Sydney College, Loyola University
New Orleans, LSU, Tulane University
Connor Paul Gruntz
Louisiana Tech University (H)
Physics/
AstroPhysics
TOPS Honors Award, (LTU) Outstanding
Student Scholarship, Entergy Community
Power Scholarship
Seattle University
Computer Science
Eric Joseph Hartupee
Joseph Louis Hauth
LSU
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
William George Healy, Jr.
LSU
Kinesiology
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
UNO
Caldwell Stinson Hebert
University of South Carolina
Sport &
Entertainment Management
Sims Scholars Award
LSU
Joseph Duas Hebert IV
LSU (H)
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award, Allstate Sugar Bowl National
Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete
Rhodes College, University of Georgia (H)
Robert Patrick Henry
LSU
Mass Communication
TOPS Opportunity Award
Auburn University
Gian-Carlo Hernandez-San Martin
Tulane University
Architecture
TOPS Performance Award, Tulane Scholarship
w w w.je su it nola .org | 11
Left: At the Senior Showcase on the
auditorium stage, Mark Veals belts out
“Classic” by MKTO, eliciting thunderous
applause from his foot-stomping classmates.
Ivan Joseph Hidrovo
LSU Physics
Tiger Excellence Non-Resident Award
Henry Daniel-Pierre Hingle
LSU
TV/Film Production
TOPS Opportunity Award
Reuben Aaron Hogan
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist; National
Achievement Finalist
Washington University in St. Louis Biology
Danforth Scholars Program Scholarship,
National Merit Scholarship, McLeod
Scholars Program Scholarship, National
Achievement Scholarship Award, Junior
Knights of Peter Claver Award, St. Timothy
Award
LSU (H), Harvard University, Duke University,
University of Pennsylvania, University of
North Carolina, Johns Hopkins University,
Emory University, Case Western Reserve
University, Howard University, Tulane
University
Kyle Scott Holzman
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
Allan Thomas Hornbrook
LSU
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Zhen Peng Huang
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
Yale University
Philosophy
PFLAG New Orleans Scholarship
LSU (H), Harvard University, Princeton
University, Georgetown University, Fordham
University
Tristan Joseph Humphrey
LSU
Finance
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Glynn Gerard Hyer, Jr.
LSU
Pre-Veterinary
TOPS Opportunity Award
Auburn University, Mississippi State University,
University of Mississippi, Spring Hill College,
University of Kentucky, UNO, Loyola
University New Orleans, Oglethorpe
University
Ross James Hymel
LSU
International Studies
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, UNO
William Coleman Johnson
University of Alabama
Business
University of Alabama Alumni Scholarship,
Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarship
University of Mississippi, Texas Christian
University
University of Oklahoma, Virginia Military
Institute
Jonathan Hyuk Kwon
LSU
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award
Jordan Todd Lacoste
National Merit Finalist
University of Notre Dame
Engineering
Tulane University, University of Texas at Austin
(H), University of Alabama (H), LSU (H)
National Merit Finalist
Fordham University (H)
Business
Fordham University Scholarship, Coach Frank
D.B. DiCocco Memorial Scholarship,
National Merit State Farm Companies
Foundation Scholarship
Boston College (H), Saint Louis University (H),
Tulane University (H)
Damian Cletus Junius
John Christopher Landry
Zachary George Jones III
Baton Rouge Community College (LSU
Tiger Bridge Program)
Business
TOPS Opportunity Award
Devin Patrick Keister
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Marine Transportation
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Appointment
Birmingham Southern College, Maritime
College (State University of New York), UNO,
California Maritime College
Eugene Dong Kim
National Merit Finalist
Fordham University (H)
Business
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
Ohio State University (H), LSU (H), Tulane
University, Southern Methodist University (H)
Guillaume Soniat Kirsch
Illinois Wesleyan University
Music
Composition
Alumni Fine Arts Scholarship
Loyola University New Orleans, Samford
University, Ouachita Baptist University
Evan Matthew Kramer
UNO
English
TOPS Honors Award, UNO Blue Scholarship
Award
Loyola University New Orleans
John Charles Kurtz
LSU Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Fordham University
Philosophy
Fordham Tuition Award, Fordham Jogues
Scholarship
University of Dallas, Saint Louis University (H),
Spring Hill College (H)
Austin Wilson Lanier
LSU
Pre-Pharmacy
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
University of Mississippi, University of Louisiana
at Monroe
Joshua Allen Larcena
LSU (H)
TOPS Honors Award
Biological Sciences
Jacob Roland Larriviere
LSU (H)
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
University of Alabama (H), Mississippi State
University (H)
Christian Joseph Latino
Delgado Community College
Biology
TOPS Opportunity Award, Athletic
Scholarship, American Italian Renaissance
Foundation Scholarship
University of Southern Mississippi, Southeastern
Louisiana University, University of Mississippi,
LSU, Nicholls State University, UNO,
McNeese State University
OFF THEY GO!
Seniors applaud following the “State of the School” address by
student council president Christopher Dupré.
Matthew Paul Lauto
LSU
Biological Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Stephen Connevey Lazar
LSU
Marketing
TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University
of Mississippi
Taylor Douglas Lee
National Merit Finalist
Washington and Lee University
Political
Science
Francis P. Gaines Scholarship, National Merit
Scholarship
Philip Georges Legrand
University of Alabama (H)
Engineering
Presidential Scholarship, Engineering
Scholarship
LSU (H), University of Mississippi
Cooper Matthew Lemoine
LSU
Pre-Pharmacy
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
LSU (H)
Chemistry/ Pre-Medicine
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
James Joseph Licciardi IV
Delgado Community College
Business
TOPS Opportunity Award, Athletic
Scholarship
Loyola University New Orleans, UNO
Tulane University
TOPS Honors Award
LSU
Abel Augusto Lopez III
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Biochemistry
Patrick Donald Mansour
University of Mississippi
LSU
Real Estate
Quentin Evan Marks
The Julia Ferguson McEnerny Memorial Trophy,
Donated by Will Gibbons McEnerny
of the Class of 1914
University of Mississippi
Business
Academic Excellence Scholarship, Academic
Excellence Non-Resident Scholarship,
Holmes Scholarship
Rhodes College, Sewanee: The University of the
South, LSU
Andrew Glenn Martin
Mississippi State University Political
Science
Freshman Academic Scholarship, NonResident Tuition Scholarship, Eagle Scout
Scholarship
University of Mississippi, LSU, University of
Southern Mississippi, Spring Hill College
Cameron Perry Martinez
Alex Leon Letulle
Brock David Lingle
Nicholas Michael Maggio
Pre-Medicine
National Merit Finalist; National Hispanic
Scholar
LSU (H)
Electrical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award
Rice University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Fordham University, Louisiana Tech University
National Merit Finalist
University of Chicago
English Literature
University Scholarship, National Merit
Northrop Grumman Scholarship
Northwestern University (IL), University of
California (Los Angeles), University of
California (San Diego), University of Virginia,
Wake Forest University
Christopher George Maurice
National Merit Finalist
Auburn University (H)
Business/
Actuarial Science
National Scholars Presidential Scholarship,
Edward and Catherine K. Lowder Endowed
Scholarship
University of Alabama (H)
Joseph Cooney McAloon
Texas Christian University
LSU, University of Mississippi
Business
Michael Thomas McCombs
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Biology
Ryan Scott McKeough
University of Southern Mississippi (H)
Biological Sciences
Regional Scholarship, Academic Excellence
Scholarship
LSU, University of Mississippi, Texas Christian
University, University of Alabama,
Baylor University
Ryan Preston McMahon
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
William Chase McQueen
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Tulane University
Pre-Pharmacy
Finance
Jack Henry Meehan
LSU
Business
TOPS Opportunity Award
Spring Hill College, University of Mississippi
Roy Paul Messina
Louisiana Tech University (H) Biomedical
Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, (LTU) Outstanding
Student Scholarship
Saint Louis University, University of Alabama at
Birmingham (H), Texas A&M University,
Tulane University, LSU (H)
Robert Francis Michalik
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Psychology
Kevin Michael Mickan
University of Notre Dame
Business
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Georgetown University, Boston College,
Wake Forest University, LSU (H)
James Joseph Mickler
LSU (H)
Microbiology
TOPS Honors Award, Chancellor’s Alumni
Scholars Award
Tulane University
w w w.je su it nola .org | 13
Pierre Valcour Miller III
Creighton University
Pre-Medicine
Founders Award, Jesuit Recognition Award
Spring Hill College, University of Dallas, LSU
Spencer Adam Miller
Delgado Community College Kinesiology
TOPS Opportunity Award, Athletic
Scholarship
LSU
Christopher Merrigan Mire
William Harper Myers
LSU (H)
Finance
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award, Global Leaders Award
University of Georgia (H), University of Texas at
Austin (H)
Gabriel James Navar
LSU (H)
Biochemistry
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
University of Notre Dame
Finance
Russ Giammanco Scholarship
Boston College, Fordham University, Saint Louis
University, LSU (H), Harvard University
Matthew Joseph Neagle
Rahul Sanjiv Mirpuri
National Merit Finalist
University of Alabama (H)
Finance
Presidential Scholarship, Achievement
Scholarship Stipend, Presidential National
Housing Scholarship, Study Abroad
Stipend, National Merit Scholarship
LSU (H), Spring Hill College (H), Millsaps
College
Boston College Business Administration
University of Miami, Baylor University (H),
Texas A&M University, Fordham University
(H), University of San Francisco (H), LSU (H)
John William Mitton
Saint Louis University
Computer Science
(SLU) Vice Presidents’ Scholarship, (SLU)
Jesuit High School Award
Saint Joseph’s University, Marquette University,
Fordham University, Loyola University New
Orleans (H), LSU (H), Samford University (H),
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
(H), Spring Hill College (H), University of
Mary Washington (H)
Kyle Stephen Moise
LSU (H)
Computer Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award, Pegues Scholarship, Motiva
Scholarship
Fordham University
Matthew John Monju
National Merit Semifinalist
LSU Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Robert R. Beauchamp Montenegro
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Biology
University of Southern Mississippi, University of
Mississippi
Michael Jude Murray
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Undeclared
Riccardo Salvatore Muzzetto
Loyola University New Orleans
Graphic
Design
TOPS Performance Award, Loyola University
New Orleans Scholar,
Spring Hill College
Brandon Da’Jon Myers
Very Reverend Father Pedro Arrupe Award
Spring Hill College Mass Communication
Gautrelet Award, Citizenship Award, Historic
Second Baptist Church Scholarship
Xavier University of Louisiana
UNO
Pre-Medical Technology
TOPS Performance Award, UNO Silver
Scholarship Award
Benjamin Michael Nettleton
Andrew Ngoc Nguyen
Tulane University
TOPS Performance Award
Physics
Jeremy Trung-Hau Nguyen
Xavier University of Louisiana
Biology
TOPS Performance Award, Xavier University
Scholarship
Loyola University New Orleans
Grant Nelson Nichols
University of Southern Mississippi (H)
Accounting
Academic Excellence Scholarship, Regional
Scholarship
LSU
Thomas Joseph Nimmo
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
United States Military Academy
Engineering
United States Military Appointment
Georgia Institute of Technology (H), Saint Louis
University (H), University of Alabama (H),
LSU (H), Fordham University (H)
Hayden Gregory Pels
LSU
Biological Sciences
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Andre Gordon Perez-Chaumont
LSU
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars
Award
Auburn University, University of Mississippi
Max Chandler Perret
National Merit Finalist
University of Southern California Business
Presidential Scholarship
University of California (Los Angeles), University
of Texas at Austin, University of California
(San Diego), University of California
(Berkeley)
Gavin Paul Pertuit
LSU
Chemical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Peyton Taylor Pertuit
National Merit Finalist
LSU (H)
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award, LSU Distinguished Freshman Award
Tulane University
Matthew Joseph Pettus
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Business
TOPS Opportunity Award, Jordan Bonne
Memorial Scholarship (USA Gymnastics
Trampoline and Tumbling Scholarship)
Baton Rouge Community College (LSU Tiger
Bridge Program)
Collin Daniel Phillips
Florida State University
Musical Theatre
College of Music Scholarship, Tuition
Reduction Scholarship
University of Alabama, Wright State University,
Montclair State University, LSU, Roosevelt
University, Ithaca College, University of
Oklahoma, Ball State University
Whitcomb Welch Porter
Loyola University New Orleans
Biochemistry
Spring Hill College
University of Georgia
Finance
Classic Scholars Award
Tulane University, University of Southern
California, Sewanee: The University of the
South, Boston College
Ross MacGregor Palmer
Andrew John Prejean
Christopher Vincent Padilla
National Merit Semifinalist
LSU
Social Sciences
TOPS Opportunity Award, LSU Academic
Scholars Award
Patrick Bernard Parent
LSU
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Tulane University
Psychology
TOPS Honors Award, Academic Achievement
Award, Curwen-Guidry-Blackburn
Scholarship (Southern Bowling Congress)
LSU
Hunter Vincent Protti
LSU
Pre-Medicine
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award, West Bank Optimist Club
Scholarship, Rotary Club of the Westbank
Community Service Scholarship
OFF THEY GO!
Leron Earl Prout
Louisiana Tech University
Computer Science
University of Virginia, University of Georgia (H),
University of Miami (H), Southern Methodist
University (H), LSU (H), Tulane University (H)
Luke Baumann St. Germain
Ashton Cabel Queyrouze
Alexander Joseph Scalco
David Bernard Stahl, Jr.
Louisiana State University General Business
TOPS Honors Award
Preston Douglas Raffray
LSU
Accounting
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University of Alabama
Douglas Andrew Regan
University of Georgia
Finance
University of South Carolina, University of
Arizona, LSU, University of Mississippi
Carson Joseph Rigol
LSU
Civil Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
Luke Michael Robbins
University of Mississippi
Integrated Marketing Communications
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Baton
Rouge Community College
(LSU Tiger Bridge Program)
Blake Louis Robért
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (H)
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, Academic Scholarship,
Distinguished Freshman Housing
Scholarship, Meal Plan and Computer
Usage Scholarship, Academic Job
Scholarship
Willard Everett Robertson, Jr.
Tulane University
Business
TOPS Honors Award, Founders’ Scholars
Award
LSU (H), Loyola University New Orleans
Alex Michael Rooney
Spring Hill College
Theology
Spring Hill Scholars Award
Tulane University (H), University of Dallas,
Fordham University,
Loyola University New Orleans
James Noble Schwabe
Southeastern Louisiana University Arts/
Animation
Brandon Jay Sequeira
Tulane University
Finance
TOPS Opportunity Award, Athletic
Scholarship
Brian Eugene Sevin, Jr.
Baton Rouge Community College (LSU Tiger
Bridge Program)
Petroleum Engineering
Stephen Daniel Sigle
LSU
Pre-Physical Therapy
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Colby Allen Simoneaux
Marymount University Nutrition
MU Freshman Scholarship, Catholic School
Scholarship, Selected State Scholarship
Becker College, Millsaps College, LSU, University
of Mississippi
Brett Gerard Spansel
Collin Andrew Roy
Eduard Alex Spinu
LSU
Construction Management
TOPS Honors Award
Tulane University (H)
Molecular Biology
TOPS Honors Award, New Orleans Mayoral
Scholarship
LSU (H), Fordham University, Florida State
University (H), University of Miami (H)
Patrick Stephen Russo
Herbert Spurlock III
National Merit Semifinalist
LSU
Finance
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award
Fordham University
English & Spanish
Ron Brown Scholarship, Joseph Adams
National Spanish Honor Society Scholarship
Patrick Berchman Ryan
Reshubh Srinivas
Christian Phillip Ruppert V
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
Vanderbilt University
Biology
Vanderbilt National Merit Scholarship
Undeclared
Jacob Thomas Stansberry
Rhodes College
Undeclared
Fordham University, Tulane University
Baron Alexander Steckler
UNO
Psychology
Patrick Bertram Steen
Spring Hill College
Business
Presidential Scholarship, Service Scholarship
Texas Christian University, LSU (H), Loyola
University New Orleans (H)
Sean Edward Stephens
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
University of Alabama (H)
Engineering
Presidential Scholarship, Achievement
Scholarship Stipend, Presidential National
Housing Scholarship, Study Abroad Stipend,
Elks Lodge 30 Scholarship, National Merit
Scholarship
Rice University, Vanderbilt University, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve
University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Saint Louis University (H), LSU (H)
John Dalton Stieffel
Loyola University New Orleans
Music
Industry Studies
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
Quinn Gabriel Stiller
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
LSU (H)
Petroleum Engineering
Scholars Award
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
University of Alabama
Award, Elks National Foundation Most
LSU
Petroleum Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Spring Hill College
Engineering
LSU TOPS Opportunity Award
University of Mississippi
Accounting
Spencer Matthew Smith
Tulane University
Business
TOPS Honors Award
Loyola University New Orleans, LSU, Saint Louis
University, Spring Hill College, Texas Christian
University
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Loyola University New Orleans Undeclared
TOPS Opportunity Award, Loyola University
New Orleans Recognition Award
UNO
Valuable Student, Catholic Youth
Leadership Award
Tulane University
Tyler Andrew Story
National Merit Semifinalist
LSU
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Christopher Anthony Sylvain, Jr.
Morehouse College
Chemistry
Oprah Winfrey Academic Scholarship
Xavier University of Louisiana, LSU, Tulane
University, Baylor University, Fordham
University
James Edward Szeszycki, Jr.
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award
w w w.je su it nola .org | 15
Puttin’ on the Ritz: Adam Boe shows his classmates the art of
the dance during the Senior Showcase on the auditorium stage.
By the end of his riveting performance, Boe had classmates on
their own dancing feet chanting, “Encore, encore!”
Blue Jay Athletes
Moving On...
Congratulations to 13
seniors of the Class of 2014
who have committed to
continue their athletic —
and academic — careers at
various collegiate levels.
Six Blue Jay baseball players
are staying in New Orleans:
C.J. Avrard, Christian Latino,
James Licciardi, and Spencer
Miller will play at Delgado
Community College, Blake
Baker will be at UNO, and
Brandon Sequeira is heading
to Tulane University.
C.J. Blagrove will play golf at
Spring Hill College.
Evan Fitzpatrick and Colby
Simoneaux will play lacrosse
at, respectively, Rhodes
College (Memphis) and
Marymount University
(Washington, D.C.).
Mitchell Bourgeois, Evan
DeHoog, and Nicholas
Tadros will play soccer
at, respectively, Christian
Brothers University
(Memphis), LSU (Alexandria),
and Roanoke College
(Salem, Virginia).
Brett Dipuma will swim at
Wheeling Jesuit University
(Wheeling, West Virginia).
During Senior Week, there is one activity that requires more courage than
“Teacher Impersonations” and demands a sense of balance and agility that puts
“Shirt Signing” in the laundry. The physical activity, more fun than munching on
jambalaya, is, of course, Slip ’n Slide. Here, Luke Hahn manages to stay on his feet.
OFF THEY GO!
Seniors meet on Will Clark Field for a fairly new
year-end tradition — autographing each other’s
khaki shirts.
Nicholas Daniel Tadros
Roanoke College
Presidential Scholarship
University of South Carolina, LSU
Biology
Christopher Joseph Taliancich
LSU
Environmental Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
William Stevenson Tebbe
LSU Biomedical Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (H)
John Frederick Tufts
Tulane University
Architecture
Fordham University, LSU, Savannah College of
Art and Design
Mark Allen Veals, Jr.
Xavier University of Louisiana Computer
Information Systems
Adam Theodore Waguespack
LSU
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Opportunity Award
Malik Michael Walker
LSU
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Life University
Business Administration
Bowling Green State University, Arkansas State
University, Lindenwood University, Loyola
University New Orleans
William Elliott Thompson
Cullen Michael Walsh
Brayden James Thompson
National Merit Finalist
LSU (H)
Computer Science
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
Nicola Cosimo Tomba
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
LSU (H)
Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, Flagship Scholars Award
Texas A&M University (H), University of
Tennessee (H)
LSU
Electrical Engineering
TOPS Honors Award, LSU Academic Scholars
Award
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Corey David Webb
Christopher Paul Totaro
UNO
LSU
TOPS Opportunity Award
Nursing
James Burk Whitlow III
Daron Davone Wilford
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Computer Science
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Communications
Southeastern Louisiana University, Nicholls
State University
David Conner Treen III
Richard Antoine Williams, Jr.
LSU (H)
Biology
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Garrett Wayne Wolff
National Merit Finalist
Texas A&M University Biomedical Science
President’s Endowed Scholarship, National
Merit Recognition Award, Non-Resident
Competitive Scholarship Tuition Waiver
Nicholas Paul Wolff
LSU
TOPS Honors Award
Auburn University
Economics
Mark Wayne Woods, Jr.
Kevin Edward Yokum
Naval Architecture
LSU
Pre-Veterinary
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
University of Mississippi, Auburn University
Andrew Joseph Tufts
LSU (H) Biological Sciences/ Pre-medicine
TOPS Honors Award, Tiger Excellence
Scholars Award
Baylor University, Tulane University
Bailey Joseph Weber
Toussaint Harold Trahan
University of Mississippi
Finance
Baton Rouge Community College (LSU Tiger
Bridge Program)
Evan Thomas Wolff
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Accounting
TOPS Opportunity Award
Sean Russell Wheat
Richard Charles Trahant, Jr.
United States Military Academy
International Relations &
Defense and Strategic Studies
United States Military Appointment
LSU, United States Coast Guard Academy
LSU Mechanical Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
LSU
Environmental Engineering
TOPS Performance Award
Spring Hill College, University of Louisiana at
Lafayette
Morehouse College
Biology
Howard University (H), Tuskegee University,
Loyola University New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Community College (LSU Tiger Bridge
Program)
Christopher Louis Wilson
National Merit Semifinalist;
National Achievement Finalist
Dartmouth College
Biology
Dartmouth General Scholarship
Fordham University (H), Spring Hill College,
Saint Louis University, Tulane University (H),
LSU (H)
Valedictorian; National Merit Finalist
University of Notre Dame (H)
Electrical
Engineering
Stamps Notre Dame Scholarship, Catholic
Youth Leadership Award, National Merit
Finalist Scholarship, NHS Scholarship State
Winner
Duke University
Christopher Douglas Young
UNO
Mechanical Engineering
Nicholas Michael Youngblood
LSU
Agriculture
TOPS Honors Award
University of Mississippi, University of Louisiana
at Lafayette
Sang Hyun Yun
Xavier University of Louisiana Chemistry/
Pre-Pharmacy
Spring Hill College, Loyola University New
Orleans, University of Mississippi
Nathan Mayer Zimmer
LSU
TOPS Performance Award
Kinesiology
w w w.je su it nola .org | 17
Over the past 20 years, the final morning assembly at Jesuit High School has marked a special occasion for graduating
seniors. Since 1994, the president of the student council has the responsibility and privilege of delivering the “State of the
School” address to fellow Blue Jays.The speech typically assesses the unique imprint made by the seniors during their years
at Carrollton and Banks. At this year’s final assembly on May 2, student council president Christopher Dupré recited a
condensed litany of impressive accomplishments by the Class of 2014, while also challenging all Blue Jays to…
Lead Humbly as Men for Others
G
ood morning, Blue
Jays. At our first
assembly of the
school year a little more
than nine months ago, we
gathered with excitement
and anticipation in what lay
ahead. The student council
challenged each student to
go beyond himself, beyond
his comfort zone, and to
buy into the lifestyle that is
Men for Others.
Now this mantra is more
than a nice catch phrase,
often printed next to “The
school that will change
your life.” Men for Others is the bedrock of
Jesuit. It is the cornerstone in all that we
do here. It is the mark that Jesuit leaves
on us once we all walk out the doors one
last time. This motto is a call to arms;
to constantly give of one’s self; to look
at our brother standing next to us and
be more concerned about his well being
than our own. This year, the student body
embodied a unique dedication to this
call to arms. We were more unified, more
zealous, and more motivated to lead the
school to new heights. As a student body,
this principle was clearly the driving force
behind our Blue Jay Spirit.
Whether “Lebron Jamesing” at Tad
Gormley Stadium, defending our
homeland in the Carrollton Clash, or
packing the house for Damn Yankees,
we took pride in our school and lived
out the Men for Others motto in every
area. We had 41 seniors whose academic
accomplishments garnered well-deserved
recognition, including 35 National Merit
Scholars and two Blue Jays with perfect
ACTs. Athletically, we fought bravely
on the fields of battle. We embodied the
Winter Soldier this year more than ever,
and defended our mother, our Alma
Mater, clinching three athletic and four
academic state titles. Spiritually, we grew
enormously in maturity and faith under
the direction of Fr. Fitzgerald and the
other religious and faculty who taught
with compassion and inspired us to carry
out the Men for Others mantra.
Men, this year has been one that has
been more fulfilling than ever. But I lay
a challenge before you now: Lead. Lead
now. Lead and hold fast to the ideals that
Jesuit has instilled. Hold fast to the first
principle and foundation — that man
was created to praise, reverence, and serve
God and by this means save his soul.
All other things on the Earth are merely
tools to enable him for this task. It is not
simply the senior’s job to lead. It is not
the executive board’s job to lead. It is our
collective calling from Christ. Lead.
How do we lead? The same way we’ve
done it all year. Leading is humbling
yourself in order to let others shine.
Leading is standing for core principles
in a time when morals are disregarded.
Leading is sacrificing for the greater good.
Leadership is not a title, men. It is a frame
of mind. Leadership is a lifestyle. As
Teddy Roosevelt once said:
The credit belongs to the
man who is actually in the
arena, whose face is marred
by dust and sweat and
blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short
again and again, because
there is no effort without
error and shortcoming; but
who does actually strive to
do the deeds; who knows
great enthusiasms, the great
devotions; who spends himself
in a worthy cause; who at
the best knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he
fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who neither know
victory nor defeat.
Now is the time for leaders to step
forward in every grade level and
organization on campus and take hold of
this school, the opportunities that await
in the coming years, and capitalize on
them. Let the opportunities be catalysts
for growth. Let them be memorable
experiences. But more importantly, let
them be times that you lived out the Men
for Others mantra. Because four or five
years pass quickly, and in an instant you
will be leaving the place that you entered
a boy and left a man.
It has been an honor and a privilege to
serve as your president. Brothers, you have
made my five years here some of the best
of my life. I hope that your years here are
as fulfilling and formative as they have
been for me. May God bless all of us in
our respective paths as we leave Jesuit, the
school that has changed our lives.
— Christopher Dupré ’14
Student Council President
18 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Class of 2014
GRADUATION 2014
Commencement Luncheon
In His Inimitable Style,
Gordy Rush ’86 Addresses
Newest Alumni
B
lue Jay Spirit abounded at the
13th annual Commencement
Luncheon held on May 2 in the
Bienville Club Room of the MercedesBenz Superdome. A record-setting
number of alumni, 255, joined the
260 graduating seniors to enjoy a
midday gathering that included
inspirational addresses, a delicious
meal, and the passionate interaction
of Blue Jays from classes ranging from
1939 to 2014.
Gordy Rush '86
Glenn Gillen ’85, who serves
as president of Jesuit’s Alumni
Association, formally welcomed the
Class of 2014 into the Association.
So impressed with the setting and the
size of the audience, Gillen could not
help but turn his back to the audience,
hold up his cell phone, smile, and
snap a “selfie” from his position
behind the podium. Once his awe
subsided, Gillen advised the seniors,
“Stay connected, take pride in being
a Jesuit grad, and make the Jesuit
community proud of you through
your success.”
This year’s alumnus speaker — Gordy
Rush, who was a football standout at
Jesuit and LSU — has done all three.
Rush, a 1986 alumnus and father
of three, manages a group of radio
stations in Baton Rouge and serves
as a member of the LSU football
announcing team.
From the perspective of 28 years since
walking the halls of Jesuit, Rush told
the almost-alumni of the life lesson
of the school uniform. “Jesuit took
students from all walks of life,” he
said. “I was a middle class kid from
w w w.je su it nola .org | 19
Collin Phillips leads the singing of the Alma Mater after being introduced by student council
president Christopher Dupré (far left).
Alex Anderson, Christopher Mire, Patrick Ryan,
and Max Perret in the Bienville Club Room of
the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Adam Waguespack and his grandfather
Dooty Patron ’51
the West Bank sitting next to a wealthy
guy from New Orleans on one side and
on the other side a kid busting his behind
at recess to make ends meet to help pay
for his scholarship. But all wore the same
uniform. Everyone is equal. That’s life.”
Generational Jays: Senior Ryan Cambias with
his father Ron Cambias, Jr. ’81 and grandfather
Ron Cambias, Sr. ’53.
Rush also encouraged the seniors to
embrace the spiritual lessons afforded at
Jesuit.
“Coming from a private school, I
had not discussed openly a spiritual
relationship with God,” he said. “Jesuit
gave me that opportunity. Here you
talked with your peers and the Jesuits
about that relationship and did not just
memorize verses and history. That led to
my personal relationship with God that
has been so important to me throughout
my life, especially in getting through
adversity.”
View the photo gallery of the Class
of 2014 Commencement Luncheon
at jesuitnola.org/commencementluncheon.
Scott Delatte ’06, who teaches theology and is
co-moderator of the student council, with
seniors Brendan Besh and Adam Waguespack.
Senior Mark Alvarez with his father Rene
Alvarez ’83 and grandfather A.J. Capritto ’48.
Senior Vincent Bonadona with his uncle,
Richard Kuntz ’83, and grandfather
Dick Kuntz ’46
20 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
WHERE Y’AT
1950s
Eugene “Elk” Kirsch ’56
is a management consultant
and works full time as does
his wife Dianne. The couple
make their home in Humble,
TX and keep busy with
their five children and 13
grandchildren.
Rudy Ehrensing ’57 was
the recipient of The Lifetime
Achievement Award, the
highest honor bestowed by
the Ochsner Health System.
As president of the Medical
Staff of Ochsner Foundation
Hospital, Rudy has held many
administrative roles over
the years, but never stopped
practicing psychiatry. The
Lifetime Achievement Award
recognized Rudy’s outstanding
accomplishments at Ochsner
as a clinician, educator,
research scientist, and medical
administrator.
T. Noel Osborn ’58 has
forged a career that combines
two loves: economics and the
Spanish language. In a recent
Economics Department’s
newsletter of the University of
Colorado, Noel explains how
his decision to join several
other economics graduate
students in a Fulbrightsupported exchange program
many years ago changed
the direction of his life.
The program brought the
students to the Autonomous
University of Guadalajara,
Mexico, where an interest
and a hobby blossomed into
a career. Eventually Noel
became director of the U.S.
International University
Campus in Mexico City
and formed Tecnología
Administrativa Moderna
(now TEAM International).
He continues to lead TEAM
International, which is
credited with interventions
in some 600 companies with
over 10,000 participants,
nearly 75% of whom are
from Spanish-speaking
organizations in Latin
America. While Noel’s
principal residence is in
San Antonio, an important
operating office remains in
Mexico City, where he travels
regularly. Noel holds dual
citizenship in the U.S. and
Mexico.
Jack Saux ’59 has published
his third novel, The Lamp, as
an e-book with the action, of
course, taking place in New
Orleans.
1960s
Billy Fitzgerald ’65 has
retired from the Newman
School in New Orleans. Billy
and his wife Peggy are moving
to Greensboro, NC to be
closer to their children and
eight grandchildren. What
started as a part-time offseason
job coaching Newman’s 8th
grade baseball team turned
into a teaching, coaching, and
administrating career spanning
41 years at the uptown
school. Through the years
Billy served as the Greenies’
head basketball coach (five
state titles), head baseball
coach (two state titles), and
athletic director. Billy was
a standout basketball and
baseball player at Jesuit and
Tulane University. He was the
prep state MVP in basketball
in 1965 and was inducted into
Tulane’s Sports Hall of Fame.
At a March event honoring
Billy, his former players agreed
on their favorite Fitzgerald
quote: “Don’t be good. Be
great.”
Jack Laborde ’67 reigned as
Rex on Fat Tuesday, March 4.
For the past 10 years he has
served as the organization’s
parade chairman. Jack sports
a long list of community
involvement endeavors
and has long been a major
player in the local oil and
gas industry. He currently
is chairman of the board of
Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.,
which builds offshore oil and
gas production platforms in
Houma. Jack serves on the
board of the LSU Health
Sciences Center Foundation
and the Board of Advisors of
the Tulane University Science
& Engineering School. When
not attending to business,
His Majesty can usually be
found on the golf course.
Jack and his wife Peggy
have two children and three
grandchildren. Their son Eric
is a Blue Jay, Class of 1996.
1970s
Scott Mathews ’70
completed a year-long
international public health
fellowship, part of which
was spent in South Africa
working on public health
challenges such as HIV/AIDS
and tuberculosis. Scott is a
public health advisor with
Atlanta’s Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Scott and his wife Dey
were based in Pretoria and
traveled extensively during
the fellowship. He joined the
CDC in 2010 after a 28-year
career with BellSouth. The
couple reside in Atlanta and
have two sons.
Jay Brooks ’72 was named
2013 Physician Leader of the
Year for the Ochsner Health
System. He and his wife Vicki
have lived in Baton Rouge
for the past 25 years and have
three children: Megan, B.J.,
and Josh.
John Laiche ’74 is a senior
system architect assigned
to the U.S. Navy Joint
Information Environment
initiative in San Diego, where
he recently purchased a new
home.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 21
Dennis Muller ’74 is
president of Eyedox, an eye
and vision service provider in
Chalmette.
to reuniting with my fellow
Blue Jays in the future,” writes
Jeff. “Best wishes from the
Hawaiian Islands.”
Edwin Condoll ’78 is catering
supervisor at Offshore Staffing
Services of Acadiana.
Claude Kelly ’79 was
appointed to the top post
of federal public defender
for the Eastern District of
Louisiana, which encompasses
13 parishes, including Orleans
and Jefferson. Claude has
practiced in state and federal
court for more than 20 years,
both in private practice and
the public sector. Reflecting on
his appointment, Claude said,
“I think in all of law, there’s
nothing more honorable than
criminal public defense work.”
Brett Giroir ’78 is a physician
who was recently named
executive vice president and
CEO of the Texas A&M
University Health Science
Center whose 2,700 faculty
members and staff educate
2,400 students annually,
while serving patients and
their families from Dallas to
McAllen, and internationally
in Latin America, Africa, and
Asia. Brett and his wife, Jill,
have spent almost six years in
AggieLand.
Jeff Hartlage ’79 is still flying
around the Pacific islands,
work, which prevented him
from attending his 35th year
class reunion. “I look forward
1980s
Greg Bensel ’80 (read the
item about Brian Foret ’01)
Tim Parenton ’80 is
manager of the Hudson Valley
Renegades, the Class A affiliate
of the Tampa Bay Rays in
Fishkill, NY. Tim was Jesuit’s
head baseball coach from 2007
to 2010.
Kevin Cruice ’81 and his
family have called Great
Britain “home” since January,
thanks to a work assignment
for MWH Global, Inc., where
he is a project manager. MWH
provides planning, design and
construction management
services for a wide range
of water resources projects
around the world. Kevin
writes: “My assignment is
for at least two years, and we
expect to have a series of great
adventures before we head
back.”
Jorge Bravo ’82 is an assistant
professor of classics at the
University of Maryland.
Kevin Armantrout ’84 is
president of the Indianapolisbased Hoosier Hospitality
SAVE THE
DATE
LEF FALL
PHONE & EMAIL
CAMPAIGN
OCTOBER 14-16
Group, which owns and
operates franchise locations
with Ruth’s Chris Steak House
and Another Broken Egg Cafe.
Thomas Fonseca ’84 was
selected by the East Jefferson
General Hospital Auxiliary
as a 2014 Great Lady/ Great
Gentleman honoree for his
involvement in several civic,
community, and charitable
organizations. As vicepresident of corporate relations
at Greater New Orleans, Inc.,
Tommy was one of eight
honorees recognized for his
work with the Greater New
Orleans Sports Foundation,
Kevin Trower ’52 Honored for Decades of Service
Kevin Trower ’52, the legendary New Orleans prep coach,
was celebrated and honored at a dinner in Jesuit’s Student
Commons this past January for his many years of devoted
service to the students and athletes at Jesuit as well as
several other local schools.
More than 250 of Trower’s former players and students,
colleagues, family, and friends were on hand to hear
testimonials delivered by representatives from Holy Cross,
St. John Prep, De La Salle, Chapelle, Ecole Classique,
Archbishop Rummel, and of course, Jesuit — all schools at
which Trower coached or taught. The event was organized
by former Blue Jay baseball player Howard Maestri ’64, who
played for Trower all those years ago.
Former Jesuit basketball and baseball standout
Billy Fitzgerald ’65 described Trower as a phenomenal coach,
a one of a kind. “Kevin taught fundamentals, technique,
strategy and preparation,” said Fitzgerald, who recently
retired as athletic director at Isidore Newman School. “He
knew what the other team was going to do. We were always
prepared.”
Each guest was given a copy of Teacher, Coach and Mentor, a
collection of Trower’s
coaching strategies,
recollections from
former players
and students,
and a plethora of
photographs.
Coach Trower also
left with something
special — a
Howard Maestri ’64 and Kevin Trower ’52
surprise gift of
round trip tickets
for he and his
wife Dixie to Cooperstown, N.Y., the home of the Major
League Baseball Hall of Fame, which he has never visited.
Trower will finally have the opportunity to see the photo of
his Jesuit-based 1960 American Legion World Championship
team and the award given to the World Series MVP, Dick
Roniger ’60, who attended the tribute.
“I am truly blessed to have been a teacher,” said Trower. “And
I coached because I loved it.”
WHERE Y’AT
SAVE THE
DATE
HOMECOMING
VS. EAST
JEFFERSON
OCTOBER 3
at 7 PM
HOMECOMING
ALUMNI MASS
& RECEPTION
OCTOBER 4
at 5 PM
the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society of New Orleans,
Preservation Resource Center,
Sean Peyton’s Play it Forward
Foundation (sponsorship
chairman), Young
Entrepreneurs Succeeding,
Banker’s Care Board, and the
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Bret Hanemann ’85 was
presented the Distinguished
Faculty Award at Tulane
University School of
Continuing Studies where he
has taught “Persuasive Public
Speaking” for many years.
In recognizing Bret, who
is director of admissions at
Jesuit High School, associate
dean Terry Fitzmorris ’68
cited his exemplary teaching.
“Among Bret’s finest qualities
is his ability to calm students’
anxiety about speaking in
public,” said Fitzmorris. “He
has a knack for constructive
criticism and for organizing
students’ thoughts. It is a rare
gift.”
Vidal Martinez ’86 is chief
warrant officer currently
serving onboard the USS
Roosevelt. He and his wife
Jenifer live in Jacksonville, FL
with their daughter Olivia.
Vidal has served in the U.S
Navy for 21 years and will
be reporting to the USS
Gettysburg in September.
deal negotiations, investments,
mergers, and acquisitions.
Charles Ballay ’88 relocated
back to the New Orleans
area and is on the staff of
West Jefferson Medical
Center where he practices
otolaryngology/ head and neck
surgery.
Brian Villavaso ’94 was
recently promoted to
lieutenant colonel in the
U.S. Air Force. He currently
works on Capitol Hill as a
legislative liaison, representing
the director of the national
reconnaissance office to
Congress. Brian has served
more than 15 years on active
duty in the Air Force. He and
his wife Michelle, and their
children, Morgan and Luke,
live in Fairfax Station, VA.
1990s
Maurice A. Brungardt ’90 is
assigned to the U.S. Embassy
in Lusaka, Zambia where he
and his family are also living.
John Finnan ’91 has fulfilled a
dream by recently opening his
own pharmacy and drug store
— Finnan’s Family Pharmacy
— on Gausse Boulevard in the
heart of Slidell.
Scott Bellina ’93, over the
past 17 years, has compiled an
extensive portfolio of awardwinning creative design. As
owner and creative director
of Bellina Creative Design
in New York City, Scott has
brought his passion for visual
design to a host of projects
for clients while working
collaboratively with boutique
design firms, corporations,
ad agencies, magazine
publications, and in-house
creative teams. Additionally,
Scott is an ASCAP-published
songwriter and performer
and volunteers as an assistant
life coach with Landmark
Education.
Arthur O’Keefe ’93 is the
CFO of Movile, a private
company which describes itself
as “Latin America’s biggest
mobile content platform.”
Movile has 300 employees
and nine offices, including its
headquarters in Brazil, where
Art oversees corporate finance,
Mike Yenni ’94 was
recognized as the 2013
Chairman’s Champion by the
Jefferson Parish Economic
Development Commission.
Mike was recently re-elected
to a second term as mayor of
Kenner. He has made business
development a priority
for the city, especially the
revitalization of Rivertown
and drawing businesses to
the Coconut Beach volleyball
complex in Laketown.
Stephen Hanemann ’95
donned his chef ’s hat to lead
the Kean Miller law firm in
the New Orleans Bar and Grill
charity-cooking competition,
which attracted 18 teams. The
attorney and gourmet chef
cooked up a trio of appealing
dishes that were judged to be
top notch. Stephen’s “Best
Dessert” was a traditional
sweet beignet with café au
lait ice cream, powdered
sugar, and cocoa drizzle. His
“Best Local Favorite” was
oyster Rockefeller beignets —
fresh Louisiana Gulf oysters
infused with his own secret
seasoning and topped with
Rockefeller sauce, crottin
poivre cheese, sea salt, and hot
sauce. Stephen also captured
“Best Overall” for the highest
combined score of food entries
along with showcasing the best
booth.
Joseph Authement ’97 is
vice president of Intuitive
Surgical, a global technology
leader in robotic-assisted
minimally invasive surgery
(MIS). Intuitive designs and
builds the da Vinci® Surgical
System, which enables
surgeons to perform delicate
and complex operations
through a few small incisions.
Maury LeBlanc ’97 teaches
at Southern Polytechnic State
University in Marietta, GA.
Maury earned his Ph.D. in
mathematics in May 2013
from the University of
Georgia. “My wife Sara and
I, along with our four cats,
recently moved from Athens
to Marietta and are excited
about our new home,” said
Maury, “Although we will
always remain New Orleanians
at heart.”
Warren Surcouf III ’97
recently started his own
consulting business, WMS,
Inc., and is also a project
manager for Fat City Friends,
a group which supports the
revitalization of Metairie’s
entertainment district.
Matthew Taylor ’97 is an
insurance fraud analyst in the
special investigations unit of
GEICO where he has worked
13 years. He and his wife
Alyssa have a 7-year-old son
w w w.je su it nola .org | 23
Mason and the family resides
in Dallas.
Francisco Ochoa ’98 is clinic
director/ partner at Physiofit
Physical Therapy and Wellness
located on West Harrison
Avenue in Lakeview.
Bryan Bertucci ’99
completed his eighth year as
choral director at St. Amant
High School in Gonzales. He
recently earned his master’s
degree in education from
Southeastern Louisiana
University.
Jonathan Hemelt ’99 serves
as assistant pastor at St. Pius X
Church and Parish on the
Lakefront. In February, he
experienced an unforgettable
vacation to Rome and Assisi.
He celebrated Mass in three
major basilicas, visited the
Sistine Chapel, and prayed at
the tombs of St. Francis and
St. Clare in Assisi. The most
treasured moment was his
encounter with Pope Francis
(pictured above). “Before the
Wednesday audience in St.
Peter’s Square, Pope Francis
stopped the ‘pope-mobile’ very
close to us to enjoy a taste of
his favorite drink, mate — an
Argentinian tea — which had
been offered to him by some
of his fellow countrymen,”
reports Jonathan. “After he
greeted some of the people
near me, I was able to reach
just far enough to get his
attention and briefly shake
his hand. It was a moment
of great excitement, not only
because he is the Pope, but
also, because he is a man of
obvious love, humility, and
holiness.”
Jeffrey Hufft ’99 is an
assistant district attorney in
Orleans Parish. “The fact that
I possess the ability to give
back to our city and bring
closure to victims that live
among us makes me love my
job,” writes Jeff. “I hope to
encourage others to explore
the possibility of becoming
career prosecutors.”
2000s
Blake Babcock ’00 and
his wife Jessica are both
fourth year surgical residents
at Drexel University in
Philadelphia. They have been
married for four years and
recently welcomed their first
child (read the Bib List).
Keith LeBlanc, Jr. ’00 is
a dermatologist who last
September opened The Skin
Surgery Centre on Metairie
Road. Keith specializes in
Mohs micrographic surgery
and reconstruction. He and
his wife Ashley are expecting
their third child in December
to join Ian (age 4) and Grace
(age 2).
Brian Foret ’01 and Greg
Bensel ’80 finished as
runners-up in the 2014 Zurich
Classic Golf Tournament’s
Pro-Am event at the TPC on
the West Bank.
Arturo Santos ’01 is
executive director at GUTI,
the Premier Beauty & Wellness
Academy in Sarasota, FL. He
recently published his first
book, All Out for Love, which
is based on true events in his
own life.
Santos
Harry Cradic ’02 is a law
clerk at the Baton Rouge law
firm of Robert H. Schmolke.
Scuddy Fontenelle ’02
earned his Ph.D. in school
psychology from Oklahoma
State University. He
recently completed a predoctoral internship at the
Monroe-Meyer Institute,
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Clinic, at the University of
Nebraska Medical Center.
Scuddy accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in
clinical psychology at the
May Institute, National
Autism Center in Boston,
MA. Scuddy recently served
as a groomsman/ usher in
the weddings of fellow Blue
Jays Michael Mule ’02,
Millard Mule ’02, and Justin
Ritter ’02.
Kevin Kavanaugh ’02 is an
accountant and office manager
at Decro Development, LLC.
Foret (left) and Bensel
disease). Blair became
Gleason’s caretaker in 2012
and is also the general manager
of Gleason’s foundation, Team
Gleason.
Blair Casey ’03 is the
full-time caretaker for Steve
Gleason, the former New
Orleans Saint who has ALS
(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
also known as Lou Gehrig’s
Blair Casey is pictured with
Steve Gleason and his wife,
Michel Varisco Gleason, and
the couple’s son Rivers.
Tucker Couvillon ’04 is a
project manager at Surface
Systems, a commercial
construction company. He
married Christine Marie
Goletz in November 2013 and
the couple reside in the French
Quarter.
Jeremy Chenier ’05 is a
chemical account manager
for Baker Hughes where for
the past two years he has
worked offshore to solve
fluid separation problems
on Chevron’s oil and gas
production platforms.
Michael Mims ’05 married
Michelle Mullin in February
at the Academy of the Sacred
Heart. Michael and Michelle
live in New Orleans, where
he practices law at the
Poydras Street firm of Bradley
Murchison Kelly & Shea LLC.
Leland Smith ’05 designs
video games in the New
Orleans studio of Gamelofts,
which he joined two years ago.
Gamelofts is an international
WHERE Y’AT
company and the secondranked game publisher in
the world in terms of game
downloads on smartphones
and tablets in 2013.
Joseph Testa ’05 is
pursuing his master’s degree
in mechanical engineering
after being selected for the
Engineering Duty Officer
program. He is currently
aboard the USS Truxtun for a
nine month deployment.
Neal Ajubita ’06 played in
his first PGA event — the
2014 Zurich Classic held at
the TPC in Avondale. He
qualified for the event by
winning a Gulf State Section
championship last fall. At
Jesuit, Neal was a member of
the golf team, but did not play
at Clemson University, where
he graduated.
Patrick Cragin ’06 appeared
in a February 2014 episode
of the television crime drama
Law and Order. Patrick,
who has a bachelor of music
degree in music theater from
Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C., lives
in New York City. “I'm just
continuing to pursue the
acting career in big ways,” he
writes, “and figuring out how
to fit into this crazy world.”
Eric Cusimano ’06 won the
“Stella” part of the “Stanley
& Stella Shouting Contest,”
an event that traditionally
closes the annual Tennessee
Williams Festival in the
French Quarter. Eric bested
24 other contestants this year
in replicating not just the
sound but also the passion and
emotion of Stanley Kowalski’s
iconic scream to Stella in A
Streetcar Named Desire. Eric
resides in Austin.
David Helman ’07 lives in
the Dallas area where he is a
full-time writer for the Dallas
Cowboys’ website. Prior to
joining the Cowboys, David
covered LSU athletics for espn.
com. He graduated from LSU
in communications with an
emphasis on print journalism.
Jansen Petagna ’07 married
Georgia Dodge on May 24.
Jansen and Georgia reside in
New York City.
Matt Artigues ’08 is a
lighting technician with
Koozå, one of Cirque du
Soleil’s Touring Big Top
shows which is currently in
Europe. He began his career
with Cirque du Soleil in Las
Vegas in March 2013. As the
LED costume technician on
the Michael Jackson ONE
show at Mandalay Bay, Matt
ran the show track and was
charged with handling and
maintaining some 40 costume
items containing sophisticated
electronics. He graduated
magna cum laude from Elon
University in theatrical design
and production with a focus
in lighting design and stage
electrics.
Thomas Drewes ’08 is
an engineer at Bartlett
Engineering of Metairie.
2010s
Edward Wu ’10 was one of
12 finalists for “Audi’s Future
of Mobility Practicum” and
participated in a six-week
workshop this summer
in Germany. At Audi’s
headquarters, the students
explored innovative concepts
of how cars will be used in
the more densely packed and
chaotic urban cities expected
to arise a generation from now.
The goal of the program is to
investigate future automotive
opportunities in topics as wide
ranging as sensors, electric
vehicles, safety engineering,
and urban planning. Edward
is a student at The Wharton
School of the University of
Pennsylvania.
Brian Credo ’11 was featured
in the February newsletter
of Notre Dame’s College of
Arts and Letters, where he
carries a 4.0 GPA as a junior
majoring in classics. According
to Greek teacher Dr. Isabelle
Torrance, Brian “is a student
of astonishing ability. In my
14 years of teaching Greek
language and literature in three
different countries, Mr. Credo
easily falls within the top 1%
of students I have taught.”
Brian, a member of the Glynn
Family Honors Program,
hopes eventually to earn a
Ph.D. in classics and become
an educator of the classics. In
the article Brian explains why
he returns to New Orleans
each summer to work at
Jesuit’s Operation Upgrade.
“Since I have been given such
a good education throughout
my life, I want to use my gifts
and talents to give to those
who haven’t been afforded
such great opportunities.
Operation Upgrade is really
just a starting point for what
I want to spend my life doing
as an educator — passing on
to others the knowledge that
I have gained and inspiring
them to succeed themselves.”
Jonathan Prindle ’11
was recently elected as the
Interfraternal Council’s
vice-president of recruitment
at LSU and is in charge of
rush for all the fraternities.
Jonathan is entering his senior
year this August and majors
in political science. He is
a member of the Pi Kappa
Phi fraternity, Gamma Iota
chapter.
Clay Tufts ’11 was elected
president of the Student
Government Association at
LSU. A political science major,
Clay is a member of the Sigma
Chi fraternity.
SAVE THE
DATE
THE GREAT
AMERICAN
RIVALRY GAME
OCTOBER 10
TAD GORMLEY STADIUM
TAILGATING
PARTY
starts at 5 PM
JESUIT VS. HOLY
CROSS
kickoff at 7:15 PM
BIB LIST
Patsy & Ralph Pausina ’55 on the birth
of their great-grandson, Grey Rado
Panzini, February 1, 2014. Grey is the
grandson of Ralph Pausina ’77. He is
the great-nephew of Greg Eckholdt ’79
and Randy Pausina ’84.
Lori & Charles Nehlig ’70 on the birth
of their first grandchild, Noah Michael
Walker, October 10, 2013. Noah is the
nephew of Mark Nehlig ’07.
Jaime & Jude Trahant ’80 on the birth
of their son, Daniel Arthur Trahant,
February 24, 2014. Daniel is the
brother of Christopher Trahant ’09.
He is the great-grandson of the late
Amedee Richard, Jr. ’35. Daniel is also
the nephew of Kevin Trahant ’73 and
Richard Trahant ’85, and the greatnephew of Michael Geerken ’67 and
Steve LeBlanc ’67.
Heather & Lawrence
Matthews, Jr. ’90 on the birth of
their son, Lawrence Matthews III,
January 18, 2014.
Charlotte & John Alden Meade ’94
on the birth of their twin daughters,
Allison and Rogan Meade, February
24, 2014. Allison and Rogan are
the step-grandaughters of Louis
Koerner, Jr. ’58 and the step-great
granddaughters of the late Louis
Koerner, Sr. ’34. They are the nieces of
Louis Koerner III ’83, Charles Meade
’91, and Daniel Meade ’96.
Michelle & Michael Yenni ’94 on
the birth of their daughter, Reagan
Swanner Yenni, August 12, 2013.
Stephanie & Scott Hogan ’95 on the
birth of their son, Connor Hogan,
January 31, 2013.
Jessica & Bryan Hansen ’96 on the
birth of their first child, Ellie Catherine
Hansen, April 17, 2014.
Jennifer & Cooper Jumonville ’97 on
the birth of their first child, Josephine
Jumonville, April 1, 2013. Josephine is
the niece of Robert Jumonville ’94.
Ashleigh & Nick Mauer ’97 on the
birth of their son, Ashton Mauer, June
24, 2013.
Melanie & Christopher Spring ’97
on the birth of their son, Knox Joseph
Spring, December 31, 2013. Knox is
the grandson of the late R. Armand
Spring ’57. He is the great-nephew of
Stephen Gauthreaux ’51 and
Michael Graham ’77.
Cherie & Chad Stouder ’97 on the
birth of their son, Connor Stouder,
March 21, 2014. Connor is the
nephew of William Stouder, Jr. ’88.
Jennifer & Greg Mouras ’98 on the
birth of their son, Michael Raymond
Mouras, May 9, 2014. Michael is the
grandson of Thomas Mouras ’64. He is
the nephew of Matthew Mouras ’01.
Katie & Pete DeSalvo, Jr. ’99 on the
birth of their daughter, Etta Cecile
DeSalvo, February 14, 2013.
Etta is the granddaughter of Peter
DeSalvo, Sr. ’64.
Gia & Joey Fenasci ’99 on the birth
of their son, Joseph Philip Fenasci,
December 10, 2013.
Kreslyn & Kevin Hanlon ’99 on the
birth of their son, Thomas Hanlon,
December 17, 2013.
Jessica & Blake Babcock ’00 on the
birth of their daughter, Mackenzie
Babcock, March 17, 2013. Mackenzie
is the niece of Rob Konrad ’87, Shawn
Konrad ’92, and Ian Konrad ’12.
Maria & Johnny Franck ’00 on the
birth of their son, Maurice Charles
Franck, February 5, 2014. He is the
grandson of Johnny Franck, Jr. ’65.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 25
Valerie & David Gernhauser, Jr. ’00
on the birth of their daughter, Veronica
Gernhauser, January 1, 2014.
Laurie & Tim Moran ’00 on the birth
of their son, Timothy Moran, February
13, 2014. Timothy is the nephew of
Michael Moran III ’98.
Amanda & Kevin Dietz ’01 on the
birth of their first child, Charles
Nicholas Dietz, March 23, 2014.
Charles is the grandson of Tommy
Dietz IV ’66 and the nephew of
Michael Dietz ’97.
Anne & Austin Swift ’01 on the birth
of their daughter, Kate Swift, June 5,
2013. Kate is the niece of James Swift
’08.
Dana & Tim Guidry ’02 on the birth
of their son, Beau Paul Guidry, April
14, 2014.
Shannon & Michael Denton ’04 on
the birth of their son, Peter Denton,
April 3, 2014. He is the grandson of
the late Roger Denton ’64.
Lauren & Timothy Brinks ’05 on
the birth of their son, George Brinks,
September 5, 2013. George is the
nephew of Adam Avin ’01 and Ben
Avin ’04.
Elizabeth & Kyle Sanderson ’05
on the birth of their son, Graham
Sanderson, February 18, 2014.
Graham is the nephew of Joseph
Rodrigue, Jr. ’72, Keith Rodrigue ’79,
and Josh Sanderson ’03.
Info for the Bib List may be sent to
Krista Roeling via the website:
jesuitnola.org/bib-list, or email:
roeling@jesuitnola.org. Parents will
receive a pink or blue Jayson bib for
their new arrival(s).
IN MEMORIAM
The list of deceased members of the Jesuit High School Community represents information received from January 1 – May 31, 2014.
For current announcements, check the “In Memoriam” page on Jesuit’s web site. The symbol † indicates the individual is deceased.
The symbol * indicates the individual is either a current or a former member of the faculty or staff of Jesuit High School.
ALUMNI… (By Class Year)
George J. Digby, Sr. ’36
Lloyd W. Seither ’36
Alvin C. Bertucci ’39
Earl B. Philips ’39
Harold M. Clement ’41
Daniel L. Levy, Jr. ’41
George Peter III ’41
Gerard H. Hilbert ’42
Rene P. Meric, Jr. ’42
Joseph T. Ruli ’42
Edward H. Arnold, Jr. ’43
Joseph M. Rault, Jr. ’43
Walter E. Hobson ’44
Joseph S. Cangelosi ’45
George J. Montgomery III ’45
Otto A. Rees ’45
Nicholas R. Krieger ’46
Stanley McDermott, Jr. ’46
Gerald A. Hynes ’47
Jacob C. Fritz ’48
William A. Glennon, Jr. ’48
Richard E. Ruckstuhl ’48
Peter J. Talluto ’48
Ernest M. Conzelmann, Jr. ’49
Cyril J. Millet ’50
John M. Schrewe ’51
Lloyd H. Smith, Jr. ’51
John P. Reilly ’52
Bertrand W. Gowland ’53
Bernard L. Ruckstuhl ’53
Albert J. Luke, Jr. ’54
Richard J. Stoltz ’54
Jules N. Corwin ’55
Charles L. Gambel, Jr. ’55
Joseph L. Dover ’56 *
(See Teacher Testimonial, page 54)
Thomas B. Murtagh ’56
Robert L. Nosacka ’58
Ray G. Mock, Jr. ’59
John R. Ruckstuhl ’59
Lloyd E. Cripple ’60
Michael R. Cuccia ’60
Edward J. Welsch ’60
William J. Quinlan ’61
Harold J. Stephens, Jr. ’65
William L. Jerome III ’70
Christopher L. St. Romain ’73
Richard L. Waldron ’75
Nicholas J. Cimo ’04
WIFE OF … (By Last Name)
Robert J. Armbruster ’52
Joseph J. Bindewald, Jr. ’58†
William S. Brandner, Sr. ’37
William B. Canal, Jr. ’48†
Blaise S. D’Antoni, Jr. ’40†
Albert M. Daniel, Jr. ’50†
Hugues de la Vergne II ’48
Joseph M. Drewes ’35†
John W. Fanz, Jr. ’40†
Roland L. Folse, Sr. ’33†
Thomas A. Fromherz ’41†
John E. Garcia ’32†
John M. Gehl III ’51†
Larry W. Gilbert, Jr. ’32†
Thomas A. Greve ’43
Albert M. Henricks ’37†
Peter L. Hilbert ’44†
Will T. Jourdan ’52
T. Hartley Kingsmill ’38†
Robert J. Loup ’49†
William J. McCue ’29†
Frederick A. Pou ’38†
John A. Prejean, Sr. ’38†
Louis L. Robein, Sr. ’38†
F. Winter Trapolin ’31†
Frederick Weaver ’41†
William C. Welp ’49
Julius A. Werling ’53†
George E. White, Sr. ’43†
H.L. Dufour Woolfley ’49
FATHER OF …
Christopher P. ’83, Mark V. ’84, &
Gregory P. Bazin ’86
Harold E. ’83 & Kelly P. Burns ’90
(stepfather)
Jack E. Chaney ’18
Glenn P. Collins ’81
E. Rusty Conzelmann ’73
Craig W. Corwin ’80
Clyde A. Daigrepont, Jr. ’87
Henry J. Daries ’64
Marcus L. DiLeo, Jr. ’10
Jack M. ’71 & V. William
Farrington ’71
Gary J. ’82, Patrick M. ’83, &
Steven S. Gambel ’88
Wayde A. Keiser ’78
Francis E., Jr. ’72 & Louis V.
Lauricella ’73
D. Casey ’66, Michael L. ’70, &
Timothy W. Levy ’78
Albert J. III ’80, Thomas J. ’82, &
Robert J. Luke ’89
Gus A. Manthey, Jr. ’65
Stanley T. III ’71 & Kevin N.
McDermott ’73
R. Pierre III ’79 & Philip J. Meric ’80
T. Garic Moran ’80
Gregory M. ’83, Brian C. ’84, &
Granville A. Morse III ’89
L. Terrell Nesbitt ’89
Scott M. Phillips ’91
Leo M. Prange III ’85
William J., Jr. ’86 & Ryan J.
Quinlan ’91
Timothy C. Reilly ’77
Joseph F. Rizzo III ’71 (stepfather)
Joseph P. Ruli ’94
Russell K. ’03 & Michael P.
Schafer ’05
Daniel W. Scullin ’07
Gavin L. Sheng ’18
Gary M. Silva, Jr. ’01
Hal J. Simeon ’66
Stephen G. Sklamba ’66
Clinton J. Smith ’01
Michael E. Soileau, Jr. ’89
(stepfather)
Robert S. Speyrer ’07
Albert L. Stewart III ’87
Frank P. Talluto ’78
Mark C. Theriot ’82
Stephen D. ’67 & Wayne E.
Villavaso ’69
Ryan L. Waldron ’01
MOTHER OF …
Ralph R. Alexis III ’67
Justin D. Arena ’18
Paul C. Armbruster ’82
Robert M. ’84 & Raymond Be ’87
William S., Jr. ’61, Patrick J. ’64, &
Scot M. Brandner ’82†
Robert T. Canal ’85
Westley S. ’96 & Joseph M.
Cardwell ’00
Michael L. Cognevich ’68
Glenn P. Collins ’81
Michael J. Connolle ’92
John M. ’66, Edward J. ’70, & Blaise
S. D’Antoni III ’75
Howard A. Davenport ’65
Thomas J. DiFulco ’67
Kevin S. ’75 & Mark R. Drewes ’78
Irvington J. Eppling ’58†
Darryl C. Fletchinger ’68
Roland L., Jr. ’65, Arthur F. II ’70, &
Gregory P. Folse ’71
Robert J. Funck ’75
Scott P. Gardiner ’85
Lloyd A. Gravois, Jr. ’78
Marvin G. Heebe ’61†
John C., Jr. ’57 & James A.
Heurtin ’60
Peter L., Jr. ’70 & Kevin D.
Hilbert ’73
A. Baldwin ’66 & Bayne C.
Keenan ’67
Louis R. LaBruyere III ’63
William J. McCue, Jr. ’65†
B. Richard McGovern ’71
Patrick D. Nance ’09
Paul C. Newfield III ’60
Dennis P. Papadopoulos ’76
Marc D. ’93 & Dean A. Parenti ’99
F. Walker Pitts ’65
Frederick A., Jr. ’62† & Michael P.
Pou ’79
John A. Prejean, Jr. ’64†
Gregory L. Ray ’66† (stepmother)
Louis L. Robein, Jr. ’69
William H. IV ’68 & J. Kevin
Russ ’72
Edward K. Santos ’81
James J. Schexnayder ’66
C. Gregory Shaw ’73
Mark A. Tessier ’65†
Gregory D. Tilton ’70
Timothy J. Trapolin ’63
Edward J. Welsch ’60
George E. White, Jr. ’66
BROTHER OF …
Emile A., Jr. ’37† & Gerald L.
Bertucci ’44†
Joseph D. Broussard, Jr. ’58†
Richard M. Casse ’73
Christopher C. Cimo ’07
Harry F. Connick ’47
Deforest J. Corwin, Jr. ’52
Joseph F., Jr. ’73 & Timothy P.
Craven ’78
John A. Crawford ’62
Michael C. Doussan ’98
James A. Duffy ’55†
William C. ’59† & Raymond H.
Gambel ’63
Patrick J. Glennon ’54†
David J. Guglielmo ’60†
Milton F., Jr. ’38, Rev. Duval,
S.J. ’40†, & Peter L. Hilbert ’44†
Paul J. Nosacka, Jr. ’55
F. Walker Pitts ’65
C. Gregg ’59† & M. Michael
Quinlan ’69
Harry P. Reilly ’55
Ralph J. Romig ’35†
Richard E. ’48†, Theodore J. ’50,
Bernard L. Ruckstuhl ’53†
& John R. Ruckstuhl ’59†
Jack P. Ruli ’44†
F. Evans, Jr. ’15 & Michael H.
Schmidt ’19
Jeffrey S. ’72, J. Bradford ’76, & J.
Lyle St. Romain ’79
Frank B. Stewart, Jr. ’53
Hugh C. Villavaso ’44†
Robert P. Waldron ’72
SISTER OF …
Albert L. Bossier, Jr. ’50
Kyle S. Brue ’84
Francis D. Charbonnet ’38†
Max J. Derbes, Jr. ’39†
Irl J., Jr. ’37†, John R. ’42†, & Robert
E. DeSilva ’57
Homer J. Dupuy, Jr. ’31†
Thomas J., Jr. ’37† & Lawrence J.
Flanagan ’44
Joseph I. Giarrusso III ’94
Kelly A. Griggs ’79
Edward N. Haas ’53
Elliotte M. Harold, Jr. ’56
Eric H. ’81 & Ross J.
Heidingsfelder ’82
w w w.je su it nola .org | 27
Juan B. Ibieta III ’88
Philip P., Jr. ’25†, Rene E. ’29†, &
Gerard F. LaBruyere ’36†
Norbert E. Landry ’49
Rev. Marian L. Larmann, OSB ’39†
Robert J. Liles, Jr. ’51
Daniel G. ’80 & David G. Lion ’82
John E. Maderson ’44
Michael M. ’52 & James F.
McCune ’54
Steven O., Jr. ’63 & David J.
Medo ’80
Gabriel J., Jr. ’33†, Warren E. ’39†,
& George E. Mouledoux ’46
Raymond P. Richards ’52†
Ronald J. Rittiner ’51
Joseph T. ’42 & Jack P. Ruli ’44†
Robert W., Jr. ’36†, Thomas J. ’37†,
& Howard J. Taylor ’40†
James E. Webre III ’61†
SON OF …
Robert H. Casse, Jr. ’47†
Joseph F. Craven ’37†
Aristide C. Gaulon (1918)†
Francis B. Grosz ’31†
Robert A. Long ’48†
Warren J. Merrihew ’41†
Ray G. Mock ’28
George J. Montgomery, Jr. (1919)†
Paul J. Nosacka ’28†
William L. Phillips ’68
Joseph M. Rault (1911)†
F. Evans Schmidt ’84
Lawrence D. Wiedemann ’49
DAUGHTER OF …
Peter E. Brue ’53
Gregory D. Espenan ’78
Sidney L. Griggs, Jr. ’34†
Harold H. Heidingsfelder, Jr. ’56
Donald V. Higgins ’32†
Raymond A. Richards (1919)†
GRANDFATHER OF …
Edward H. IV ’11 & Cooper J.
Arnold ’18
James M. Baker ’99
Blake A. Baudier ’02
Matthew R. Bennett ’14
Kyle R. Berner ’99
Brendan J. Besh ’14
Peter L. Cannizzaro IV ’94
Seth S. ’13 & Caleb D. Chauhan ’16
Sean W. ’07 & Ian M. Christie ’09
George A. Coiron IV ’10
(step-grandfather)
James T., Jr. ’01, Brendan P. ’04,
William P. ’04, Blasé P. ’07, Finnan
P. ’07, Lorcan L. ’08, & Conor P.
Connick ’10
Dennis R. Coughlin, Jr. ’98
Charles V. III ’96, Joshua M. ’04,
Gabriel M. ’06, Michael R. ’13, &
Nathan R. Cusimano ’15
Dustin W. Dantin ’06
(step-grandfather)
Arthur D. ’04, Jonathan M. ’09,
Matthew J. ’12, Christopher J. ’14,
& Joseph P. Dupré ’16
Adam M. Duvernay ’06
William A. Farrington ’07
Brandon J. ’99 & Jeffrey M. Fick ’02
(step-grandfather)
Robert K. ’10 & Charles P. Fink ’13
Mason N. French ’18
Kerth J. Gravener ’97
Brett L. ’06, Chad M. ’08, &
Cory M. Guidry ’08
Ross O. Guidry ’17 (step-grandfather)
Gerard A. Harris, Jr. ’03
Stuart R., Jr. ’06, Spencer J. ’10, &
Evan M. Hart ’12
Matthew L. Hebert ’99
John V., Jr. ’92, Brian C. ’93, &
Mark M. Hughes ’95
Glynn G. Hyer, Jr. ’14
Westley R. Keiser ’05
Michael F. Kelley, Jr. ’11
David C. Kreller ’99
Peter J. Krentel ’91
George M. Landrum ’07
Daniel J. Langteau ’15
Stephen C. Lazar ’14
Daniel C., Jr. ’91, Patrick R. ’92,
Michael L., Jr. ’96, & Scott C.
Levy ’97
Brock D. ’14 & Luke W. Lingle ’17
Kyle L. Lupo ’08
Gustave A. Manthey III ’99
Justin Z. Martin ’03
Jackson V. Melnyk ’17
Philip W. Meric ’16
James T. Molinario III ’01
Eric J. Moore ’94
Shane J. Naccari ’09
Patrick L. Naylon ’07
Jeremy J. ’07 & Jesse D. Owens ’10
Charles H. Perez ’02
Luke A. Pertuit ’18
Brady M. Pichon ’13
Tyler M. ’12 & Austin M. Prange ’15
Gregg A. Putnam, Jr. ’12
Colin P. Quinlan ’18
Eric S. ’90, Clinton J. III ’94, Bradley
S. ’01, & Jeffrey K. Romig ’06
Louis M. Schaff II ’99
Scott M. ’03 & Andrew C. Schroth ’10
Richard D. Serio, Jr. ’01
Scott B. Simeon ’89
Lawrence E. IV ’10, Colin P. ’12, &
Jacob T. Stansberry ’14
Duncan A. Stewart ’17
Quinn C. ’14 & Brady R. Stiller ’16
Fred M. Trowbridge III ’03
Stephen W. Villavaso ’99
Earl N. Walker IV ’03
Anthony M. ’92 & Alan M.
Williams ’03
Peter T. Yeadon ’09
GRANDMOTHER OF …
Roy E. ’92 & Brian J. Alexander ’95
Ralph R. IV ’92 & Jay E. Alexis ’97
Christian P. ’90 & Timothy F.
Amedee ’97
Adam M. ’00 & Alexander H.
Barnes ’11
Christopher M. ’10 & Brandon D.
Barnett ’13
Grant P. Becker ’13
G. Wogan Bernard II ’99
Andrew D. Beyer ’91
Joseph P. ’96, Luke T. ’99, &
Samuel D. Bienvenu ’09
Wilson A. Blum ’08
Nathan M. ’00 & Matthew J.
Bolton ’02
Christopher E. ’07, Ryan W. ’09, &
Steven M. Cabos ’11
Michael G. Calabrese ’04
Leon A. III ’01 & Christopher M.
Cannizzaro ’03
John E. Carr III ’07
Joseph P. Carrere ’02
Harvey M. Couch ’94
Dennis R. Coughlin, Jr. ’98
William H. Couret IV ’90
Brian V., Jr. ’11 & Kevin M. Credo ’16
Charles F. Dalferes III ’84
Randall A. Davenport ’94
Christopher M. ’06 & Thomas M.
Drewes ’08
Andrew J. ’93 & Mark T. Duggan ’04
L. Reiss Eagan ’05
Patrick B. Eppling ’95
Ryan P. ’95, Wesley R. ’99, &
Cameron H. Eustis ’05
Thomas J. Exnicios ’04
Brad D. Ferrand ’98
Arthur F. III ’91, Goeffrey E. ’98, &
Randall P. Folse ’05
Jeffrey L. Foreman ’97
Robert A. Foret, Jr. ’82
Adam P. ’11 & Connor S.
Fournier ’13
Derek W. ’84, Curtis B. ’86, & Kevin
S. Franklin ’89
Kyle R. Funck ’03
Nicholas P. Garvey ’03
Dennis H. Groome V ’98
Wilfred A. Grusich III ’68
Evans M. ’08 & Brady M. Hadden ’10
Julius E. Hardouin ’01
Scott J. Haydel ’93
Marvin G. Heebe ’87
Albert M. Henricks ’03
Dennis G. ’98 & Keith G.
Henry, Jr. ’11
James A. Heurtin, Jr. ’85
Duval H. Hilbert ’07
Arthur Hughes, Jr. ’82
John K. Jackson ’17
Anthony D. Kelly ’18
Matthew A. Kives ’17
Louis R. IV ’87 & Paul B.
LaBruyere ’89
Andrew H. ’05 & Ross J. Lafont ’10
Anthony G. III ’97 & Nick S.
Lama ’99
William M. Lancaster ’10
Joseph B. Landry, Jr. ’03
Daniel E. Lawless, Jr. ’92
Carlos J. ’79, Steven A. ’81, & Dean
M. Marcello ’87
David S. McChesney ’05
Michael J. ’97 & Christopher M.
Messonnier ’03
Gregory A. ’03 & Matthew W.
Mondello ’06
Ross A. ’92, Ryan J. ’93, & Stephen
L. Parrish ’97
William C. ’98 & Jean Paul
Perrilliat ’03
Michael B. Pou ’16
John H. Powers ’89
David C. Raphael, Jr. ’86
Philip J. III ’04 & Benjamin E.
Rau ’08
Daniel W. Riehm III ’00
Stanton A.J. Ripp ’98
John K., Jr. ’97, Christopher K. ’00,
& William H. Russ ’03
Ryan E.K. Santos ’18
Jose A. Sardina ’05
Joseph F. Schrempp ’10
Kyle M. Selle ’18
Carl J. Servat III ’93
Kevin M. ’94 & Craig P.
Stolzenthaler ’98
Christopher C. ’97, Gregory D. ’08,
& Scott L. Tilton ’11
Jacob W. ’13 & Jared J. Tonglet ’17
Stephen K. ’83 & Scott K.
Tonguis ’87 (step-grandmother)
Daniel E., Jr. ’92 & David M.
Tracy ’95
Clayton D. ’11, Andrew J. ’14,
John F. ’14, & Jordan E. Tufts ’18
(step-grandmother)
David C. ’92 & Kurt M. Weiser ’95
Edward J. IV ’85 & Gregory P.
Welsch ’91
James B. III ’14 & Jacob L.
Whitlow 17
Richard A. Williams, Jr. ’14
GRANDSON OF …
Cleary J. Doussan ’39†
GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF …
Dominic R. Baker ’17
Connor M. Champion ’07
Tristan N. Marchand ’17
Matthew C. Moore ’19
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF …
Callender R. ’11, Zachary A. ’13,
Henry H. ’15, & Benjamin C.
Creel ’16
Benjamin T. Dalferes ’08
Luke E. Hahn ’14 (step-great
grandmother)
Salvatore S. Ovella IV ’17
Benjamin J. ’09 & Patrick J.
Tullier ’13
Edward T. Welsch ’16
Kelly P. Zeringue ’18
Send information and corrections
to Br. William J. Dardis, S.J. '58:
dardis@jesuitnola.org or
(504) 483-3814.
28 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Alumni Hold
Class Reunions
1949
1964
1944
The 2014 reunion season was dedicated to five-year celebrations of Blue Jays from
grad years ending in “4” and “9.” Blue Jays from the Class of 1944 to the Class of 2009
came together to celebrate their bond as sons of Jesuit High School.
1944 celebrated their 70th year reunion by returning to
their alma mater on May 3 for a Saturday Mass, celebrated
by the class’s very own Fr. Nick Schiro, S.J.; cocktail
reception; and dinner. As they do each year, these spirited
Blue Jays and their guests enjoyed reminiscing about their
days at Carrollton and Banks.
ALUMNI
1949 chose to celebrate 65 years since graduation with
two events, a Friday night crawfish boil in the Student
Commons, preceded by Mass in the Holy Name Chapel,
and a Saturday evening couples’ dinner at the Chateau
Country Club in Kenner.
1954 came back to campus on a Saturday in late May
for a couples’ event in the Commons. Dan Bontempo
and his committee created an evening of good food, good
fellowship, and good memories fueled by Ray Plauche’s
engaging video of the 1954 yearbook.
1959 Ray Rizzo and his committee chose the beautiful
homes of two class members for their May celebration. On
Friday night the guys gathered for a cocktail reception at
the residence of Mark and Sharon Rodi, while on Saturday
night the couples enjoyed partying at the abode of Eddie
and Patty Rice.
1964 Taylor Heard and his committee made sure their
Golden Anniversary was celebrated in a big way. On
Friday, May 30, these Jays gathered in the Commons for a
seafood spread provided by Drago’s. The next evening the
ladies joined the gents for a cocktail reception at Metairie
Country Club.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 29
1974
1954
1979
1959
1969 kicked off the reunion season in typical fun style,
the result of intricate planning by Kevin Heigle and his
committee of ten. On Friday afternoon, a golf outing at City
Park was followed by a traditional stag crawfish boil at Jesuit.
Fr. Fitzgerald celebrated Mass for the class in the small chapel
on Saturday afternoon, after which couples descended on
classmate Michael Valentino’s Basin Street Station (with a
gorgeous view of the Quarter) for a reception that knocked
the socks off a lot of dancing feet.
1974 Bill Babin and his committee opted for a guys-only
celebration for their 40th year reunion. On Friday, April 4 the
class met at the Southern Yacht Club for an evening of Blue
Jay Spirit.
1969
1979 Led by Greg Gillen, Pat Veters, and Jaime Neville,
the 1979 committee organized a Friday night stag party at the
Red Eye Grill in the Warehouse District. Then on Saturday
wives and guests joined the Blue Jays for dinner at Tujague’s
in the French Quarter.
1984 As usual Nick Hazard put together a weekend of great
events for the 1984 celebration. Acme Oyster House was
the site of Friday’s stag seafood feast, while Saturday evening
was devoted to a couples’ dinner at one of the city’s newest
restaurants, Tableau on Jackson Square.
1989 ended the reunion season on the weekend of June 20-
21 with their Silver Anniversary celebration organized by Pat
Donnelly and his committee. On Friday night the guys and
30 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
1984
2004
1989
1994
their wives or guests filled the upstairs rooms of Galatoire’s for
a couples’ reception. On Saturday evening the Blue Jays met
at Mother’s Next Door for a stag party.
1994 Kelly Burke and his leadership team chose to start
their celebration with a Friday stag seafood extravaganza at
the Acme Oyster House. Then on Saturday the ladies joined
their Blue Jays for an evening of fun and games at Rock ‘n’
Bowl.
1999 Under the leadership of Collin Holmes, 1999 also
chose to go bowling as the guys and their wives or dates
met at Kyle Brechtel’s Fulton Alley on March 22 for their
celebration. The partying continued on Saturday afternoon
when the guys met at the home of David Larue for boiled
2009
1999
1979
crawfish prepared by classmate Justin Leblanc.
2004 & 2009 filled the JAX Brewery Bistro Bar with
hundreds of Blue Jays on June 14 when they both held their
stag events at the spacious French Quarter venue. Both classes
had great turnouts due to the hard work of chairmen Andrew
Waldron ’04 and Taylor Bacques ’09. The first reunion
celebration for the Class of 2009 was especially gratifying as
the strong attendance foreshadows great things to come from
this enthusiastic group.
View the photo galleries of the 2014 class reunions, as
well as archived reunions dating back to 2002, on Jesuit’s
website: www.jesuitnola.org/alumni/reunions.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 31
Blue Jays Across the Country
Central Florida
Inspiring
engagement
continues
in Tampa
where the
Central
Florida Jays
are on a
mission to
bring Blue
Jays together
on a regular Five alumni and their families gathered for an ALS
basis.
Walk in May at the University of Florida. From left are
alumni Christian Higgins ’00, John Sabatier ’86,
On
Cy Gannuch ’94, Daren Carriere ’79, and
Saturday,
Pat Huete ’84.
May 8, five
Blue Jays
and their families participated in the Greater Tampa Bay ALS
Walk at the University of Florida. The group raised donations
in honor of Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76, who is battling
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The commitment to service continued on April 26 when more
than a dozen Florida Jays grabbed their brushes, scrapers, and
gloves to paint a home as part of an event called “Paint Your Heart
Out.”
Earlier this year, the Florida leadership team made a decision to
open future planning meetings to all Blue Jays in the area.
Contact: John Sabatier ’86, (727) 871-1408,
jsabatier@verizon.net
Houston
Alumni in the Houston area gathered at Jackson’s Watering Hole
in the Montrose area of Houston for an afternoon of food, drinks,
and Blue Jay camaraderie. The 4th Annual Crawfish Reunion took
place on Saturday, May 24.
Sixty-five folks, including a handful of newcomers, enjoyed about
50 pounds of jambalaya and 350 pounds of crawfish prepared by
chef Jerry Eumont ’80. Children and guests preferring less spicy
fare munched on hot dogs.
Organizer and Houston
alumni captain Christopher
Cola ’93 handed out an
assortment of Blue Jaylogoed goodies, which were
provided by Jesuit's office of
institutional advancement.
Houston alumni leader Christopher
Cola ’93 enjoys an afternoon of
crawfish and Blue Jay camaraderie
with Ted Pfister ’51.
The oldest alumnus
to participate was Ted
Pfister ’51. The largest
turnout came from one
of the younger classes —
five guys from 2001. Joe
Nesser ’84 brought an unexpected guest — Ken Miller ’84, a
classmate from California — who was in town to attend a First
Communion. Miller is the godfather of Nesser’s son, James.
In the fall, the group hopes to hold a toy drive for needy children.
Contact: Christopher Cola ’93, (713) 301-8128,
cwcola@gmail.com
Acadiana
Nine Blue Jays spanning six decades are leading the school’s newest
alumni chapter in Acadiana.
In May at the Blue Dog Café in Lafayette, gents ranging from
1952 to 2007 agreed to keep Blue Jays living in the Lafayette/Lake
Charles area connected to each other and to Jesuit.
Blue Jays gather at the Blue Dog Café to discuss forming an alumni
chapter in Acadiana. Pictured from left are alumni director Mat
Grau ’68, Danny Gillane ’83, Gerald Landry ’63, Bob Morgan ’52,
Al “Boo” Trepagnier ’52, Gerald Hebert ’07, Corey Cloninger ’99,
Bill Barrois ’64, and Tom Bagwill, Jesuit’s director of institutional
advancement.
The inaugural Acadiana Chapter event will be a gathering to
welcome graduates from the Class of 2014 who are attending the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the fall.
Contacts: Corey Cloninger ’99, (504) 812-5151,
corey.cloninger@yahoo.com
Al Trepagnier ’52, (337) 849-6537,
trepagnieralbert@yahoo.com
Other Chapter Contacts
Atlanta
Michael Paulhus ’96
(404) 326-3637
paulhus1@comcast.net
Baton Rouge
Daniel Shea ’86
(225) 344-0391
drshea@drdanielshea.com
Official efforts are underway to organize Jesuit alumni chapters in
Austin and Denver. If you are interested in becoming a member
of an existing alumni chapter leadership team or starting a new
one, contact alumni director Mat Grau ’68 at grau@jesuitnola.org
or (504) 483-3840.
32 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
In 2001, Blue Jays Were Best
I
t was a glorious year for
Jesuit basketball and a glory
year for head coach Chris
Jennings ’78 (who today still holds
court in the Birdcage). The year was
2001 and prognosticators of the prep
sports scene back then turned up their
noses at Jesuit’s varsity basketball team,
which was picked to go nowhere fast.
Under the direction of Coach
Jennings, the 2001 Blue Jay squad
compiled a respectable 30-7 record en
route to winning a decisive, if not
improbable, state championship.
ANNUS MIRABILIS
In the final game of the LHSAA
tournament, the Jays blew out
Archbishop Shaw, 53-41, and brought
home Jesuit’s eighth state basketball
championship. It marked the fourth
close encounter between the two teams
in the 2001 season with the Eagles
sweeping the first three games. The
Blue Jays, however, were determined
not to go down a fourth time to the
same team. And they didn’t.
The 2001 state championship ended a
35-year drought in addition to being
Coach Jennings’s first title as head
coach. It marked the first
championship for Blue Jay basketball
since the hat trick of the mid-1960s
when Jesuit teams won three
consecutive titles in 1964, 1965, and
1966. The previous state
championships were netted by the
Jesuit teams of 1939, 1944, 1946, and
1948.
Chad Barnes ’01 remembers well that
2001 season.
“After we broke the second round curse
(a tough road win against Acadiana), I
really felt like we were going to win it
all,” said Barnes, a forward who was
named the tournament’s co-MVP. “I
treasure that moment more than any
other sports memory because it was a
great team, from the coach on down.
There were no superstars. We played
together and knew our roles. The result
was that we played with a superstar
level of confidence that helped us win
it all.”
Barnes played two years of basketball at
Loyola University New Orleans and
one season at UNO. He’s played
basketball professionally in Poland, the
Czech Republic, and most recently in
Cyprus, where his team won the 2014
Cypriot Cup Championship.
At morning assembly after the Blue
Jays’ big win, Jesuit president Fr.
Anthony McGinn, S.J. climbed the
podium to address the student body.
Below is the President’s Message that
was printed in the 2001 spring issue of
Jaynotes…
When I spoke to the students at
morning assembly on the Monday
after the Jesuit basketball team
won our first state basketball
championship since 1966, I held
up a copy of the front page of the
sports section of the TimesPicayune. The headline read:
JESUIT IS BEST.
Although there are many ways in
which this headline is true, we in
the Jesuit community have to guard
against the mistaken notion that being
the best comes automatically or descends
upon us in virtue of our membership in
the group. I constantly repeat that the
three qualities that make Jesuit special are
that we expect the best, that we support
each other, and that a great sense of
comradeship develops from these
expectations and support. None of this
comes without tireless effort, self-sacrifice,
or self-discipline.
Our state championship basketball team
is a special example of these principles. A
championship is a means to an end. The
determination to win brought out the
best in the team and the coaches. It
deepened their commitment to the selfsacrifice, the effort, and the self-discipline
that ultimately brought the victory to us
at Jesuit.
Each day the goal of being the best must
be ratified in our basic daily decisions.
Will I expect the best of those around me?
Will I expect the best from myself? Will I
support those who need my
encouragement and assistance? Will I
allow myself to receive the support I need?
Will I be a force that builds up the
community spirit? Will I allow setbacks to
discourage me or lead me to blame others?
These are questions that 1,400 students,
100 teachers, 2,500 parents, and 11,000
alumni must ask each day if we are going
to live up to the standard that has been
set for us.
Fr. McGinn’s message 13 years ago
remains just as relevant today.
Blue Jays should not forget it.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 33
LEF in Rarified Air
The generosity of Blue Jays across the
nation, combined with outstanding
class leadership, have taken the Living
Endowment Fund drive to enviable
heights.
More than 3,200 alumni have donated
$1.169 million — a new record
— to the LEF drive. As the alumni
component of annual giving, LEF keeps
Jesuit accessible and affordable to as
many families as possible and ensures
that the classrooms at Carrollton and
Banks are filled with students from all
walks of life.
Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 offered
his profound thanks to current LEF
chairman Lyon “Snapper” Garrison ’81,
2013 chair Glenn Gillen ’85, and
Mike Varisco ’83, who will lead the
2015 drive, as well as the hundreds of
Blue Jays who returned to campus in
October and March to connect with
their classmates by phone.
“One of the hallmarks of our school for
which I will always remain grateful is
the support of its alumni,” Fitzgerald
said. “Jesuit continues to be the envy of
schools nationwide.”
1. This quartet of newbie LEF volunteers from the Class of ’08 sought the silence offered in Mr.
Ron Rossi’s history classroom to re-connect with classmates while taking care of business during the
spring calling event. From left, Troy Mathews, Craig Raymond, Mathew Irimpen, and Graham
Williams transform Mr. Rossi’s history cave into their central command post where they busily
worked cell phones while tracking the numerous pledges of classmates on the chalkboard.
2. Blue Jays conclude a successful fall drive with a “pool party” on Jesuit’s roof.
3. Jeff Serpas flies solo for the Class of 2000.
4. John Hamilton and C.W. Lartigue are stalwart volunteers from the Class of 1960.
5. Faithful participants from the Class of 1991: from left, Vinnie Varisco, Brad Hamilton, Ryan
LeBlanc, Greg Nolan, and Ryan Gootee.
34 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
B l u e J ay s Tr u m p
Kidney Disease
S
ome stories are worth waiting to tell. Almost three years ago, through the discourse of the school’s
social media, the plight of Blue Jay freshman Jason LaHatte was widely circulated to virtually the entire
Jesuit community.
What distinguished Jason from 1,425 other Blue Jays? He was, and still is, stalked by a dreaded silent killer:
chronic kidney disease. CKD causes 90,000 deaths a year in the United States alone, more than those who
succumbed to breast and prostate cancers combined. Some 26 million Americans have kidney disease and 76
million more are considered at “high risk” to develop it.
The statistics are about as loud as the disease is quiet. While genetics plays a role, kidney disease sneaks up
on people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity issues. Lifestyle factors, including lack of exercise
and a diet heavy with fast food, red meat, and soft drinks, are invitations for CKD. Kidney disease may go
undetected for years, even though there is an inexpensive test that detects urinary protein, which is a red
flag that something might be abnormal with the patient’s kidneys.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first successful kidney transplant in the United States. In an
effort to raise awareness of kidney disease and the vital role of organ donors (living and deceased), Jaynotes
presents the first-person stories of a trio of Blue Jays, two of whom were on the receiving end of a transplant,
the third on the giving end.
John Meunier of the Class of 1969 is a musician with a wicked sense of humor. He received a “new old”
kidney — he calls it “Geetle” — donated by his older brother, Jerry Meunier of the Class of 1966. Jason
LaHatte, who will graduate with the Class of 2015, has experienced two kidney transplant surgeries, the first
when he was a youngster, and the second in the summer of 2012.
A Blue J ay Battl es C KD
Jason LaHatte looks, talks, and acts like a normal American teenager. A member
of the Class of 2015, Jason studies diligently and makes good grades. He is a
saxophonist in the Blue Jay Marching Band, a co-curricular activity he thoroughly
enjoys. Jason is volunteering at Children’s Hospital this summer as part of his
service project for Jesuit.
During his first 17 years, Jason twice spent about six months — an entire year —
hooked up to a dialysis machine that filtered waste and excess water from his
blood. The dialysis machine served as his kidneys. He’s on his second donated
kidney and he knows eventually, his body will need another.
While Jason is realistic and optimistic about his medical prognosis, he never
hesitates to talk about how important organ donors are to people with kidney
disease. With astonishing frankness and in his own words, Jason discusses what
no one, especially a young person, wants to hear from their doctor: “You are in
renal failure.”
w w w.je su it nola .org | 35
By Jason LaHatte ’15
I
was born on November
18, 1996 with no major
medical problems. I
lived the first five years of
my life with no medical
worries. Then it all started in
June 2001 after my family
returned home from a
vacation at the beach. I was
only five when I got very
sick and my parents ended
up taking me to Children’s
Hospital.
I was diagnosed with renal
failure, but the doctors at
Children’s Hospital did not
know why my kidneys were
failing. To keep me alive, I
was put on dialysis.
I waited and waited. We
started looking for a kidney,
beginning with my family.
But we quickly learned that
no one in my family had
my exact blood type. I was
six months into dialysis
when Ms. Cindy Hudson,
a friend of our family, saved
my life. After extensive tests
determined she was a match,
Ms. Hudson donated one of
her kidneys to me.
Her kidney functioned well
inside of me and it lasted for
about 10 years. In the middle
of my freshman year at Jesuit,
I had to go on dialysis again.
At the same time, my name
was added to the waiting list
of people needing kidneys.
Nearly 2,500 new patients
are added to the kidney
waiting list each month —
that’s one every 20 minutes
— and 14 people die each
day while waiting for kidney
transplants that would save
their lives.
I have never let my medical
problems keep me down.
When I was a freshman and
on dialysis for the second
time in my life,
I marched with
the Jesuit Band in
Bacchus, I did all
my school work,
and I carried on
my life as if I had
nothing wrong with
me.
After six months
of dialysis, waiting,
and praying — and
my kidney function
down to 2% — the
phone call came in
June 2012. I was
told that I would
be the recipient of a
kidney.
All I knew about
the donor was that
he was a boy from
north Louisiana
who had been dead
just a few hours.
When I finally
acquired the kidney, I was
ready to leave Children’s
Hospital within three days.
Of course, the doctors would
not let me leave. But I had
no complications, and soon
I was back at Jesuit for the
start of my sophomore year.
I just finished my junior year
and look forward to being a
senior and graduating with
the Class of 2015.
My dad, Joe LaHatte, always
says, “If you look at Jason,
you can’t tell anything is
wrong.”
Today, I am doing
remarkably well. My blood
levels are right, and I only
need to see my doctor every
three months for a checkup. One of my dreams is to
become a transplant surgeon
because I want to give back
everything that was given to
me.
Jason LaHatte with his parents, Joe and Jonnie.
Photo courtesy of the LaHatte family.
According to the National
Kidney Foundation, as of
May 21, 2014, there were
122,737 people in the
United States waiting for
organ transplants. Of these,
100,602 awaited kidney
transplants. In Louisiana,
1,580 people are on the
“waiting list” for a kidney,
according to the Louisiana
Organ Procurement Agency
(LOPA). In 2013, there
were only 14,029 kidney
transplants in the U.S.; 9,314
involved deceased donors
and 4,715 came from living
donors.
I highly encourage everyone
who is able, especially alumni
of Jesuit High School, to sign
up as organ donors. One of
the easiest ways to do this is
when obtaining or renewing
your driver’s license.
We don’t have enough donors
of healthy kidneys to satisfy
the need. Unfortunately,
people die waiting for
transplants — 3,381 died in
2013 before they were able
to receive a kidney. I was
one of the lucky ones on the
transplant list that received a
donated kidney.
Consider becoming a living
donor like Ms. Hudson, who
gave me one of her kidneys
when I was five. Interestingly,
the gender breakdown of
living donors is 61% female
and 39% male. After the
transplantation took place,
Ms. Hudson was discharged
from the hospital with
no complications and she
returned to her teaching job
within 30 days.
Everyone has two kidneys,
but you can live with just
one. You can help people
who have no alternatives and
are in desperate need of only
one kidney.
36 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
A M other Speaks Up
Jonnie LaHatte is the mother of Jesuit senior Jason
LaHatte. She remembers the day that the doctors told
her and her husband Joseph that their son, who had
been healthy from birth, had kidney disease. At the
time, Jason was only five.
“I
was devastated,” said
Jonnie LaHatte. “I
was told I would
have to learn to give him
dialysis nightly at home
and I remember saying, ‘I
don't want to learn this.’
The nurse replied, ‘You have
to.’ A tube was inserted in
Jason’s stomach and he was
given dialysis nightly for
8-10 hours up until his first
transplant.
“His diet changed and he
started taking numerous
medications. In kindergarten,
he never complained.
Sometimes his teacher would
call me to say he looked weak
and to please come and get
him from school. He always
tried to do the same activities
as others. He played baseball
at the playground and was in
the Cub Scouts.
“When Jason was a freshman
at Jesuit and was told he
needed another kidney
transplant, he was put back
on nightly dialysis and the
whole process started again.
The massive deliveries of
the dialysis supplies started.
He was hooked up to the
machine every night for
almost six months. He
would wake up at 5:30 a.m.,
unhook himself from the
machine, and begin his daily
routine of going to Jesuit.
The only time he was absent
was when he had a doctor
visit or lab work.
“He has been involved in
many activities at Jesuit,
not just the band. Jason has
served as student council
class representative and he
joined the fencing club and
the sodality. He’s involved
in campus ministry and is
a Big Brother to new Blue
Jays. He has written articles
for The Blue Jay, the student
newspaper. He has played
saxophone in all the different
Jesuit bands, including
concert, jazz, Philelectic, and
marching.
“He has been an inspiration
to me and my husband, as
well as his older brothers,
Joey (Class of 1999) and
Jonathan (Class of 2002).
Because of Jason’s positive
attitude, we have all been
uplifted in this ordeal. We are
very thankful to the parents
of the young boy who died in
northern Louisiana to have
been so thoughtful in their
time of total grief to think
about trying to help save
someone else’s life: Jason’s.
We strongly urge everyone to
be an organ donor.”
A G esture of Love
John Meunier graduated from Jesuit High School in
1969, three years behind his older brother Jerry, who
was in the Class of 1966. A free spirit and a talented
musician who taught himself to play the guitar at an
early age, John has been part of the New Orleans music
fabric for decades. He currently plays bass guitar in a
band called Tchoupazine and he gigs with Mo’Jelly.
If John depended on music to make his living, he would
have starved a long time ago, along with hundreds of
other New Orleans musicians. For many years, John’s
day job has been as an outside sales agent for Louisiana
Office Products.
John is one of 26 million Americans diagnosed with
kidney disease. His brief essay about the kidney
transplantation he and his brother Jerry underwent
seven years ago resonates with brotherly love,
compassion, and generosity.
By John Meunier ’69
I
n October 1998 I had a
bad case of gout and my
doctor ordered a series of
routine tests. He noticed
an unusually high amount
of protein in my urine and
suggested that I consult a
nephrologist. I made an
Jerry Meunier ’66 and John Meunier ’69
appointment with a fellow
Blue Jay, Dr. Rick Harris,
who graduated one year
ahead of me in the Class of
1968.
Rick gave me the rather
sobering news that I was
in the early stages of Focal
Segmental Glomerulla
Sclerosis (FSGS), a slowly
developing kidney disease. At
the time of the diagnosis, my
w w w.je su it nola .org | 37
kidney function was at 30%
and would gradually regress
to the point requiring either
dialysis or a transplant.
Rick treated me for the next
several years and in 2004
suggested that we begin
the lengthy preparation
process that culminates in
a transplant. Rick said I
would need a new kidney
by the end of 2006, a
prediction that turned out
to be amazingly accurate.
All five of my siblings,
as well as my oldest son,
participated in a prescreening process where
I was completely kept
“out of the loop,” for
understandable reasons.
Not long afterwards, my
older brother Jerry (Class
of 1966) called me on the
phone and told me he
had “a gift for me.” I will
never forget our beautiful
conversation full of
emotion.
Originally, the transplant
was scheduled to take place
at Oschner. But Hurricane
Katrina scotched that
plan. I was married at that
time to Denise, who was
from Pennsylvania, and
the two of us evacuated
to Philadelphia. This
turned out to be a blessing
because the University
of Pennsylvania Medical
Center, as we quickly
discovered, is one of the
country’s leading transplant
centers. I talked it over with
Jerry and the decision was
made, mutually, to have the
“transplantation” in Philly.
The transplant took place
on January 18, 2007. Jerry
was taken to surgery first
and two hours later, it was
my turn. When I woke up
from the anesthesia, I had
never felt more clear-headed
and alert in years. Within
a few hours I was able to
take the short walk over to
Jerry’s room where his wife,
Kathy, tended to her patient
who obviously was in severe
pain and trying to get some
much-needed rest.
I recall one of my doctors
telling me: “You are going
in sick and coming out
well. Your brother, however,
is going in healthy and
coming out a bit more
enfeebled.”
Over the next several weeks
of recuperating, I could not
help notice the change in
my complexion — the acne
on my back had begun to
disappear. And my mind
was much sharper, finally
rid of the cobwebs spun by
under-performing kidneys.
Jerry’s recovery was
somewhat slower, but he
eventually regained his
stamina and excellent
health, two of his many
attributes which had made
him the prime candidate
for this gesture of love. My
greatest blessing was being
fortunate enough to have
a brother as compassionate
and loving as Jerry.
We now share an
unbreakable bond forged by
love, faith, and generosity.
He is my older brother, my
dear friend, and I owe my
life to him.
John Meunier and his wife,
Karen, live in Kenner. His
email is jmeunier@laop.
com.
D iary o f a Ki d ney Don or
From 2004 – 2007, Jerry Meunier of the Class of 1966
kept a fairly extensive diary of events connected to
a kidney transplant procedure in which he was the
donor and his younger brother, John (Class of 1969)
the recipient.
the body. Because the
breakdown occurs focally
and segmentally, it takes
time; but it is relentless, and
incurable.
Jerry is a partner in the New Orleans-based law
firm Gainsburgh, Benjamin, et al and specializes in
complex litigation, mass torts, and class actions. He
and his wife Kathy celebrated 43 years of marriage.
They have two grown children, Claire and Justin (a
Jesuit alumnus, Class of 1993).
A series of tests confirm
that I am one of the
matched, potential donors
in the family. The potential
donors have met to discuss
where we stand, what our
concerns and issues are.
Confidentiality is pledged,
and not breached here.
Here are edited excerpts from Jerry Meunier’s diary.
By Jerry Meunier ’66
September 5, 2004
M
y brother John
Meunier needs
a kidney. His
renal function is at 16%
and falling. He’s already a
candidate for dialysis.
The disease is Focal
Segmental Glomerulla
Sclerosis (FSGS). It attacks
the glomerullar areas of
both kidneys because
the antibodies in John’s
resistance system interpret
these areas as foreign to
But I am a suitable donor,
physically, emotionally,
and spiritually. So I begin
to wonder: Why not me?
I don’t believe the dialysis
alternative is suitable — I
wouldn’t wish it on anyone,
much less a brother. I spoke
to one nephrologist during
my discernment process,
and he summed it up
graphically. “Dialysis,” he
said, “is a dog’s life.”
Nor do I proceed with
conditions, or even
expectations, about John’s
response. I assume he
will take good care of
himself if he gets a donated
kidney, but my decision
is not premised on that
happening.
The fear I feel is not kneebuckling. More a whisper
of mortality than a death
yell. I do worry — about
Kathy and our retirement
plans should my health
be compromised, about
the risk of needing dialysis
myself one day were my
remaining kidney to fail.
38 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
incredible gift. There will be
a time later for the instinct
of fear, as the reality draws
closer still. For now, gratitude
for what I’m given is the
dominant energy.
Immediately after John Meunier (left) received his brother Jerry’s
kidney, he felt great and was up and about in almost no time at
all. While John walked the halls of the University of Pennsylvania
hospital, Jerry, on the other hand, meandered down a slower road
to recovery. It took a few extra days, but Jerry eventually regained
his stamina. Today, Jerry is a picture of health.
Photo courtesy of John Meunier ’69.
But on a deep level this
seems pretty simple to me.
My brother needs a kidney.
I love him. His quality of
life matters to me. And I
have two kidneys, neither of
which I earned, and one of
which is enough to support
me. He would do this for
me if the tables were turned.
I know, with the certainty
of faith that our spiritual
purpose is to give in support
of others, to overcome our
survival fears for love’s sake,
to defeat our attachment to
ego and self-interest. So...it
all does sort of add up: I will
give a kidney to John, who
needs it.
August 2, 2006
I arrived at the University
of Pennsylvania Medical
Center in Philadelphia to be
further evaluated and tested
for donating a kidney to
John. This trip is one of the
changes wrought by Katrina,
which provoked a move from
New Orleans to Philadelphia
by John and (at the time) his
wife Denise, who’s from here.
The matching and evaluation
records from Ochsner were
transferred to U. Penn, where
the surgery was scheduled for
January 2007.
In the City of Brotherly
Love. Don’t tell me God has
no sense of humor.
I approach closer to the
consequence of a decision
made long ago, so it seems —
before Katrina, in a different
time, a different world. Now
the reality of major surgery
looms in a new way. I am to
be cut open and put at risk; I
am to live thereafter with just
one kidney.
John and Denise are so
expressive of their gratitude.
This is a gift. Again, I know
John would do this for me if
the situation were reversed.
My good health is such an
January 16, 2007
I write this on a plane to
Philadelphia. Brother John
awaits a new (well, used,
but new for him) kidney. A
kidney that has served me
well for 58 years — may it
continue in good service!
Nature yearns toward
wholeness and healing. I
know this organ of mine will
rise to the occasion.
I am in a positive frame
of mind, overwhelmed
by the love and support
expressed for me as surgery
approaches. Kathy truly has
been amazing in this, too.
She is so doggedly caring and
well-organized, attending
to every detail so that I’m
supported on this journey.
I’m more than ever aware of
how special her love is, how
blessed I am to be her mate
in this life. I pray she also
will find love and support in
whatever lies ahead, should
something happen to me. I
know she will; she is muchloved by so many.
How wonderful to know
that our children Claire and
Justin will be in Philadelphia.
Each brings a unique part,
each brings me that much
completion. Justin is the
wisdom and warmth of the
Healer; Claire the caring and
compassion of the Light;
he the Moon, she the Sun.
Where on earth would I be
without them?
January 17, 2007
John and I went to the
hospital together this
morning, for a final, crossmatching blood test. I met
with my surgeon, Dr. Yeh;
she looked at my throat and
listened to my chest, because
I told her of my recent cold
and continuing, though
slight now, sniffles. She said
we’re all set for tomorrow
morning unless I'm worse.
But I know I’ll be better.
I am confirmed in my
decision to have arthroscopic
surgery, versus an open
nephrectomy.
But this means donating
the left kidney, which is
dominant in my case. The
doctors support this decision.
I think of a story should I
get last-minute jitters, which
feel like “butterflies” in the
stomach — it’s really just
the beating wings of my left
kidney, eager to fly to John’s
aid.
After labs at the hospital,
John drove back along the
Delaware River, through
the historic district of
Philadelphia. We got out
of the car briefly at “Treaty
Park,” which memorializes
the place on the banks of
the river where City founder
William Penn made a
famously kind and open
treaty with the Indians who
dwelled there. We didn’t
dawdle in the park — it
was extremely cold, though
sunny; the icy breeze off
the river stung my face and
ears. But God bless you, Mr.
Penn.
Tomorrow I do what I have
come to do, what I truly
believe we all are put here to
do.
I look forward to solid food
again. I look ahead to the
other side of the surgeon’s
w w w.je su it nola .org | 39
knife.
Good-bye to the two-kidney
world. Hello to the One.
January 18 - 27, 2007
We travel in two cars and
arrive at the hospital early
in the morning. When we
got out of the cars in the
parking garage, John and I
look at one another, and then
just hugged and wept. The
enormity of what we were
about to experience had hit
home.
After a brief wait in the preop area, I was called first.
Leaving John and family
was a powerful moment —
hugs and kisses all around.
I was taken to an area with
several beds surrounded by
curtains. Surgical patients in
each area — I went to mine,
undressed, and donned my
cap, gown, and “footies.”
A nurse appeared and
took my vital signs. Then
came two (or maybe three)
anesthetists/anesthesiology
assistants. They asked me
basic questions: Who are
you? What surgery are you
having today? Do you have
any allergies? I had the
distinct impression they
knew the answers, and really
were there to rule out a lastminute breakdown on the
part of the donor.
Then I was lying flat on my
back and being rolled to the
operating room, but not
before a young woman on
the “anesthetist team” tried
repeatedly and unsuccessfully
to start an IV line in one
of the veins on the back of
my left hand. She’d finally
apologized profusely. “You
have good veins,” she said.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know
what’s wrong with me today.
We’ll try again in the O.R.”
I remember her face glistened
with sweat from her effort,
while another team member
(a young male) stood at
the foot of the bed trying
to engage me in polite
conversation, all the while
darting nervous glances at
the sweaty stabbing taking
place in my left hand area.
So, as we rolled into the
surgery suite, I remember
thinking: not a very
auspicious beginning.
By now, the IV line in the
hand was in place and I
was advised that I’d soon
be feeling relaxed, and then
going under. An oxygen
mask was placed over my
nose and mouth. I was told
to breathe. And that’s the last
pre-op memory I have…
I became conscious as I was
being rolled to a hospital
room. Once there, I lapsed in
and out of sleep.
In the days that followed, I
have scattered memories.
I was full of wonder and joy
at seeing John right down
the hall. He was his former
self, loud at times, and full
of restless energy, but very
much alive and kicking, and
very much not on dialysis.
So much support from many
friends and family members.
Such a gift to have Kathy,
Justin, and Claire with me.
What a difference family
makes, being hospitalized
and away from home.
January 28, 2007
Leaving Philadelphia
tomorrow, a place with
which I now have a special
relationship. John and I took
a farewell walk in a park near
his apartment. An intimate
time, real conversation
about real matters. Tears of
gratitude as I put my arm
around him as we strolled
shoulder to shoulder. Newly
bonded. A time of Grace.
Now it’s back to New
Orleans. The busy dogs of
my routine await; they will
be yapping their things to do.
I prepare myself and must
try to remain as centered as I
have felt being here, on this
mission inspired by love.
Having tasted what is most
valuable and nourishing in
the banquet of existence, I
mustn’t settle now for “fast
food.”
Jerry Meunier and his
wife Kathy live in uptown
New Orleans. His email is
membergem@gainsben.
com.
About Becoming an Organ Donor…
Acceptable organ donors can range in age from newborn
to 65 years or older. Donor organs are matched to
waiting recipients by a national computer registry called
the National Organ Procurement and Transplantation
Network (OPTN). This computer registry is operated by
an organization known as the United Network for Organ
Sharing (UNOS), which is located in Richmond, Virginia.
Signing a donor card, registry, or driver’s license is a good
first step in declaring your intentions to be an organ
donor, but letting your family and loved ones know
about your decision is important. That’s because family
members are often asked to give their consent for a loved
one’s donation. If they are not aware of your wishes, it
sometimes comes as a surprise. To avoid surprises and
confusion, let your spouse and other loved ones in on your
plan ahead of time.
The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency can answer
questions about organ transplants and how to become
either an organ donor or recipient. Visit the agency’s
website: www.lopa.org.
Several other donor options are available through an
organization called Donate Life America: www.donatelife.
net.
The National Kidney Foundation is the leading
organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness,
prevention, and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds
of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of
patients and their families, and tens of millions of
Americans at risk.
40 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
S U R V I V I N G Q U I Z B O W L’ S
C I R C L E O F D E AT H
assumed the moderator’s role of this co-curricular in 1985,
the year he started teaching history at Jesuit.
In mid-May, the hometown Jesuit team swept the National
Academic Championship’s (NAC) regional event, which
took place at a hotel on Convention Center Boulevard.
The regional event has been held in New Orleans for more
than two decades by Questions Unlimited (also known as
Qunlimited), one of several companies whose business is
all about quiz bowls. Jesuit’s quiz bowl teams were always a
presence at the NAC’s New Orleans regional tournament,
but the Jays had never won. In 2012, Jesuit made it to the
semifinals and lost to the champion. This year was different.
The team of Calamari, Caliva, Dai, & Yokum (CCDY) went
undefeated, posting a 9-0 record. One of the final questions
that lifted the Jays to a first place finish was this one:
You can find Fort Craig and Fort Selden along this 1200-mile
long trail whose northern terminus is also the terminus of the
Santa Fe Trail. This road from Mexico City to Santa Fe was
known by what Spanish name?
Answer: El Camino Real (de Tierra Adentro)
After Jesuit won the New Orleans NAC, Qunlimited
hosted equally large regional competitions in Washington,
D.C. and Chicago. The winners of the three regional
events converged in Chicago in early June to compete in
the National Academic Championship, a pressure-packed
double-elimination tournament. A national title was riding
on the line.
Quiz Bowl Varsity A team members Ian Calamari, Jack Caliva,
Stanley Dai, and Kevin Yokum with their coach, Mr. Ron Rossi.
T
he Quiz Bowl team at Jesuit High School experienced
victory in the “Circle of Death.” And what a thrill it
was for Mr. Ron Rossi, the guru of Jesuit quiz bowl,
to witness.
Say what? Circle of death? Quiz bowl? Really?
Here’s the story. Jesuit’s 2013-14 quiz bowl team, known as
Varsity A, consisted of four intrepid and courageous seniors
— Ian Calamari, Jack Caliva, Stanley Dai, and Kevin
Yokum. Extremely intelligent, even brilliant (Calamari, Dai,
and Yokum were co-valedictorians of the Class of 2014), the
four new alumni were crackerjack quiz bowlers. The team is
arguably the best squad that Jesuit has fielded since Mr. Rossi
Welcome Jesuit, Horace Greeley High (Chappaqua, N.Y.),
and Pingry High (Bernards, N.J.) to the infamous “Circle of
Death.” Only one team would emerge the winner. The Blue
Jays were relentless and impressive, powering in on tossup
questions like this one:
Tristan Tzara turned to abstraction as a founding member
of which movement that disparaged traditional values and
glorified chance, even in how its name is said to have been
chosen at random from the dictionary?
Answer: Dada
After four games in that death circle, it was finally over. The
Jays survived and were declared winners of the National
Academic Championship, the first Louisiana team to do
so. The judges named Jesuit captain Kevin Yokum the
tournament’s MVP. He was also accorded the rare honor
of being inducted into the NAC Hall of Fame, a privilege
bestowed on only a few of the thousands of players who
w w w.je su it nola .org | 41
participated in NAC tournaments over the past 30 years.
Extremely intelligent, and gifted, Yokum is well aware of his
special academic talents without being full of himself. In fact,
his teammates readily acknowledge that Yokum was the brains
of the outfit. Yokum easily deflects the credit to his teammates
and everyone is a little uncomfortable.
“Winning the NAC was good for Jesuit,” Yokum says in a
voice barely audible. “Our sports teams do reasonably well
and achieve great things. Quiz bowl is the flip side of athletics
and it shows that Jesuit is a complete school.”
The rub, says Yokum and his teammates, is that some people
don’t understand what quiz bowl is all about. Here are seniors
(and several others) who actually enjoy practicing everyday to
learn the obscure in Mr. Rossi’s quiz bowl incubator for half
their lunch period. And what happens is they become a little
self-conscious about drawing attention to themselves.
“They’re great kids, perfectly normal, all proud students,”
says Mr. Rossi, who is quick to feel their discomfort. “Some
people have misperceptions.”
It’s the nerd factor, the perceived scourge of excelling today at
school in something that glorifies learning, expands horizons,
and rewards teamwork. To compete in quiz bowl requires
some knowledge about literature, science, fine arts, history,
geography, mythology, social science, theology, philosophy,
pop culture, and current events. And there are sub-categories
to these topics, more than 30 alone just in history.
Yokum is the team’s “supergeneralist,” defined as a player who
is extremely good at answering questions on all, or almost
all, quiz bowl topics. His specialty is history, social studies,
geography, government, and current events. Soon to be a
freshman at the University of Notre Dame, where he plans to
study electrical engineering, Yokum has been on the varsity
quiz bowl team since he was a freshman and possesses the
“uncanny ability” to guess answers correctly about 60% of the
time in tournaments.
“His guessing and gut reactions are amazing,” says Mr. Rossi,
who adds that the Blue Jays always displayed appropriate
etiquette at tournaments. When facing a non-aggressive team,
Yokum and the others were less likely to start “powering”
in on questions, a tactic that nets the team extra points for
correctly answering before the moderator is finished reading
it.
The Chicago tournament did not lend itself to niceties and
Yokum remembers a particularly difficult tossup question he
powered:
During the 1884 election campaign, it was reported that
Grover Cleveland had fathered a child out of wedlock, so
James G. Blaine’s supporters condemned Cleveland in the
strongest of terms, singing “Ma, Ma, Where’s my Pa?” After
Cleveland’s victory, Cleveland supporters would respond to the
taunt with what rejoinder?
Answer: “Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha.”
His teammates also worked diligently and brought their own
strengths to the competitions. Stanley Dai, who plans to study
economics at Georgetown University, is considered the team’s
“generalist,” someone who is capable of answering questions
on a wide range of topics. In addition to mathematics and
science topics, Dai fielded questions about sports, particularly
the NBA, music, art, and the Oscars. He helped to propel
his team past the New Jersey team in Chicago by correctly
answering this particularly difficult question:
The film adaptation of this novel was directed by Brian
Percival and stars Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nélisse. It
received an Academy Award nomination for John Williams’
score. The novel itself was published in 2005 and spent 230
weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. Liesel becomes
the title character after learning to read and taking things
from her former employer in what Markus Zusak novel?
Answer: The Book Thief
“It feels good that all the hard work we put in over the years
has paid off in a nice way,” says Dai about the team winning
its first national championship. In the process, the team
was awarded a first place cash prize of $4,000, the first time
NAC provided monetary awards. Mr. Rossi put the winnings
toward Quiz Bowl travel expenses, museum entrance fees for
the players, and well-deserved team dinners.
The popularity of quiz bowl is directly proportional to the
diversity of the content featured in some of the online forums.
The forums attract scrupulous attention by high school and
college quiz bowlers who are devoted to discussing everything
in their universe — everything — including topics that cover
the latest tournament results, upcoming tournaments (there
are always tournaments), the latest trends in topics, writing
effective pyramid-style questions for competitions, even the
cheating scandal last year that rocked Harvard University’s
quiz bowl team and shocked the overwhelming majority who
consider honor and the quest for true knowledge to be far
more important than winning.
Exploring the Harvard cheating incident for Slate,
Washington, D.C. free-lancer Alan Siegel wrote: “Quiz
bowlers celebrate their pastime as the most academically
rigorous head-to-head competition in existence. If it were
easy, there’d be no point. As one high school coach says of
elite players: ‘They would not enjoy quiz bowl if it weren’t for
the extreme challenge.’”
For Ian Calamari, the rigorous advanced curriculum program
prepared him well for quiz bowl, which he didn’t join until
42 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
his sophomore year, later than the others. Calamari plans
to study computer science at the University of Mississippi,
so his contributions to the team covered that topic, making
him the “specialist” bowler, one who mainly answers in a few
categories. Also a military history buff, Calamari was great at
answering odd-duck questions like this one:
His education at West Point was briefly interrupted when he
was placed on house arrest in 1826 for smuggling whiskey
into the military academy, which led to an event called the
Egg Nog riot, but he graduated anyway in 1828. He fought
in the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War
and was a U.S. Senator and Secretary of War between 1853
and 1857. He was born 8 months before Abraham Lincoln
at a location about 100 miles from Lincoln’s birthplace. Who
was he?
Answer: Jefferson Davis
The fourth member of the championship team, Jack Caliva,
could also be considered a specialist because of his strengths
with topics such as music, paintings, literature, and the arts.
He plans to study English at the College of the Holy Cross, a
liberal arts school in the Jesuit tradition. “The championship
in Chicago was a culminating moment,” said Caliva, who
clearly enjoyed the limelight, even if the pressure to win, and
then achieving that goal, almost made him throw up in a
plant that the hotel had placed near the Jesuit table. Caliva
managed to keep it down for questions similar to this one:
Marlene Dietrich is said to have given him the nickname
“Papa.” Of him, F. Scott Fitzgerald said his “inclination is
toward megalomania and mine toward melancholy.” Sports
Illustrated once paid him $15 a word to write a bullfighting
article. Name the author.
Answer: Ernest Hemingway
Ian Calamari, Jack Caliva, Stanley Dai, and Kevin Yokum
in the Hall of Honors.
The other seniors on the 2013-14 quiz bowl team were Mark
Alvarez, Alex Anderson, Andrew Collins, Reuben Hogan,
Jim Huang, and Jordan Lacoste. All contributed at some
point during the season to the team’s 72-10 face-to-face
won-loss game record; factor in computer competition and
the team owns a 403-23 record. Eight of those face-to-face
losses occurred at the National Tournament for Academic
Excellence (NTAE), an invitation-only event at Disney World
that had not been held since 2009. The Jays had won the
NAC the week before in Chicago and were a little out of
their laser-focus element at the NTAE. Still, Jesuit reached
the finals, as did four other teams (two of which were “select”
teams whose members were from more than one school).
Kevin Yokum earned All-American at NTAE, again a special
honor for a unique Blue Jay quiz bowler. Notable Academic Achievements...
Mock Trial
The Jesuit Mock Trial team of Mark
Alvarez ’14, Patrick Fine ’15, and William
Tittle ’15 (attorneys), and Charles
Farley ’14, Jordan Lacoste ’14, and
Matthew Stuckey ’15 (witnesses), won
their three matches to place first at the state
championship, held in March at federal
court in Shreveport in March. The Mock
Trial team is coached by Brett Wise ’82,
Michael Mentz ’74, John Becknell, and
Michael Mims ’05. The team is moderated
by Greg Ernst ’83.
Debate
At the state tournament in Lafayette in
March, captain Jim Huang ’14 capped off
a stellar career with his third consecutive
championship in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas
debate, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished
in more than 20 years.
Meanwhile, the Debate Team of Rishab
Chimmanamada ’15 and Mayank
Mardia ’16, paired with Andrew Cerise ’16
and Mako Giordano ’15 shared the Public
Forum debate championship for the first
time in modern Jesuit debate history. The
team is coached by Ian Gunn ’07 and
moderated by English teacher Travis Smith.
Mu Alpha Theta
Jesuit was one of 31 schools that
participated in the Mu Alpha Theta
tournament at the Louisiana MAΘ State
Math Convention in Baton Rouge. Sixtyfour Blue Jays competed and Jesuit took
home top honors in three events: senior
Andrew Nyguen finished first in Algebra II
and juniors Patrick Fine and Mark James
were tops in Math Bowl (Analysis Gemini
Team). Jesuit also scored the highest in the
Algebra II Interschool Test. Math teacher Jo
Ann Schexnayder moderates MAΘ.
State Rally
Jesuit produced seven first place winners at
the Louisiana State Literary Rally: senior
Sean Stephens (calculus), juniors Mitchell
Falcon (Spanish III), Jerry Spencer (fine
arts survey), and Stephen Stradley (French
III), and sophomores Andrew Cerise (U.S.
History) and John James (algebra II).
Falcon, James, and Stradley were also overall
division winners, which earned each of them
a $400 scholarship to a Louisiana college or
university. Rally competition is moderated
by Spanish teacher Andrew Dykema.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 43
The Luckiest Principal
It’s official. The 2013 – 2014
school year has come to a close, and
with it, so has my first year as principal.
When I addressed the student body at
the first assembly of the school year, I
spoke about the importance of using
our God-given gifts to do our best.
And when Father Fitzgerald spoke at
the final assembly just two months ago,
he commented that Jesuit is constantly
improving because we — the Jesuit
community — are always striving to
consistently give our best.
Evidence of this can be readily found in
the multitude of activities that take place
every day throughout the school year.
Rising seniors are diligently working
this summer on their service projects.
You’ll find Blue Jays in the classrooms
at Carrollton and Banks assisting
with Operation Upgrade, as well as
participating in international programs
such as Courts for Kids in Costa Rica
and the Dominican Republic.
Student Ministry organizations such
as the Sodality continue to grow, and
a record number of our students have
already signed-up to attend the Junior
Kairos retreats during the coming school
year.
We witnessed the rejuvenation of the
intramural program with three distinctly
popular seasonal sports — football,
The consistent support and spirit of the
student body was especially conspicuous
throughout the year at various events
and included the uniquely-Jesuit
“Blue Jay Shift” at basketball games,
imaginative and exciting pep rallies,
and arguably the largest Homecoming
banner created since the Class of 1968’s
memorably huge Fighting Jayson.
Academically, Blue Jays excelled in the
classroom. Thirty-five students were
honored as National Merit Scholars;
three as National Achievement Finalists;
and four as National Hispanic Scholars.
Our graduates in the Class of 2014
received scholarship offers totaling in the
millions of dollars from universities all
across the United States.
Our dedicated faculty continued to
challenge their students and to seek
better, innovative, and more effective
ways to work with them. At the end
of the school year, more than 40
faculty members attended a workshop
where they learned new techniques for
incorporating the iPad into classroom
instruction.
I am thankful for the outstanding
leadership that the 2014 seniors
displayed in all aspects of student life.
These wonderful young men are moving
on to new chapters in their lives, and
they do so having left positive impacts
on our community — and they do so on
a high note, leaving us wanting more.
Their class gift was thoughtfully and
lovingly chosen — the restoration of
the stained glass in the small chapel of
the 5th Station of the Cross, depicting
Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus to carry
His cross. Fr. Fitzgerald observed in his
graduation address that the seniors chose
their gift “thinking of Simon as a man for
others, a quality that makes this a most
fitting commemoration of your class.”
I’m in awe of the numerous distinctive
accomplishments and outstanding
achievements of all of our students, and
I consider myself fortunate to be part of
such a remarkable experience.
You might have noticed that I referenced
Fr. Fitzgerald a couple of times —
and who can blame me? The Jesuit
community will always remember that
special assembly in January when Fr.
Fitzgerald so eloquently and bravely
shared with us the news of his illness. As
we look back over the past three years of
Fr. Fitzgerald’s abbreviated presidency,
I am confident that we will consider
ourselves fortunate to have been a part
of this experience.
When Lou Gehrig gave his famous
“tough break” speech 75 years ago,
he said he considered himself to
be “the luckiest man on the face of
this earth.” Well, I feel as if I am the
luckiest principal on the face of this
earth because I have been privileged
and blessed to work with Fr. Fitzgerald
during the first year in my new position.
I look forward to working with Fr.
Fitzgerald in a different capacity for
years to come. Peter Kernion ’90
Principal
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Our athletic teams and co-curricular
organizations worked hard and achieved
great successes. Jesuit’s mock trial,
debate, quiz bowl, tennis, and lacrosse
teams each won state championships.
Additionally, district titles were claimed
by our cross country, swimming, and
golf teams.
basketball, and cabbage ball. Members
of the Class of 2014 even held an
exciting cabbage ball championship
game during their senior week.
44 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo Reel’s ’Em In
T
he 2014 Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo featured a post-Katrina record number of fishing fans
(almost 300), a “king”-sized cooking demonstration, and a trophy trout. For the third
consecutive year, the event was held under the Pontiff Pavilion at John Ryan Stadium. Chairman
Mike McMahon ’85 and co-chair Br. William Dardis, S.J. ’58 boosted student participation by
organizing a trip to the St. Tammany Fishing Pier. Fishing with Blue Jay parent Todd Dulcich,
Lee Pierce entered a whopper of a speckled trout that tipped weighmaster Larry Canada’s scale
at 8.1 pounds. Aaron Burgau ’92, executive chef at Patois, who took top prize at the 7th Annual
Louisiana Seafood Cook-off in May, shared his recipe for black drum.
Mark your calendars for next year’s rodeo: Saturday, June 27. For a complete list of the winners,
go to jesuitnola.org/fishing-rodeo.
1. Trevor Spinosa with his new Blue Jay son Tim, a member of the Class of 2019. 2. Never missing the
weigh-in festivities are Jesuit Fathers Norman O’Neal (left) and Nick Schiro ’44 (right), who find
themselves escorted by Patois Restaurant chef Aaron Burgau ’92 and alumni director Mat Grau ’68.
3. Rodeo chairman Michael McMahon ’85 with veteran volunteer Letty Clark, and chairman emeritus
Jimmy Commagere, with his grandson Robert Commagere ’06. 4. Lee Pierce with his 8.1-pound
whopper of a trout. 5. Chris Mills ’80 with a little monster croaker that tipped the scales in the
opposite direction. 6. Blue Jays in the Class of 2018 check out the display of fish on ice; from left,
John McMahon, Andrew Kuebel, Larson McAlpine, Albert Bienvenu, Ben Brodnax, Jay Kuebel, and
Jake Theriot. 7. Trey Melito ’18 flashes a whale of a grin in between casts at the St. Tammany Fishing
Pier. 8. A special thanks is tossed to Br. Billy Dardis, S.J. ’58, who commandeered the Jesuit bus that
brought about two dozen rodeo participants to the St. Tammany Fishing Pier in Slidell and back to
John Ryan Stadium.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 45
Jesuit’s annual Career Day is designed to enlighten current Blue Jays about an important decision in their not-toodistant future. The event — actually consuming about two hours at the start of the school day — provides alumni an
opportunity to return to Carrollton and Banks and engage students in meaningful ways.
Jim Martin ’94, a civil engineer with a Ph.D., is a veteran at Career Day. For several years, he has faithfully committed to
speak to Blue Jays about a career that has, somewhat surprisingly, surpassed law and medicine in student interest: civil
engineering. In this brief article, Martin lets us in on…
The Joy of Speaking at Career Day
By James Martin ’94
C
areer Day at Jesuit is an
opportunity for alumni to share
practical information about
their jobs with current students. I have
been honored to do just that for several
years. Whenever Jesuit’s alumni director
Mat Grau ’68 asks if I am available
for the event, I immediately and
enthusiastically accept his invitation.
I could write that I speak at Career
Day to give something back and to
pass on the gifts that others bestowed
on to me many years ago in those same
halls and classrooms. That would be a
noble and selfless motivation. Actually,
I participate in Career Day because of
how it makes me feel before, during,
and after the event.
Career Day starts in St. Ignatius Hall,
where the alumni speakers gather as
early as 7 in the morning for coffee
and camaraderie. We discuss the details
of the event, but more than that, we
see people whom we may have not
run into in years — classmates, former
teachers, administrators, and the Jesuits
themselves. It is comforting to know
that the good people who helped to
shape Jesuit decades before are still at
work influencing young men today.
The time passes quickly and we soon
fan out to our assigned rooms. I am
fortunate to discuss a career that,
especially in recent years, has attracted
the curiosity of more and more Blue
Jays: civil engineering. Typically, there
are 35 – 50 young men in each of my
two 50-minute sessions. They are eager,
respectful, and inquisitive, and they ask
Clockwise, from upper left: Jim Martin '94 at the 2014 Career Day; Richard LeBlanc '87 and
Roland Waguespack '92 discuss careers in medicine; Alumni and speakers gather in
St. Ignatius Hall for a reception before fanning out to meet with Blue Jays.
intelligent questions. For almost two
hours, I hang out with these young Blue
Jays and tell them that all their hard
work, hopefully, will someday result in
appropriate reward.
At the conclusion of Career Day, I
leave Jesuit feeling that I accomplished
something grand. Even though I
graduated 20 years ago from Jesuit High
School, I am a proud alumnus who
remains very much connected to this
great institution and brotherhood.
Jim Martin, Ph.D. ’94 is president of
Design Engineering, Inc., a 30-yearold civil and structural engineering
company based in Metairie. He is
an active member of the 1994 class
leadership team. Jim and his wife,
Gina Occhipinti Martin, celebrated
their 11th wedding anniversary in
January. They have one son, Thomas
Finn Martin, born September 13, 2013.
The family lives in Metairie.
Jim can be reached by email:
jmartin@dei-engr.com.
Alumni interested in speaking at
Career Day should email alumni
director Mat Grau ’68 at grau@
jesuitnola.org.
46 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
A Model Saint for Today’s Teens
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
(1568-1591)
By Matt Orillion ’98
MEDALLION STORIES
or close to a decade the
Pro-Life Club at Jesuit
High School, during
the group’s annual “March for Life”
pilgrimage in our nation’s capital in
January, has attended a special Mass
celebrated at St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Church. In this 155-year-old church
hangs a painting depicting Aloysius
when he was 12-years-old receiving his
first Holy Communion from Charles
Borromeo, who at the time was an
archbishop and cardinal, and himself a
future saint.
child and suffered with kidney disease,
which prohibited young Gonzaga
from fully participating in this
training. It was about this time that
the future saint began an alternative
training regimen of intense prayer
and penance — one that would lead
him to another, more heavenly, Royal
Court.
Whenever it is time to visit St.
Gonzaga Church, we are often weary
from the long walks around the
capital, although we eagerly anticipate
the trek to the Mall where we will
join 100,000 other young people
witnessing to the dignity of human life
in its earliest stages. In the meantime,
St. Gonzaga Church provides all of
us a welcome respite. Year after year, I
find myself gazing up at the painting,
wondering and contemplating…
Who is this young man? How did he
respond to the grace that was offered to
him? What can he teach us about the
vocation of sanctity to which all are
called by God?
Luigi Gonzaga, one of the three
so-called Jesuit “boy” saints (John
Berchmans and Stanislaus Kostka
being the other two), was born
March 9, 1568 to a noble and
powerful family in the Lombardy
region of Italy. His father, the Marquis
of Castiglione, desired that his eldest
son follow his example and enter
into courtly life as a soldier. On the
command of his father, Aloysius (as
he eventually was called), began at the
tender age of four to learn the ways
of princes. However, he was a sickly
Aloysius Gonzaga receiving Holy
Communion from Archbishop Charles
Borromeo.
The journey to sainthood is never an
easy one, since the ones to whom God
offers this grace (that is, all of us) must
pass through the Way of the Cross in
order to enter the Heavenly Kingdom.
Aloysius Gonzaga was certainly no
exception, and the route he navigated
holds for us important lessons for our
own journey.
His biggest obstacle was his father.
Determined to see his eldest son
inherit his title, along with land,
wealth, and power, the Marquis sent
Aloysius and one of his brothers to the
court of the powerful Medici family
in Florence. Aloysius was quickly
repelled by what he saw as a licentious
lifestyle. He privately resolved never to
offend God by sin.
When Aloysius was 12, the Gonzaga
family was visited by Charles
Borromeo, the Archbishop and
Cardinal of Milan. Upon learning that
the child had yet to receive Our Lord
in the Eucharist, the distinguished
cardinal set about instructing him.
On July 22, 1580, Aloysius Gonzaga
received his first Holy Communion.
(In addition to the painting in St.
Gonzaga’s Church, the scene is
commemorated in one of the many
beautiful stained glass windows
that adorn the Holy Name of Jesus
Chapel on the second floor of the
administration and residence building
at Jesuit High School. An extensive
renovation of the small chapel is
underway and includes the restoration
of all the stained glass windows.)
Fortified with the graces of the
Sacrament, Aloysius spent his
adolescent years exploring his
vocation, much to the dismay of
his father who, in an effort to create
distractions that might dissuade his
son from pursuing such an austere life,
sent him to live in some of the most
notable courts of Italy.
Aloysius was only strengthened in his
resolve to spurn an easy lifestyle. On
the Feast of the Assumption (August
15) in 1583, he made the decision
to enter religious life as a Jesuit.
However, his Jesuit confessor made
him acquire his father’s permission
before being allowed to enter the
novitiate. The Marquis, of course,
w w w.je su it nola .org | 47
refused and the battle between two
strong wills escalated in its intensity
over the next year. Aloysius was
relentless in pursuing his goal of
becoming a Jesuit and his father finally
surrendered. On November 25, 1585,
the 17-year-old Aloysius renounced
his inheritance and entered the Jesuit
novitiate in Rome.
In 1591, while Aloysius was still in
training as a Jesuit, a plague broke
out in Rome. Initially repelled by the
sight of its victims, Aloysius overcame
his fear and earnestly tended to their
physical and spiritual needs. When
several young Jesuits became infected
with the disease, the superiors issued
orders for Aloysius and other novices
to stay away from the main hospital
where the plague’s contagious sick
were brought.
Aloysius, perhaps encouraged by an
Aloysius, bedridden since March
1591, was near death on several
occasions, but each time, he would
rally. On June 21, 1591, at the age
of 23, Aloysius Gonzaga eyed the
crucifix he clutched in his hands and
tried to pronounce the name Jesus
when he passed joyfully into eternal
life. As a testament to his holiness,
his Jesuit spiritual director, St. Robert
Bellarmine, requested that upon his
own death he be buried at the feet
of Aloysius Gonzaga. His wish was
honored.
Aloysius’s short life was characterized
by an ardent desire for purity, love
for God in prayer, and the practice
of charity. In a recent address to the
school community, then-president Fr.
Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 warned
that we cannot be preoccupied with
the long term, but must concern
ourselves with “becoming the person
God calls us to be today.”
This, I think, rings true about the life
of Aloysius Gonzaga. As the patron of
Christian youth, he serves as a model
for our students in learning to temper
the rambunctiousness of adolescence
in the cauldron of self-restraint and
humility. Sin is no laughing matter.
Aloysius knew this and prepared
himself accordingly. However, he was
not — for all his mortifications — a
curmudgeon. He radiated joy in a
heroic manner — the hallmark of the
saints.
In fact, it seems fitting that each year
the contingent of Jesuit high schools
and universities prepare themselves
spiritually for the “March for Life”
in a church dedicated to the memory
of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Here was
a young Jesuit who took Jesus at his
word that the greatest gift one can give
is to lay down his life for his neighbor.
Here was a young man who, in spite
of the gift of purity, sought to tame his
concupiscence before it tamed him.
Here was a young noble who cast off
the glories of the world and the flesh
and, asking for a different crown,
looked forward joyfully to serving
in the Heavenly Court of Christ the
King.
Aloysius Gonzaga provides a witness
to us every January 22 that man was
created for more than this life can
offer and that the best way to give
witness to that truth is to live one’s life
in the joy of the Gospel. The smiles on
the faces and the joy in the hearts of
the throngs witnessing to the dignity
of every human person testify that
Aloysius was right.
Aloysius Gonzaga was beatified in
1605, 14 years after his death. He was
canonized some 120 years later
in 1726. Matt Orillion ’98 teaches theology
and is the director
of student activities
at Jesuit High
School. The focus of
his responsibilities
has been student
life and spirituality.
Before becoming the director of
student activities in 2013, Matt
moderated the Student Council for
eight years and the Pro-Life Club
for seven years. In 2012, he founded
the St. Francis Borgia Student
Leadership Institute. Matt was a
2013 recipient of the Profile of a
Jesuit Teacher Award for excellence
as an Ignatian educator at Jesuit.
He graduated from UNO with
a bachelor of science degree in
exercise physiology and education.
He earned a master’s in theology
from Our Lady of Holy Cross
College. Matt and his wife Anne
have three children. His email is
orillion@jesuitnola.org.
MEDALLION STORIES
From an early age, Aloysius did
penance and he was known for radical
mortifications of the flesh, including
extreme fasting and flagellation. In
the novitiate, the Jesuit’s required
Aloysius to tone down his penance, to
relax more, to eat appropriately, and
obtain the proper amount of sleep.
For a young man so zealous to resist
the attractions of the world through
the harsh practice of self-discipline, a
directive to lessen his penances might
have seemed offensive to Aloysius.
Yet the practice of obedience to his
superiors turned out to be the more
satisfactory way to train himself in
the virtues. Writing to his brother
from the novitiate, Aloysius explained
himself: “I am a piece of twisted iron;
I entered religion to be untwisted
straight.”
intuition that his earthly life would
not last much longer, was persistent
in seeking permission to continue his
hospital work. The Jesuit superiors
relented and allowed Aloysius to serve
the sick in a different hospital where
non-contagious patients were treated.
Not long afterwards, Aloysius tended
to one of his patients. Unbeknownst
to everyone, the patient was infected
and Aloysius soon contracted the
plague.
48 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Flying with the Jays
By the end of the individual and
doubles quarterfinals — when eight
Blue Jays had bested their opponents
in two sets — Team Jesuit had
clinched the school’s seventh straight
championship (and its 19th title since
1995). The tournament was played
on the campus of the University of
Louisiana at Monroe.
Jordan Lacoste ’14
Tennis Team Nets 7th
Straight State Title
Jesuit has won 19 LHSAA Division 1
state tennis titles in the past 20 years,
a remarkable achievement by itself.
It’s even more awesome considering
the Blue Jays wrapped up this year’s
team championship one day before the
tournament ended.
Senior Jordan Lacoste, the
tournament’s top seed, and junior Alex
Depascual (#28 seed) competed for the
individual title. Lacoste was impressive
in his string of victories leading up to
the championship match showdown
with the #2 seed, Mandeville’s Cody
Orgeron, who in the quarterfinals
had ousted Depascual. Orgeron upset
Lacoste (6-0, 6-1), and in doing so,
wrestled the individual state title away
from Jesuit, where it had resided for the
previous four years, courtesy of the Blue
Jays’ phenomenal Hobie Hotard ’13.
A trio of Jesuit doubles teams certainly
helped swing the title to the Blue Jays.
In fact, it was an all-Blue Jay doubles
finale with the #5 seed team of junior
Gregory Suhor and sophomore
Brandon Beck defeating the #2 seed
team of sophomore twins Jacob and
Jonathan Niehaus (6-2, 6-2).
Travis Smith — a theology teacher at
Jesuit who spent the previous seven
seasons as an assistant before assuming
the head coach duties last summer —
said netting the 2014 championship as
early as the team did was “fantastic,”
and it made the players’ spirits soar.
Lacoste and the four Blue Jays who
played in the doubles championship
were named to the Nola.com/TimesPicayune All-Metro Boys’ Tennis Team.
Coach Smith was also recognized as
“Metro Coach of the Year” by virtue of
his team’s championship performance.
A Hat Trick for
Lacrosse
The Blue Jay lacrosse team
accomplished the difficult feat of
turning a hat trick by winning its third
consecutive state championship. In
defeating the Wolves of St. Paul’s, 11-4,
Jesuit bested their Northshore opponent
for the third time in as many years.
Jesuit senior Arman Alizadeh scored
four goals in the title game and was
named the tournament’s offensive
MVP. U.S. Lacrosse, the sport’s national
governing body, named Alizadeh an
All-American. The four-year letterman
and three-year starter finished the 2014
season with 65 goals. Junior Blue Jay
goalie Eric Wright was named the
tournament’s defensive MVP.
Jesuit’s lacrosse team featured only
six seniors, 12 fewer than the 2013
team. In addition to Alizadeh, senior
players were Evan Fitzpatrick, Charley
Hamilton, Robert Montenegro,
Arman Alizadeh ’14
Thomas Nimmo (who scored thrice in
the big game), and Colby Simoneaux.
Wrestlers Emerge as
Second Best
Jesuit’s wrestling team is a strong force
at the LHSAA state tournament. In
11 of the past 12 years, the Jays won
four state titles and were runners-up
seven times. Is it any wonder that the
competition might regard Blue Jays
as the proverbial beasts lurking and
waiting to pounce?
Such was the scenario at the state meet
at the Pontchartrain Center where 12
of Jesuit’s 14 grapplers placed sixth
or better. The Jays had yet another
runner-up finish, this time to Brother
Martin, the eventual champions.
Two beastly Jays won individual state
championships in their respective
weight class: junior Ben D’Antonio
(120) and senior co-captain Jake Eccles
(172). Both were named to the Nola.
com/Times-Picayune 1st All-Metro
Team.
The 2014 team graduated only five
seniors, leaving a sturdy crop of
underclass Jays eager to become the
newest beasts of the mat.
Ben D’Antonio ’15
Golfers Win Regional,
District Titles
Jake Eccles ’14
Bowlers Pin Down a
Strong Finish
The 2014 bowling team reached the
semifinals of the LHSAA state tourney
in Baton Rouge for the very first time.
Junior Ben Ainsworth was on a roll
with a 688 series and three individual
wins before the 15-12 loss to Vandebilt
Catholic of Houma, the eventual team
champions, knocked Jesuit out of the
tournament.
The Blue Jay golf team bagged the
district championship by winning
every dual match throughout the fall
and spring seasons. The Jays were
especially tenacious when competing
at Lakewood Golf Club, their home
course.
The Jays followed up their district win
with a regional championship at the
picturesque Carter Plantation course in
Springfield. Sophomore Grant Glorioso
led the way with a one-under-par 71.
Jesuit’s top four golfers shot 305, the
lowest of seven other competing teams.
The Blue Jays posted a perfect district
sheet, which included three wins over
the defending state champions from
Archbishop Rummel.
The season featured outstanding
individual performances from seniors
Andrew Prejean and Chris Totaro,
juniors Chris Ainsworth and Brett
Lorio, and sophomore Peyton Hidalgo.
Totaro and Chris Ainsworth rolled 700plus series. Totaro and Prejean were
named to the Nola.com/Times-Picayune
1st All-District Team.
C.J. Blagrove ’14
Jesuit’s momentum, unfortunately,
stayed south for the LHSAA state
tournament at Shreveport’s East Ridge
Country Club, where the Jays struggled
to a sixth place finish. Byrd High’s golf
team won the championship, which was
played on their home course.
Blue Jays
checked out
early, leaving their
hearts and a few tears
on the diamond after a stunning 6-5
loss to the #10 seed Live Oak Eagles in
a semifinal game.
This season, the LHSAA implemented a
“best of 3” series to determine winners
in the regional and quarterfinal rounds.
Previously, the winner of a single game
advanced. Apparently it has happened
that a very good team had a very bad
game against a very bad team that
played a very good game. A “best of
3” series ostensibly levels the field by
thwarting a team from relying on their
one and only ace pitcher after a few
days rest.
The Jays beat Central High of Baton
Rouge, 7-4, in the opening bi-district
playoff game. Jesuit twice shut out
the Rummel Raiders (6-0, 1-0) in the
regional round, and in the quarterfinals,
the visiting Trojans of Alexandria went
home after losing two games (4-3, 8-0).
The Jays were heading west.
When Live Oak jumped out to a
4-0 lead, the magic of Jesuit’s season
Jesuit’s team at the regional and state
tournaments consisted of Glorioso
and four seniors: Alex Anderson, C.J.
Blagrove, Will Dufour, and Cole
Johnson. In 2014-15, Owen Seiler ’75
begins his third season as Jesuit’s head
coach.
Andrew Prejean ’14
Baseball: Jays OUT!
At the LHSAA state baseball
tournament in Sulphur, LA, Jesuit
arrived with high hopes of winning a
21st championship. Instead, the #3 seed
Blake Baker ’14
50 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
ended Jesuit’s season, 42-39. The Jays
posted an 18-12 overall record (5-5 in
District 9-5A).
disappeared as fast as the arc of a
speeding cutter. Senior Blue Jay ace
C.J. Avrard — rock steady on the
mound this season — barely lasted
five innings. The strapping pitcher
was nicked by the Eagles for eight hits
and all six of their runs. Senior reliever
Glynn Hyer finished the game,
allowing only one hit. But five runs
on a half dozen hits weren’t enough
for the Jays, who —let the record
reflect — never gave up and went
down fighting to their final out in the
bottom of the 7th.
The Jays finished 32-6, the first time
that a Jesuit varsity baseball team
racked up more than 30 wins in a
season.
FLYING WITH THE JAYS
“This hurts but I’m glad we are
hurting together…” said Coach Joey
Latino, addressing his heartbroken
players in an emotional gathering
before they climbed aboard the bus for
the long ride back east to Carrollton
& Banks. “It’s ok to hurt, it’s ok…
I want you to go to your parents
and thank them for giving you the
opportunity to get a Jesuit education
and for helping you build your
character.”
They say that winning is easy, it
builds confidence, sells tickets, and
makes everyone happy. Everyone
embraces a winner. How athletes and
teams handle defeat is the real test of
character, courage, and resilience. And
that puts Jesuit’s 2014 baseball team in
a league of its own.
Shut Down by Wolves
It wasn’t meant to be, Jesuit’s soccer
team winning a third consecutive state
championship.
St. Paul’s, the team the Jays enjoyed
whipping in the last two title matches,
exacted a two-liter bottle of revenge
by making sure Jesuit’s season ended
prematurely. And end it did on the
Wolves’ home field in Covington. For
Blue Jays, the drive back home on that
long bridge took forever.
The 2-0 semifinal loss to St. Paul’s
“We should have gone farther (in
the playoffs) than we did, so yes,
I’m somewhat disappointed,” said
Jennings wistfully. “On the positive
side, the support that the student
body gave the team was really
impressive and made a huge difference
in several games. We — and I mean
the coaches, players, and the fans —
must never underestimate the value of
the so-called ‘sixth Jay.’”
Mitch Bourgeois ’14
was a bitter end to Jesuit’s season
in which the team finished 174-4, an enviable record by most
standards. In retrospect, the season
proved disheartening for the Jays
and Coach Hubie Collins, who has
successfully and skillfully guided the
soccer program at Jesuit since 2003.
Under Collins, the Jays have won an
incredible seven state championships
in the past 12 years.
Following the hurt St. Paul’s delivered,
Jesuit co-captain and senior goalie
Nick Tadros spoke bluntly to his
teammates. “We are Blue Jays,” he
said, “and we walk out of here with
our heads high.”
The team graduated six seniors:
starters Riley Conroy, Chase
Eckholdt, and Grant Nichols, and
reserves Connor Gillen, Jack Hebert,
and Brett Spansel. Junior starters
Trey LaForge and Foster Moreau
will return as the team’s leaders next
season.
Coach Jennings remains optimistic
that juniors Evan Duhon and Paul
Kohnke, and sophomores Mark
Beebe and Robert Weiss will bring
fresh talent to exhibit in the Birdcage.
And let us remember that every game
will be a command performance for
the “sixth Jay.”
And the Blue Jays did.
Jay ’Cagers Bounced
from Playoffs
Chris Jennings ’78, head coach of
Blue Jay basketball, looked up at the
ceiling and pondered the outcome of
the 2014 season. His Blue Jays — the
defending district champions — had
secured the 21st seed in the LHSAA
state playoffs, only to be bounced out
in the first round, which happened to
be a long road trip to Monroe to play
12th seed Ruston on the Friday evening
of Mardi Gras weekend.
That all-important “sixth Blue Jay”
was sorely missed as the Bearcats
Grant Nichols ’14
Jesuit Golf Classic chairman J.P. Escudier '95 (center) presents the Alumni Champions Cup to a foursome
of his own classmates, from left, Mark Hughes, Ron Britsch, Michael Malinowski, and Ryan Fitzmorris.
Golf Classic Stars 200 Blue Jays on a Sun-Drenched Course
Golfers of all stripes — primarily
blue and white and starring
alumni, parents, and friends —
took over the beautiful sundrenched course at English Turn
Golf & Country on Friday, April
11 for the annual Jesuit Golf
Classic presented by Iberia Bank.
More than 200 golfers
participated in this relaxing and
fun-filled event, far more than
last year when the tournament
coincided with a vicious line of
thunderstorms that inundated
English Turn and made Noah’s
ark the preferred means of
transportation.
Clockwise from above: Fr. Fitzgerald with a threesome from
1999 — Danny Poolson, Ryan Chin, and Douglas Plaeger.
Representing the Class of 1986 were Faris Al-Tikriti, Eddy
Carreras, Kyle Kershaw, and Jimmy Treigle. Volunteers Sheila
Vocke and Betsy White helped the check-in process come off
without a hitch.
This is the third year that the
Alumni Champion’s Cup was
up for grabs by the lowest
scoring foursome of Blue Jays from the
same graduating class. Mark Hughes, Ron
Britsch, Michael Malinowski, and Ryan
Fitzmorris from the Class of 1995, shot 59,
and their names are already engraved on the
coveted prize, which is displayed outside St.
Ignatius Hall. A team from 1992 won the
2012 Cup. A 1987 foursome added their
names in 2013.
The team of Mike Pizzitola ’02, Ryan
Peters ’06, Phillip Kelly ’04, and Sean
Hardy ’02 — all past members of the Jesuit
golf team — shot a blistering 18-under 54
to finish first in the morning round.
The foursome of Claude Cutitto ’60,
Chris Cutitto ’83, Steven Riley ’80, and
Ed Gardere shot 58 to win the afternoon
competition.
This year’s tournament was chaired by J.P.
Escudier ’95, who said all of the feedback
from golfers was overwhelmingly positive.
“A lot of hard work went into organizing
this year’s Classic,” said Escudier.
“Thankfully the weather
cooperated and everything went
extremely well.”
View the photo gallery online
at jesuitnola.org/jesuit-golfclassic.
52 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Blue Jays of All Ages Romp at the Spring Bazaar
The recipe for a successful Blue Jay Bazaar goes something like
this… Against a backdrop of blue skies, gentle breezes, and a
temperature in the mid-70s, fuse the eclectic sounds of music
— from the Jesuit Jazz Band to the funk of The Submarine
Racers, to the new ageism of Neutral Snap, to the rock of
The Medics, to the roll of the acoustic duo of Zebra’s Keith
Jackson and Joe Caluda ’79, Jesuit’s own impresario.
Blend in large quantities of diverse cuisine, including fried
oysters, shrimp, and chicken tenders, barbecued burgers and
hot dogs, meatballs and spagoodles. Slowly add refreshments.
Mix in assorted desserts, especially ice cream, cupcakes, fudge,
and bagfuls of candy. Fold in a variety of exciting carnivallike games and a hodgepodge of fun booths. Add dollops of
spiritual solitude with the celebration of Mass. Merge with a
few thousand Blue Jays, young and young at heart, along with
their families and friends.
At the 11th hour, raffle off the grand prize of $5,000 (won
by Jesuit mother Kim Brandt, whose winning ticket was sold
by her senior son Matthew). Combine all of the above with
an army of fantastic volunteers and a spunky leadership team
headed by co-chairs Sam McAloon and Lori Ryan.
Voilà, another successful Blue Jay Bazaar!
w w w.je su it nola .org | 53
1. The frying crew of Meghan Malbrough, Garrett Malbrough ’07, Jenny Gillen, Gene
Gillen ’91, Mary Glass, Allan Joseph, and Rhonda Laizer took charge of chicken strips and
French fries. 2. The popular climbing tower attracted brave Blue Jays all day long. 3. Fr.
Fitzgerald with Bazaar co-chairs Lori Ryan (left) and Sam McAloon. 4. Jacob Happel, a
member of the Class of 2019, takes his turn with the sledge hammer at the Smash-a-Can
Booth. 5. Joe Caluda ’79 and Zebra’s Keith Jackson gave a well-received performance with
their acoustic guitars. 6. Pre-freshmen Clay Talbot, Emory Ducote, Peter Carr, and David
Hart display their emotions at this “Game of Chance.” 7. Enjoying the afternoon are
Jonathan Legier ’15, Emily Faschan, Mark Junot ’16, and Catherine Pellerin. Emily and
Catherine are students at Mt. Carmel Academy.
More Photos Online!
Check out stories and
photo galleries of the
annual Blue Jay Bazaar at
jesuitnola.org/bazaar.
54 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Four Teachers Honored with Profile Award
Four Jesuit High School teachers were honored at the end of the
school year with the 2014 Profile of a Jesuit Teacher Award, an
annual recognition of faculty excellence. Teachers are nominated by
their colleagues against the standards of being Open to Growth,
Religious, Loving, Intellectually Competent, Professionally
Competent, and Committed to Justice. Each honoree receives a
commemorative plaque and a $2,500 check. This year’s recipients
are, from left:
Gary Wyss, M.A., who teaches English, moderates the Frisbee Golf
Club, and co-moderates the student literary magazine Calliope;
Joe Caluda, B.A. ’79, chairman of the fine arts department, director
of Jesuit’s bands, and admissions representative;
Nilda Rivera, M.A., Spanish teacher, co-moderator of the Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, and National Honor Society, and
moderator of the Jayettes;
Andrew Dykema, M.M., Spanish teacher, chairman of the modern foreign languages department, and co-moderator of the Spanish
Club and Spanish Honor Society.
An Evening of Lenten Reflection
A
ttendance at an “Evening of Lenten Reflection” — an event created in
2012 specifically for parents of alumni — is growing faster than the
azalea bushes that beautify the perimeter of the school along Banks
Street. The most recent event, in April, attracted more than 120 parents of
Blue Jay alumni, twice the number that attended the inaugural event two
years ago.
The enthusiastic crowd listened intently as Blue Jay Peyton Markey ’15, along
with Jesuit president Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76, reflected on their
experiences at the World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrimage to South America last
summer with 42 other Blue Jays.
Markey said the WYD trip was “life-changing” while Fr. Fitzgerald described
the sojourn as “an experience of great companionship and a journey that
brought all of us closer to God.”
Peyton Markey ’15 addresses parents of alumni at
the Evening of Lenten Reflection.
Fr. Fitzgerald provided an insightful comparison of the “rules of a pilgrimage” juxtaposed within the larger framework of faith
formation at Jesuit.
Five Rules of Pilgrimage
Translated into Faith Formation
1. Don’t complain.
1. Be grateful and focus on the good.
2. Don’t complain.
2. Be VERY grateful and focus on the good.
3. If you see a bathroom, use it.
3. Get rid of things that could harm you.
4. If you need something, ask.
4. Be humble.
5. If somebody asks you for something,
give it to him.
5. Be generous.
The presentation was followed by Mass in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, and appreciative parents took the
opportunity to stroll through the Hall of Honors where their sons’ class composites could be viewed in a somewhat different light.
The evening of reflection concluded with a reception in St. Ignatius Hall.
Read more about Jesuit’s involvement in the World Youth Day pilgrimage at jesuitnola.org/wyd.
w w w.je su it nola .org | 55
English Teacher Mr. Tim Powers
Honored by MCJROTC
Mr. Timothy Powers, who has taught various English courses to more
than 3,000 Blue Jays, was saluted by the MCJROTC for his 33 years of
selfless service to Jesuit High School. The recognition took place April
4 at the organization’s annual Parade and Review on Will Clark Field.
Mr. Powers began his teaching career at Jesuit in 1981 and is currently
chairman of the English department.
He was commended for his commitment and dedication to not only
teaching English, but also for having served in previous years as a
moderator of the intramural athletics program and The Blue Jay student
newspaper. Additionally, Mr. Powers was lauded for his deep devotion and
love of God, and for being a model of faith to his young charges.
Following the pomp, circumstances dictated that the honoree — sporting
his trademark fashionable bow tie — along with an audience of well-wishers, enjoy brief performances by the MCJROTC Drill
Team and the MCJROTC Band. And they did.
Phils and Special Guests Take a Bow
The Philelectic Society —
the oldest co-curricular
organization at Jesuit
High School — hosted a
workshop last February in
the auditorium, introducing
members of the Children’s
Miracle League (CML) to the
world of musical theater.
The CML provides
children and teenagers with
disabilities opportunities
to experience being part
of a team sport, or in this
case, theater production. In
addition to the sheer fun of
it all, participants reap the
emotional, psychological,
and physical benefits. The
event was
coordinated
by Connor Hill ’15,
(standing second from left)
whose older sister, Emily, is a
CML member.
The young would-be actors
first learned songs and
accompanying choreography,
with assistance from about a
dozen Phils and their director
Kate Arthurs-Goldberg. Then
it was showtime as they made
their debut and performed
the selections on the brightlylit stage to the thunderous
applause from appreciative
family and friends.
Afterwards, the Phils and
their special guests enjoyed
king cake and refreshments.
View a photo gallery of the
Philelectic Society’s spring
musical Damn Yankees
at jesuitnola.org/philsgalleries.
56 | SPRING/SUMMER 2014
The Pontiff Family Makes Jesuit’s 1st
Full Education Fund a Reality
A
few days before Fr.
Raymond Fitzgerald,
S.J. ’76 officially stepped
aside as president of Jesuit High
School, he set up a meeting with
Terry and Wally Pontiff, Sr., the
parents of Wally, Jr. ’99, whose
untimely death in 2002 shook
the entire Blue Jay community
and baseball fans across the state
to its core.
the fully endowed amount
of $250,000 is reached. A
fully endowed FEF will thus
generate $12,500 annually, a
sum that covers the actual cost
of educating a Blue Jay for one
year.
“A full education is possible
only when tuition does not carry
the message that Jesuit is really
intended for a small, wealthy
Earlier this year, the Pontiffs
elite,” said Fitzgerald. “Full
established Jesuit’s first Full
education funds will enable
Fr. Fitzgerald with the Pontiff Family, from left, Nick ’04, Jesuit to continue to enhance its
Education Fund (FEF), a new
Terry, Wally, Sr., and Haley. The Pontiffs endowed Jesuit
vehicle to drive the growth of
programs and facilities, to attract
High School’s first Full Education Fund.
Jesuit’s endowment. At the time,
and retain an excellent faculty
the Pontiffs donated $75,000 via
and staff, and to achieve these
recognizes the need to fortify and
The Wally Pontiff, Jr. Foundation. The
goals without annual tuition increases
increase the school’s endowment fund,
cost to fully endow an FEF is $250,000.
that would soon see the price of the
the principal of which is currently
Jesuit education beyond the reach of
Father entered the conference room
valued at approximately $25 million.
ordinary families.”
next to his office and welcomed the
Investment income from the endowment
Pontiff Family — Terry and Wally, their
There is only one catch with the Pontiffs’
is the primary source of financial aid
daughter Haley, and their other Blue
gift — the family insisted that Jesuit’s
— $750,000 this past school year —
Jay son Nick ’04. Wally Pontiff handed
currently benefitting the families of more first FEF carry a lengthy name — The
Father an envelope, inside a beautiful gift than 150 students.
Wally Pontiff, Jr. ’99 & Fr. Raymond
— a check for $175,000 — the amount
Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 Full Education Fund.
Looking to future needs, there remains
that covers the balance and fully endows
in all of private education strong pressure No argument from Fr. Fitzgerald, who
Jesuit’s inaugural FEF.
has fond memories of the young man
to increase tuition, likely beyond the
“Growing up in public housing, I had
he taught in the classroom and watched
point that most families would consider
no idea my sons would be able to attend within the scope of their means. Jesuit
play baseball for the Jays.
Jesuit High School,” said Wally Pontiff,
already has one of the lowest tuitions
“Wally was a true man of faith and man
Sr. “It’s only fitting that our family gives
among Catholic and private schools in
for others who had grown into a man
back and makes a difference in young
the New Orleans area, and by far, the
of excellence athletically, academically,
people’s lives. It is exactly what Wally
lowest among the nearly 50 traditional
personally, and religiously,” said Fr.
would have wanted us to do.”
Jesuit schools in the country.
Fitzgerald. “I am honored that his family
“I consider it highly characteristic of
has generously chosen to allow Jesuit to
Jesuit began an initiative to take a
Wally’s family that they would choose to proactive step in reducing the rate of the
reach out to other young men with a
honor his memory by setting up a fund
annual tuition increase. For the 2014-15 message, ‘You are welcome here.’”
that helps lead Jesuit forward to a greater school year, Jesuit’s tuition is $8,250,
For information about establishing a
good,” said Fr. Fitzgerald. “Jesuit will be
which is a $270 increase over the 2013fully endowed scholarship or a
able to do in the 21st century what it did 14 tuition of $7,980. However, that
th
th
in the 20 and the 19 — to provide the $270 increase — the smallest in a decade Full Education Fund, contact
Fr. Fitzgerald at fitzgerald@jesuitnola.
best possible education and formation of — is $10 less than the previous year’s
org, Fr. McGinn at mcginn@jesuitnola.
young men from all walks of life.”
tuition increase.
org, or Tom Bagwill, director of
Jesuit’s strategic plan, outlined in the
Establishing an FEF comes with a
institutional advancement, at
President’s Message of the previous
commitment to donate regularly until
bagwill@jesuitnola.org.
Jaynotes (Fall/ Winter 2013-14),
THE JESUIT TEACHER TESTIMONIAL
“Mr. Dover” Quietly Personified
Jesuit Excellence
Robert E. Lee Prewitt.
Unless you are a classic movie buff,
this name, in all likelihood, is a quaint
moniker. But to the Joe Dover (’56) I
knew and called friend, the character
Prewitt in the movie From Here to
Eternity embodied the grit and the grace
to which Joe identified.
Prewitt, a talented boxer and an ordinary
private in the Army, refuses to fight for
his boxing-crazed captain and company
stationed at Pearl Harbor a couple
months prior to the December 7, 1941
attack. Because of his unwillingness to
climb into the ring again, Prewitt suffers
from unfair treatment; yet he remains
true to his vow in the face of tremendous
peer and institutional pressures.
Like his hero, Joe — along with his
pugnacious dedication to his academic
and ethical principles — stood tall in
the ring that was his English classroom.
Those Blue Jays (and administrators)
who sparred with “Mr. Dover” did not
soon forget a round with him. He jabbed
students with grammar and then worked
over his charges with writing assignments
that challenged their thoughts and tested
their skills. And, of course, the literature.
The works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, and
Keats provided Joe with rich venues to
teach about life and so much more.
Joe Dover the teacher was a product
of his environment — and this
environment was permeated with Jesuits.
The Jesuits who entered his life played
a role in his educational philosophy.
Although he never acknowledged it, his
classroom demeanor and his attention
to detail were directly influenced by the
Jesuits who taught him as a young man
and whom he had the privilege to work
with when he returned to teach at his
alma mater.
Many a time, Joe talked to me about
Father Harry Heiter, S.J., who served as
disciplinarian during Joe’s high school
By Jack Culicchia ’83
years, and Father Dan Barfield, S.J., an
English department colleague whom
Joe worked with in the late 1960s and
early 1970s. In typical, understated
Dover fashion, he simply referred to
these Jesuits as “men” — men who were
accomplished both in their discipline
and, more importantly, in the ways of
the heart. He saw them as tough and
determined, but also recognized them for
their compassion to do the right thing,
even when it was not popular.
Drawing inspiration from these men,
Joe gave back to Jesuit through his work.
His tenure at Jesuit lasted only a decade,
but his English teaching career in New
Orleans area Catholic schools spanned
some 45 years.
Joe created a classroom where writing
and literature served as a touchstone not
only in communication but also in selfdiscovery. As the moderator and chief
photographer of the student newspaper
and the yearbook, Joe captured the
Blue Jay Spirit in these publications
during a challenging time in the
school’s history. Even today, as students,
alumni, and visitors walk in the Hall of
Honors, they are able to look up and
see Joe’s ingenuity in some of those class
composites that provide ambiance and
brighten an otherwise ordinary second
floor hallway.
Joe was far from perfect. At times he
could be obstinate and downright ornery.
But he also possessed and shared a biting
wit and profound wisdom that endeared
him to his students, colleagues, family,
and friends.
For me, Joe embodied the quiet majority
of the Jesuit graduates who, without
fanfare or expectation, labor tirelessly
and doggedly in their professional
and personal pursuit of excellence and
happiness.
Joe was 75-years-old when he died on
March 13, 2014, three months after
Joe Dover was front and center in this 1974
Jesuit Yearbook photo which shows the
majority of the English Department. Mr.
Dover’s colleagues were, clockwise from left:
Mr. Malcolm Villarubbia, S.J. ’66,
Fr. Dan Barfield, S.J., Fr. Ed
DeRussy, S.J. ’43, Mr. Sidney Menard ’49,
and Mr. John Sharman.
learning his long battle with cancer
had returned. I’m glad he had the
opportunity to watch his grandson,
Glynn Hyer of the Class of 2014, pitch
for the Blue Jays. Not many people
knew that Joe enjoyed Amtrak train trips
and excursions to Civil War sites. He
liked Mardi Gras, and few knew that
outside the classroom, Joe owned paper
routes in which he delivered local news
publications.
Undoubtedly, Joe found contentment
in the classroom exploring the power
of language with his students. But
especially, Joe liked being his own man
who did what he thought best and right.
Just like his hero: that pesky, persistent
pugilist from the silver screen — Robert
E. Lee Prewitt.
Jack Culicchia ’83 has
taught English at Jesuit
High School since 2000.
His email is culicchia@
jesuitnola.org.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday,
October 3
Homecoming: Jesuit vs. East Jefferson
Saturday,
November 1
Celebration
Saturday,
October 4
Alumni Mass &
Reception
Wednesday,
November 5
Open House
Tours at 4:30, 5:30,
& 6:30 pm
Wednesday,
October 8
Mothers' Coffee
Thursday,
November 27
Thanksgiving Day Family Mass
Friday,
October 10
Rivalry Tailgate Party
Wednesday,
December 24
Midnight Mass
Friday,
October 10
Jesuit vs. Holy Cross Rivalry Game
Friday,
January 16
Alma Mater Awards Luncheon