sjp today summer 2013

The Power of the Individual

Preparing Writers for Today and Tomorrow

Athletic Hall of Fame Commencement & Reunion

st. john’s prepS U M M E R 2 0 1 3 Today

Saturday, September 28

Special Alumni Reunion Events n Cookout n Varsity Football & Soccer GamesDetails will follow, but mark your calendars now. Contact Mary Carol Vitolo at [email protected] or 978.774.6727 x417 for more information.

See you at the Prep!

Calendar of EventsSePtember

22 Walk for Hospice of the North Shore

28 Homecoming at the Prep!

29 Admission Open House

OctOber

7 Brother Linus Memorial Golf Tournament, Salem Country Club

9 Headmaster’s Reception, Turner Hill, Ipswich

16 Grandparents Day for the Class of 2016

19 Admission Open House

December

2-6 Founder’s Week at St. John’s

Be sure to check www.stjohnsprep.org or call 800.292.0227 for more information about Prep events and programs.

Homecoming at the Prep!

A Day on Campus for Alumni, Families and Students

curtain call! Continuing their tradition of outstanding theater, the Prep Drama Guild won the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival this spring with a powerful production of Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses.” A series of vignettes that re-imagine Ovid’s classic myths, “Metamorphoses” explores the transformative power of love, loss, redemption and suffering in a fluid mix of ancient and modern sensibilities. It’s heady stuff well executed by the Prep players. In this scene, the cast tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Pictured l to r: Peter Donahue ’14, Hannah Burke ’15, Aidan Marchetti ’15, CJ DiOrio ’15, Dan Milaschewski ’13, and Matt Steriti ’14.

The plans outlined in Prep 20/20 are in many ways, the result of conversations with you – members

of the Prep community. Your voices, your insights and your passion for the Prep informed our strategic planning process, a three-year effort that included extensive surveys, in-depth research, and meetings focused on responding to the demands of the future. It seemed only fitting to continue those conversations when we announced the plans for Prep 20/20, and so we invited alumni, parents, and others to join us for information sessions about the initiatives.

Among the many topics discussed during these sessions, I was gratified, but not surprised, to hear a great deal of interest in our plans to add a middle school for boys in grades six, seven and eight. As educators, we know that these are critical years in preparing students for success. A number of compelling articles in recent months focus on the importance of the middle school years.

Inspiring a Love of Learning In October 2012, Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen wrote in the online magazine Slate that “middle school is when kids make a decision if school is for them or is something to be endured.” For St. John’s, this is a compelling challenge and a welcome opportunity. An academically challenging program led by teachers who encourage students to grow has been fundamental to our approach at the high school level, and it will be the cornerstone of our program for students in grades six, seven and eight.

Rising to the ChallengeIn their article, Glenn and Larsen cited a University of Chicago literature review showing that while middle school students possess the developmental ability to do challenging work, “they can’t always do so unless schools

build up their sense of what they think is possible for themselves.” The importance – and effectiveness – of this approach was brought home to me during Commencement weekend, when our graduating seniors spoke again and again about the positive experiences they had at St. John’s. Their parents talked about how much their sons had grown and matured, often pointing to a teacher who had inspired their son to step out of his comfort zone, try something

new, or participate in a program he had not previously considered.

Strong Teacher Relationships The development of strong interpersonal relationships between student and teacher is a defining characteristic of Xaverian education. An article on this topic caught my eye in the May issue of Kappan by Phi Delta Kappa, the national honor society for educators. The article reports that a qualitative study involving more than 2,500 middle and high

school-aged boys and their teachers found that “evidence suggests that secure teacher-student relationships predict greater knowledge, higher test scores, greater academic motivation, and fewer retentions or special education referrals than insecure teacher-student relationships.”

The very thing that sets the Prep experience apart – strong, positive relationships with teachers – is what students need most during their middle school years. By extending this opportunity to boys in grades six, seven and eight, we can empower younger boys to take full advantage of all we have to offer during their high school years. And in so doing, we will enrich our already rigorous high school program.

These are exciting times at St. John’s. The plans outlined in Prep 20/20 will create an even stronger educational experience and a more vibrant school community, all focused on preparing our graduates to thrive in and contribute to our ever-changing world.

Peace, Edward P. Hardiman, PhD [email protected]

These are exciting times at St. John’s. The plans outlined in Prep 20/20 will create an even stronger educational experience and a more vibrant school community, all focused on preparing our graduates to thrive in and contribute to our ever-changing world.

H e a d m a s t e r ’ s m e s s a g e

Spring is an exhilarating time at every school, but there was a heightened sense of excitement at St. John’s this year. In addition to year-end activities, Commencement, and reunion celebrations, we announced plans for Prep 20/20, a series of initiatives that will see a new mathematics, science, and technology classroom building, a comprehensive wellness facility, and the opening of a middle school at St. John’s.

ContentsHilltop Highlights ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Feature: the Power of the IndividualThe Consummate Coach ................................................................................................................................................... 4A Direct Approach to Fighting Poverty .................................................................................................................. 6

around CampusPrep 20/20: A Vision for the Future ........................................................................................................................ 7Preparing Writers for Today and Tomorrow ........................................................................................................ 8Campus Briefs ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11

sportsSports at St. John’s | Fall 2012–Winter 2013 ................................................................................................... 12Athletes and Coach Inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame .............................................................. 14

alumniAlumni News ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16Alumni Events | Fall 2012–Winter 2013 ............................................................................................................... 17

Commencement & reunionClass of 2013 .............................................................................................................................................................................. iThe Xaverian Award............................................................................................................................................................... iRedefining “Teacher” ............................................................................................................................................................. iCollege Bound ........................................................................................................................................................................... iiCommencement 2013 Snapshots ............................................................................................................................. iiClass of 1963 Reunion Snapshots ........................................................................................................................... ivClass of 1988 Reunion Snapshots ........................................................................................................................... viA Family Tradition..................................................................................................................................................................... viii

advancementAn Enchanted Garden ......................................................................................................................................................... 18The Prep’s Endowment at Work .................................................................................................................................. 20An Endowed Fund Opens Doors ................................................................................................................................ 20Alumni Giving Step by Step ............................................................................................................................................. 21

Class Notes .............................................................................................................................................................................. 22

In ClosingReel Life with Ned Gubbins ’90 .................................................................................................................................. 32

On the Cover: Penn State University head football coach Bill O’Brien ’88 talks to his players during practice.

A publication of St. John’s Preparatory School A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored

Secondary School for Young Men Established 1907

Comments and contributions to this publication, as well as address

updates should be directed to:

Office for Institutional Advancement St. John’s Preparatory School

72 Spring Street, Danvers, MA 01923 800.292.0227 978.774.6727

Headmaster

Edward P. Hardiman, [email protected]

PrincipalKeith A. Crowley, PhD

[email protected]

associate Headmaster for alumni and Community relations

Michael C. Newhall ’[email protected]

Chief advancement OfficerMichael J. Ebner

[email protected]

managing director of the Fund for st. John’s

Dorothy [email protected]

managing director of alumni relationsSean Harlow

[email protected]

managing director of Planned and major gifts

Debra R. [email protected]

st. John’s Prep today editorElizabeth C. Forbes

[email protected]

director of Parent relationsDenise DeChristoforo

[email protected]

Class Notes editor advancement and gift service manager

Kathie [email protected]

design

Caruso Graphic Design

PrintingFlagship Press

PhotosTom KatesLifetouch

MrDrew Photography

st. john’s prep Today

Freshmen Chris Cloutman (left) and Ryan Murdock get some studying done in the Polimeno Room in the A. E. Studzinski Library.

2 www.stjohnsprep.org

Never AgainThe year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Holocaust memorial museum in Washington, dC. A group of 12 students visited

the museum this spring on a three-day trip led by two especially well-informed faculty members: religious studies teacher Mary Kiley and history teacher Dana Smith. Ms. Kiley moderates the Jewish Student Union at St. John’s, and Mr. Smith teaches a well-known course on the Holocaust.

Pitch Right InPrep parents and alumni put the community in “community service” this year with more than 500 people pitching in for the annual st. John’s Community

day of service on Holy Thursday. Folks volunteered at more than 60 sites with a special emphasis on making a difference right here in Danvers. Crews organized the warehouse at Operation Troop Support, spruced up historical cemeteries, and provided food to stock the shelves at four local food pantries.

H I L L T O P

highlightsA Place at the TableAnyone who knows of Brian O’Loughlin’s tireless work on behalf of My Brother’s Table will be delighted to know that the Lynn soup kitchen honored him at the inaugural Founders’ Celebration to mark their 30th anniversary in March. French teacher extraordinaire at St. John’s for 36 years, Brian has been a steadfast and longtime volunteer at My Brother’s Table, which is the largest soup kitchen on the North Shore.

Engineering a SolutionPhysics teacher Gary Smith knows a learning opportunity when he sees one. A member of the school’s sustainability Committee, he enlisted a group of students to help devise solutions for a drainage issue on one of the campus playing fields. Under the guidance of Robert Neville, PhD, an engineer and senior restoration hydrologist, the students looked for cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions. After presenting their findings to Dr. Hardiman, Dr. Crowley and Mr. Smith, they turned their work over to the facilities staff to help implement a restoration plan for the field.

Celebrating the Year of the SnakeSt. John’s ushered in the Chinese New Year with a celebration that included Chinese foods and traditional red envelopes filled with chocolates. Chinese teacher Lynette Chen planned the celebration and parents helped to prepare the goodies.

Focus on ALSseniors Will mcauliffe and Juanito sanchez spent time with Peter Frates ’03 last fall before Pete was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at St. John’s (see pages 14-15). As many know, Pete was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in March 2012. The video highlight’s Pete’s work to raise awareness about ALS. You can see it on YouTube at http://youtu.be/gsk9aKeovym

Strike Up the Band!Members of the Prep’s jazz combos performed at the 45th annual Berklee College of music High school Jazz Festival in March. On a related note, the Boston Conservatory of Music’s James Odell was guest conductor for the first annual St. John’s Prep Middle School Honors Band Festival

in March. The brainchild of Prep music teacher

Seelan Manickam, the festival included

workshops with professional

musicians and a chance

for young performers

to play with musicians in the St. John’s Prep Band.

Scientists in the MakingJust like professional scientists, students in stephanie giglio’s anatomy and physiology class organized a poster session to present the results of experiments they conducted last semester. “A lot of students who take this class go on to careers in medicine or research. This is how new work is presented, so a project like this gives students a taste of what it’s like to do bench research. It prepares them for what they will encounter professionally,” said Mrs. Giglio. In March, her students had the opportunity to see doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in action when school nurse Ines McGillivray arranged for them to spend a day at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Ms. McGillivray, an RN in the emergency department at MGH, planned a full day that took students inside some of the hospital’s busiest units. They toured the emergency room, explored the hyperbaric chamber, tested their cast-making skills in orthopaedics, and took part in the same simulations physicians and nurses use to train for real-life scenarios.

Case ClosedWith a murder case hanging in the balance, the mock trial team’s season came down to the wire with a mere 4-point loss in a tie-breaker trial after weeks of consecutive wins in intense competition with teams from other schools. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association, Mock Trial scores aspiring attorneys on their trial preparation, demeanor, competency, knowledge of the law and court procedure, and presentation skills, as well as their ability to think quickly and react to the unexpected. Well done, counselors.

ST. JOH N’S PR E P TODAY 3

F e at U r e

the Power of the IndividualIn this issue of St. John’s Prep Today, we profile two graduates who think that the best way to help people is to believe in them and provide the support they need to succeed.

Bill O’Brien ’88 is rebuilding Penn State’s football program by coaching his players to be the best that they can be, on and off the field.

And Paul Neihaus ’00 trusts that people in Kenya know best how to spend money designed to lift their communities out of poverty.

Bill and Paul work in different realms, but both men believe in the power of the individual.

The Consummate CoachI t takes more than knowing the game to lead a football team out of crisis, and when

Penn State hired Bill O’Brien ’88 January 2012, he brought exactly what the Nittany Lions needed. Focused, tenacious, and loyal, Bill is as passionate about education as he is about coaching football. It’s a mindset that characterized his attitude at St. John’s, and later propelled him to Brown University, Georgia Tech and the New England Patriots.

According to Jim O’Leary, athletic director and head football coach at St. John’s, Penn State saw in Bill O’Brien someone who would give students a reason to stay and believe in the team, and ultimately, bring the whole Penn State family together.

“Bill is in charge of one of the most elite college programs in the country, but for him, it comes down to each individual member of the team and what they need to do. He’s changed Penn State football, one player at a time,” says O’Leary.

The simple blue and white Penn State uniforms look a lot like what Bill wore when he played defensive tackle, linebacker and long snapper for the Prep. Quick in the classroom and tough on the field, Bill made lifelong friends at the Prep, including Larry Bongette, Matt Cushing, George Delaney, Barry Field, Mike Panos and Todd Wright. The fact that his high school crowd remains an important part of his life today says everything about his sense of loyalty and the formative influence of his Prep years. It was an experience that challenged him in the classroom every bit as much as in athletics, and he thrived on it.

Like his mother, father and two brothers before him, Bill decided to go to Brown University. He postponed his first semester in Providence to stay in Danvers and volunteer as an assistant football coach at the Prep. Growing up in Andover, he dreamed about coaching, and this was his first exposure to the job.

He went on to play all four years for the Brown Bears while earning a degree in political science and organizational behavior management. As he had done at the Prep, he stayed on after graduating to coach at Brown. He spent two years there before going to Georgia Tech in 1995 as a graduate assistant. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before being named assistant head coach in 2002. The following year, he left for the University of Maryland, where he coached running backs. In 2005, he became offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke University.

Focused, tenacious, and loyal, Bill is as passionate about education as he is about coaching football.


Bill made headlines in 2012, when he returned to collegiate football as Penn State’s 15th head coach. No small feat, he is credited with transforming the football program and bringing stability, resilience and respect back to State College.

First Year HonorsDuring his first season as head coach at Penn State, Bill O’Brien received four major awards, and he was runner-up for the Associated Press Coach of the Year in 2012.

n Paul “Bear” Bryant Award 2012

n Big Ten Coach of the Year 2012

n Maxwell Coach of the Year 2012

n AT&T/ESPN Coach of the Year 2012

His teammates and coaches were there to congratulate Bill O’Brien when he was named the Prep’s 2013 distinguished alumnus in march. Pictured (l to r): Larry Bongette ’89, George Delaney ’88, Athletic Director and football coach Jim O’Leary, retired football coach and Athletic Director Fred Glatz, Mike Panos ’89, Bill O’Brien ’88 and Trustee Matt Cushing ’88.

He left college sports for the pros in 2007, when Bill Belichick hired him as an offensive assistant. He moved up in the Patriots coaching staff as wide receivers coach and quarterbacks coach before being named offensive coordinator in 2011, helping guide them to the Super Bowl in 2012.

While he was with the Patriots, Bill made it a point to follow Prep sports in person. It wasn’t uncommon to see him in the stands at games, says Jim O’Leary. When the Eagles made it to the Massachusetts Division 1 state championship game in 2010, Bill was there to greet the team at the entrance to Gillette Stadium.

Bill made headlines in 2012, when he returned to collegiate football as Penn State’s 15th head coach. No small feat, he is credited with transforming the football program and bringing stability, resilience and respect back to State College.

With a coaching career on the fast track, Bill and his wife, Colleen, learned to cope with adversity when Jack, the older of their two boys, was diagnosed in infancy with lissencephaly, a neurological disorder that causes frequent seizures and developmental delays. Jack is now 10, and brother Michael is 7. Bill says that Jack’s struggles have taught him everything about what really matters in life.

“In a way, it was one of the best things that ever happened to us. It added so much perspective to our lives. We figured out what was important, and it brought us closer together and put in perspective the importance of football,” he told the New York Times in an August 2012 interview.

Bill credits his parents with teaching him to value faith, family and education. Clearly, it was a lesson he took to heart, and one that prepared him to take on the toughest job in national collegiate sports. St. John’s Prep is proud to call Bill O’Brien its 2013 Distinguished Alumnus. n


Paul Niehaus ’00 founded GiveDirectly in 2008 with four

colleagues, all Harvard and MIT graduate students studying international economic development at the time.

Interested in finding a way to fight poverty in an efficient, transparent, and respectful way, Paul and his partners studied the existing models. The administrative costs associated with traditional charities reduce the amount of aid that actually reaches the poor. In addition, corruption and graft can divert as much as half of government funds and private philanthropy intended for the developing world.

“What we are doing is an effort to disrupt the charitable sector and get resources to the poor,” says Paul.

The evidence base for cash transfers is broader and more robust than that for other popular models like micro loans or livestock transfers, according to Paul. At the same time, mobile banking technology was expanding rapidly throughout Kenya and other developing countries. He and his colleagues saw an opportunity to give money directly to the people who need it most.

“The idea of giving directly is pretty radical for a lot of Americans, and the starting point is often simply talking about

what poverty in Africa is really like. In America poverty may often be correlated with issues like addiction or mental health; in Africa, the main driver is simply where you are born,” according to Paul.

GiveDirectly has helped some 1,600 households, with 92.6% of the money raised going directly into the hands of Kenya’s poor. Donors make one-time

or recurring gifts online or by mail. GiveDirectly then makes $1,000 grants,

dispensing the funds over a period of one or two years with M-Pesa, the inexpensive, secure mobile money transfer service widely used in Kenya. To ensure that grants go to the poorest of the poor, GiveDirectly identifies

poor households as those living in grass, mud, or wood homes, and subsisting on an average of

65 cents a day per person. Funds are transferred electronically via cell phone, and then redeemed

locally through M-Pesa. Many in Kenya have access to cell phones; GiveDirectly provides SIM cards for those who do not.

How the money is spent is entirely up to the recipients.

GiveDirectly’s research shows that people use the money to pay for food, livestock, land ($1,000 can buy about 1.5 acres), education, or medical care. Research also shows that people who receive the grants continue to work, and many are able to save a portion of the money, contributing to the long-term impact of the grants.

GiveDirectly’s approach has not gone unnoticed. The National Institutes of Health is funding a study to measure the impact of the program. The non-profit evaluation group Give Well ranked it as one of three top-rated charities. And last year, GiveDirectly received a $2.4 million Google Global Impact Award to expand their efforts beyond Kenya. n

F e at U r e

A Direct Approach to Fighting PovertyGive money directly to poor people living in the developing world’s most impoverished countries and let them to decide how best to spend it. That’s the idea behind GiveDirectly, an innovative charity that uses mobile banking technology to make grants directly to poor households in Kenya. It’s a simple, yet radical, idea that has gained attention in international development circles and could transform conventional thinking about global aid programs.

“What we are doing is an effort to disrupt the

charitable sector and get resources to the poor.”


Prep 20/20: A Vision for the FutureIn May, St. John’s announced plans for Prep 20/20, a strategic

plan that calls for a new high school math, science and technology building; a middle school for boys in grades six, seven and eight; a new wellness center; and endowment growth to support tuition assistance at St. John’s. We asked Headmaster Hardiman to talk about the plans.

What went into the decision to open a middle school? The seed was planted four years ago. In anticipation of the strategic planning process, we hired a firm to survey members of the Prep community and others about the future at St. John’s. That survey clearly identified three specific priorities: continue our commitment to academic excellence; reaffirm our mission as a school for young men; and make sure that the Prep is affordable for boys from all backgrounds. The survey also showed significant interest in a middle school program comparable to our high school. We then began a three-year strategic planning process that involved further study, research, and conversations with parents, alumni, students, faculty and staff. The Board of Trustees also appointed ad hoc committees to look at our strengths and opportunities to enhance what we do. When we studied what emerged from that process, it became clear that a middle school should be in our plan for the future.

How will the middle school relate to the high school? The middle school will be self-contained and self-sustaining. It’s going to be led by a new associate principal with a curriculum tailored to meet the specific needs of students in grades six, seven and eight. The course of study will align with the high school so that the two programs complement and enhance one another. And while middle school classes and activities will be in their own space, there will be opportunities for high school students to act as mentors, tutors, and big brothers for the younger boys. We think it will be a positive experience all around.

How will the new high school building benefit the academic program? We have top-notch programs in math, science and technology, but we lack space designed to encourage students to collaborate across disciplines and apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life problems. The world today needs people who can think creatively and work collaboratively; the new space will help our students develop those skills at a high level. And with new materials and techniques, the science labs will be much more flexible in design, which means that teachers can adapt the setting to the work at hand. By dedicating Brother Benjamin Hall to the middle school,

we create two opportunities: first rate facilities for grades six, seven and eight, and a new building that will bring our high school program to a new level of sophistication.

With such a strong athletic tradition, why wait to build the wellness center? All of the Prep 20/20 initiatives are equally important, and our goal is to see them completed within five years. The academic program is at our core as a school, and with the opening of the middle school, we can move in that direction now. Simultaneously, we will seek the philanthropic support needed to build the wellness center.

What will the wellness center look like? Our vision is a facility that combines a traditional field house, a pool, space for fitness programs, ample lockers, and meeting rooms for teams and after-school programs. We see it as a busy hub – integral to campus life and serving the needs of all students, whether they see themselves as athletes or not. When we build the wellness center, we will upgrade Memorial Gymnasium. During the school day, the gym will be used for middle school athletics; after school, it will be a high school competition venue.

Why is endowment growth a part of the plan? A healthy endowment will provide tuition assistance to ensure that students from a diversity of backgrounds can attend St. John’s. The make-up of the study body is critical to the educational experience at St. John’s. Diversity in all forms – ethnic, economic, racial, religious – prepares students as citizens of the world and it responds to our mission. We have always been a place where the path of young lives change, and we must remain faithful to that history for the generations to come. Endowment growth is essential to that commitment. n

a r O U N d C a m P U s

Headmaster Ed Hardiman, PhD (left) and Principal Keith Crowley, PhD during a news conference on campus in May to announce the Prep 20/20 initiatives. Not pictured but on hand for the event was Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bernard L. Caniff ’72, P ’98 and ’00.

math, science & technology BuildingAdjacent to the Ryken Center for the Arts and across from Xavier Hall. 60,000-65,000 square feet; construction to start in April 2014. To open in April 2015.

middle schoolLocated in a remodeled Brother Benjamin Hall. Renovations in late spring/summer 2015. Applications accepted in winter 2014/15. To open in September 2015.

Wellness CenterTo be built in area between Cronin Memorial Stadium and the Brother Linus, CFX Athletics Commons. Construction to begin within four to five years.

CAM PUS PR EVI EW


Sam Kobrosky ’15 in the A. E. Studzinski Library studies “MacBeth” for Mr. Klein’s English class.

Preparing Writers for Today and Tomorrowby Brother Robert Green, CCX

When St. John’s Prep’s first Headmaster, Brother Benjamin, C.F.X., and his colleagues prepared the initial Prospectus for future students in 1908, they

included this statement: Education is understood by the Xaverian Brothers in its completest sense, as the full and harmonious development of all those faculties that are distinctive of man. It is not, therefore, mere instruction or the communication of knowledge. Learning is an instrument of education, not its end. The end is culture, and mental, moral, and physical development.

This statement has remained true for 105 years, despite significant changes to society, knowledge, relationships and communication. St. John’s continuing fidelity to its founding vision is evident campus-wide, and, notably, in the dedication of its teachers to assisting students in the acquisition and development of their writing skills. Young men graduating from St. John’s Prep leave the school ready to share today’s and tomorrow’s wisdom with their sisters and brothers in the world community with compassion, creativity, clarity and passion, accompanied by the humility that recognizes that voices other than one’s own may speak a more complete truth.

The English curriculum in the 1908 Prospectus already showed an appreciation of students’ needs to attain writing skills in a developmental manner. For example, Course IV (first year) is described in four parts: Precepts, Composition, Authors and Memory. The precepts provided the grammatical foundations for writing, beginning with sentence structure at this level. The composition element in that first year required three themes each week during the first semester, “attending chiefly to grammatical correctness.” The demands of the composition element of the course increased each year. Authors exposed students to the works of a variety of literary expressions by celebrated writers of English. Memory, a requirement for the first three years, required students to learn by heart such famous works as Longfellow’s “Evangeline.”

Brother Benjamin’s faculty recognized the essential elements of the writing curriculum at St John’s. Today, over the course of their four years, students are still expected to master the foundations of English and to demonstrate their mastery in frequent writing assignments, beginning with “attending chiefly to grammatical correctness,” as did their predecessors a century ago. In fact, when incoming students sit for placement tests in various subject areas, they are also required to produce a “writing sample” so that administrators may gauge their backgrounds and abilities before determining their expectations.

John Klein, chairperson of English Department, voiced the long-held belief that “the more students write, the better they write.” To enable this formula to be


It’s a common refrain among Prep graduates: They possess writing skills that set them apart from classmates and colleagues. In college, they easily write papers that seem daunting for others. Later, in their careers, they’re known for clear and concise prose. The ability to write well and communicate effectively is as important today as it has ever been. So, how does St. John’s teach a skill so many never master? St. John’s Prep Today asked Brother Robert Green, CFX, to look at how teachers at the Prep teach the fine art of writing.


English Department Chair John Klein.

Cub reportersNews writing calls for a specific style that students learn in Kirstin McEachern’s journalism class.

The course begins with the fundamentals of writing news stories and goes on to cover editorials, reviews, features and sports writing. It also delves into design and layout, as well as journalistic ethics and law. It’s the news writing that can be most challenging for her students, Kirstin says.

“The news has to be objective, but in high school we teach students to include their opinions in their writing. They have to break that habit for news writing.”

Ms. McEachern talks with students about how a writer’s bias can make its way into a story – in the way questions are phrased, or in the choice of people interviewed for a particular article, for example.

“People come from different perspectives, and my goal is to make students aware of their own biases. This past election year was instructive. Students could tell a reporter’s affiliation by how they described a candidate. They were often surprised by what passes for fact.”

Whatever profession they ultimately choose, the skills Ms. McEachern covers in her class – how to gather and assess background information, think critically, and write compelling text – are increasingly important in today’s world.

effective, teachers undertake the demanding role of mentors and coaches, providing students with clear rubrics, a sometimes detailed checklist for them to accomplish the assignment at hand, followed by timely feedback on what they have written, including suggestions on how to improve their performance through rewriting and revising. In adhering to this “corrective writing” method, English teachers display a range of creative approaches to their assignments and expectations, while maintaining a common vocabulary throughout the process. The range of pedagogy allows St. John’s students to experience several different styles from which each may develop his own unique writing voice.

Technology has significantly influenced communication between teachers and students. For example, veteran English teacher Maryann Muhilly has prepared a grammar resources website, where writers may review such elements as basic grammar, active and passive voice, and sentence types. Students are able to find explanations and examples in the areas with which they are experiencing difficulties.

Rubrics available online also provide students with essential information about teachers’ expectations for a given assignment. Sometimes such information may be as detailed as the design of an introductory paragraph or what to include in each paragraph, with useful websites or explanations of the categories of assessment. Sometimes the rubric includes a specific helpful hint, such as to have the computer highlight every linking verb (“is,” “was”, etc.); the student then edits and replaces each one with a more active verb, thereby strengthening his writing. Some rubrics will be specific to the type of writing being done. For example, a presentation on Google will have different expectations than a personal narrative essay, a research paper, a project done in collaboration with other students. In addition, some of the websites suggested may direct students to appropriate articles or textbooks, or to writing sites at major universities.

“Writing Prep at SJP” is another website Ms. Muhilly provides. It offers a list of general resources for writing, as well as tips for one’s thesis statement, concluding paragraph, manuscript format, and works cited. There are useful checklists for writers (such as “check MLA format” steps), with explanations for how a work may be assessed.

John Klein, chairperson of English Department, voiced the long-held belief that “the more students write, the better they write.”

Preparing Writers continues on page 10


Technology continues to be a valuable tool once a student has completed his writing assignment. English teacher Gail Dennig explains e-portfolios: “Students create their own websites for the purpose of reflecting on and displaying a variety of writing assignments: creative, expository, project based, and so on. In posting essays to the portfolio, a student must re-assess his previous work, edit and revise accordingly, and include a piece which describes the assignment, his approach to the process, strengths and area of challenge. Through a student’s reflection on his writing, the process is strengthened and stylistic nuances encouraged. Portfolios also may include video, graphic representations, recorded narratives, and music.”

In addition to using e-portfolios, students and teachers may take advantage of iPad apps like Dropbox or Googledrive, and others. These allow

students to submit papers that teachers can edit, correct and comment directly on the virtual document; they can highlight, underline, circle, write personal comments and suggestions and flip the papers back to the students electronically. There is also a dropbox function on class portal pages where, once an assignment is registered by the teacher, students submit their essays into the appropriate dropbox. According to Ms. Dennig, “This is particularly helpful when an assignment is due and class does not meet, or if the deadline for submission is after the school day ends.” This technology allows today’s teachers to be an active presence to students online, correcting and encouraging young writers in the process of creating or revising their work.

Today’s English teachers at St. John’s continue to follow the example of their predecessors by providing their students with the works of carefully chosen diverse authors, including those of the classics and of more contemporary works. Such a variety gives students exposure to an array of styles and voices so that they can see how one is able to integrate his whole personal profile into his writing. English and journalism teacher Kirstin McEachern comments, “You can’t be a good writer unless you are a good reader. You learn the conventions of good writing by reading.”

Ms. McEachern also notes that she and her colleagues stress the connection between critical thinking and writing well, observing that “You can know the mechanics, but you can’t write well unless you have given your topic a lot of thought.” She believes that St. John’s cultivates curiosity and deeper thinking, something that “it’s getting harder (to do) in today’s culture.”

Although the 1908 Prospectus limited “composition” to the English curriculum, educators have always felt that the development of good writers needs the commitment of teachers in all academic departments. Teachers in the Social Studies and Religious Studies departments may be the most obvious collaborators in this work, but Mr. Gary Smith, chairperson of the Science Department, explains that his department strongly reinforces the school’s commitment to good writing. Science teachers attempt to drive home to students the point that they must be able to write clearly and effectively about complicated ideas and arcane material. They watch the content and the structure of students’ writing so that students may experience consistency in their teachers’ standards. In addition, Mr. Smith notes, “Strong technical writing skills give students a tremendous advantage in fields like science and engineering.”

St. John’s commitment to “the full and harmonious development of all those faculties that are distinctive of man” has remained a constant since the time of Brother Benjamin. By providing dedicated, creative and demanding educators, the school continues to prepare young men to become intelligent, energetic, collaborative and conscientious leaders for a world in significant need of the unique gifts of each one. Graduates of St. John’s will continue to be men who are able to analyze and appreciate their world and who have mastered the skills to more effectively communicate their insights to others with clarity and passion. n

Preparing Writers continued from page 9

Today’s English teachers at St. John’s continue to follow the example of their predecessors by providing their students with the works of carefully chosen diverse authors, including those of the classics and of more contemporary works. Such a variety gives students exposure to an array of styles and voices so that they can see how one is able to integrate his whole personal profile into his writing.


Mr. Klein reads from a well-worn copy of “MacBeth.”


The Prep’s inaugural Wellness Fair took place February 28, and it was a resounding success with virtually every student taking part in a program designed to interest, inform, and engage them in health and wellness. Nearly a dozen leading organizations and agencies participated in the day with interactive stations and hands-on demonstrations staffed by nurses, nutritionists, athletes, physical therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, trainers and others.

Whether they came with a class or dropped by during a free period, students were eager to explore everything the fair had to offer. They had their blood pressure taken, their body mass indexed, and their spines evaluated. They tested their agility and strength. They tried yoga, CrossFit, and judo. They sampled veggie smoothies, kale, and wheat berries. And they learned about stress management, substance abuse, and healthy relationships.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way students responded to the program,” said Principal Keith Crowley, PhD. “Wellness is integral to our mission of educating the whole person, and we are very grateful to our community partners for their role in making this a highly educational and very appealing program for our students.”

The organizations that participated in the fair were Bonfire Health and Franson Family Chiropractic; Bright Eyes Yoga; Family Resource Center of North Shore Medical Center; Flik Independent School Dining; HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change); Lahey Hospital and Medical Center; Lovestone Wellness; New England

Family Osteopathy; Pedro’s Judo Center; Reebok CrossFit; and Tufts Health Plan. Among the professionals on hand at the fair were three Prep graduates: Russell Kennedy ’88 of Lovestone Wellness; osteopathic physician TJ Macari ’98; and Olympian and judo coach Jimmy Pedro ’88.

The French Impressionist Edgar Degas said “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” If that’s the case, student-artists at St. John’s are doing something right. Nine students received honors in the Boston globe scholastic art awards program this year for printmaking, ceramics, drawing and mixed media. The winning works were selected from among 13,000 pieces submitted by students from throughout the state for the prestigious annual awards program.

Campus Briefs

Pictured: (front) Jacob Swaim, Ben DiNatale, and Henry Gustafson; (back) Bailey Trahant, Liam Viles, John Pellegrino, Tom Willwerth, Andrew Glidden, and Ben Kuter.

St. John’s honored two longtime faculty members this year for their extraordinary dedication and service to the Prep community. Math teacher and baseball coach Pat Yanchus ’67 received the Ryken Award in December. Calm and low-key with a razor sharp intellect, Pat possesses an uncanny ability to bring out the best in his students, whether it is learning to solve complex equations or perfecting their pitching style.

Social studies Department chair Peter mathison received the Prep’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Award in January. Long an advocate for justice and equity, Peter was an early member of the Prep’s first diversity committee. He championed the creation of a course in African-American history and helped to develop an inclusive global studies curriculum at St. John’s.

Dianne Carey with friend and colleague Peter Mathison at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner in January.

Pat Yanchus ’67 with his grandson, Tyler Durgan, at the Founder’s Day Mass in December.

st. John’s Prep award WinnersLiam Viles ’14 • Gold medal in Printmaking

andrew glidden ’13 • Gold medal in CeramicsBen diNatale ’15 • Silver medal in Printmaking

Ben Kuter ’13 • Silver medal in Printmakingtom Willwerth ’13 • Silver medal in Mixed Media

Henry gustafson ’15 • Honorable mention in PrintmakingJohn Pellegrino ’13 • Honorable mention in DrawingJacob swaim ’16 • Honorable mention in Drawing

Bailey trahant ’13 • Honorable mention in Printmaking

“I was particularly impressed with the work this year. It was all very strong, both creatively and technically. What stood out to me is that students were willing to experiment and push the boundaries of their technique. It showed in their work,” said art teacher Ms. Harriet Malone. “The subject matter they chose to portray was interesting as well, everything from social commentary to detailed cityscapes.”

Will Binette ’16 put his agility to the test with an exercise set up at the Wellness Fair by Lahey Hospital and Medical Center.


CrOss COUNtrY

Coach: John BoyleCaptains: Tom O’Shea ’13, Nick Fecteau ’13Concluding the season with a fourth place finish in the MIAA All-State Meet, the St. John’s Prep cross country team performed with a consistency that helped them earn a record of 4-0. Three team members were named Salem Evening News All-Stars, and coach John Boyle was selected as the Salem News Cross Country Coach of the Year.

FOOtBaLL

Coach: Jim O’LearyCaptains: Lucas Bavaro ’13, Alex Moore ’13, James Fagan ’13, Jack Sharrio ’13Completing one of the most successful seasons in Prep history, the 2012 football team won the Catholic Conference Title, as well as the Division I State Championship. The senior class controlled the offense and orchestrated one of the premiere defenses in the state. Although the team is graduating several starters, the future looks bright, as many juniors are ready to step into more significant roles.

gOLF

Coach: Larry O’NeillCaptain: Brandon Bingel ’13This year’s golf team ended the season with a stellar 17-2-2 record and an appearance in the Division I State Tournament. Although they were not able to secure the title, the team performed incredibly well and is prepared for another successful season next fall.

Sports at St. John’s | Fall 2012–Winter 2013

sOCCer

Coach: Dave CrowellCaptains: Carter Ocko ’13, Brooks Clark ’13, Brian Keogh ’13The soccer team finished their season with a heartbreaking loss to Somerville High School in the Division I North Final. They earned a 17-2-2 record (10-0-0 in conference) and came close to their first state title since 2006.

Water POLO

Coach: Anthony PadvaiskasCaptains: Joseph Crateau ’13, James O’Donnell ’13 With a tremendous group of 45 young men, the Prep water polo team learned the basics and foundations of the sport. With impressive improvement, the team was competitive and motivated throughout the entire season.

BasKetBaLL

Coach: Sean ConnollyCaptains: Max Butterbrodt ’14, Drex Costello ’13, Tyler Dooley ’13, Josh Syska ’13The basketball team earned the number one seed in the Division I North Tournament and finished their season with an overall record of 19-3. Prep hoopsters also won the Catholic Conference, going an impressive 8-0 in conference play.

s P O r t s


FeNCINg

Coach: Jim CarterCaptains: Will Collibee ’13 (Team), Dan Howlett ’13 (Epee), Joe August ’13 (Foil), Ethan Smith ’13 (Sabre)With an impressive 19-2 final record, the fencing team captured their ninth straight State Title! Led by an outstanding group of seniors, who displayed strong leadership all season, the fencing team returns with a lot of underclassmen ready to come in and work hard next season.

HOCKeY

Coach: Kristian Hanson ’94Captains: Derek Osbahr ’13, Brent Murray ’13, Brian Pinho ’13The hockey team finished their season with an overall record of 19-3-1. St. John’s won their first Catholic Conference League Title outright, the first time since 1994. The Prep also earned the number one seed in the Division IA Super Eight Tournament.

sKIINg

Coaches: Tim Broderick ’05 and Nick Carlucci ’06Captains: Blake Rhuda ’13, Wesley Groom ’13, Brad Noyes ’13Along with winning a League Championship, the ski team also finished second in the State Championships. Prep alpine finished their season undefeated at 12-0.

sWImmINg & dIVINg

Coach: Anthony PadvaiskasCaptains: Rory Cawley ’13, Jennings Soccorso-McCoy ’13 (Swim), Robert Barry ’13 (Dive)The swimming and diving team finished their season with an overall record of 7-1. The Prep also won their eighth straight Division I State Championship. The swimming and diving team hope to keep the tradition alive, returning a nice group of underclassmen eager to compete next season.

WrestLINg

Coach: Manny CostaCaptains: Jared Costa ’14, Lou Bornstein ’14, Jon Polansky ’13, Corey Jean-Jacques ’13, D.J. Lemieux ’13The Eagles captured the school’s first Division I Dual Meet State Championship. The wrestling team finished their season with a final record of 36-3, and also won their 15th consecutive Catholic Conference Championship.

WINter traCK

Coach: Ray Carey ’67 Captains: Tom O’Shea ’13, Will Stark ’13, Jack Sanford ’13, David Roy ’13Winter track had an outstanding season finishing with an overall record of 6-0, winning their League Championship.


E ight former athletes and a longtime soccer coach were inducted into the St. John’s Prep Athletic Hall of Fame on November 21 at Danversport Yacht Club.

The 1987-1989 State Championship Golf Teams were also honored during the evening for the impressive accomplishments and contributions to the Prep golf program.

S P O R T Ss P O r t s

Members of the 1987-1989 golf teams came together for a photo with Headmaster Hardiman: (l to r) Kevin Crowley ’91, Mike Pierre ’87, Pat Gould ’89, John Gilmartin ’90, Andy Phillips ’87, Paul DeFeo ’88, Joe Rocha ’88 and Ed Hardiman.

Prep golf coach Larry O’Neill, on the mend after knee surgery, chatted before the ceremony with golf inductee Patrick Gould ’89 (left) and Headmaster Hardiman.

The newest Athletic Hall of Fame: (front row l to r): Jeremy Long ’95, Peter Roy ’90, Todd Buckley ’88, and Daniel Carnevale ’79. (Back row l to r): Peter Frates ’03, Coach John Aucone, Edward Eagan ’58, Scott Macdonald ’93, and Patrick Gould ’89.

Athletes and Coach Inducted into the Athletic Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame recognizes athletes and individuals for outstanding athletic achievements and contributions. If you would like to submit a nomination, please provide your name, the name of the person you are nominating, and detailed achievements and contributions of the nominee. Please mail or email this information to Larry O’Neill at: 3 Rindge Road, Beverly, MA, 01915 or [email protected].

athletic Hall of Fame continues

edward eagan ’58 Football, Track

daniel Carnevale ’79 Hockey

todd Buckley ’88 Cross Country,

Winter Track, Spring Track

Patrick gould ’89 Golf

Peter roy ’90 Lacrosse

scott macdonald ’93 Cross Country,

Winter Track, Spring Track

Jeremy Long ’95 Soccer

Peter Frates ’03 Football, Hockey, Baseball

Coach John aucone Soccer


Making WavesMore than 60 alumni swimmers returned to the pool at Salem State University on December 22 for the first annual alumni vs. current Eagles meet. Proving to be more than a match for their younger competitors, the alumni swimmers swept most of the heats and raised expectations for future alumni gatherings!

Young Prep grads turned out in big numbers to congratulate newly inducted Hall of Famer Pete Frates ’03 (standing, front row, third from right).

athletic Hall of Fame continued


Alumni NewsOn May 1, St. John’s welcomed

Sean Harlow as the new managing director of alumni relations. Sean brings with him a decade of advancement experience, working most recently as associate director of alumni affairs at Rice University. He began his career in development as assistant director of alumni relations at Harvard Law School. He holds a BA from Hamilton College and a JD from Washburn University. A 1986 graduate of Thayer Academy, Sean is steeped in the history and culture of the independent college preparatory school.

What appeals to you about alumni relations? I’ve always loved listening to people talk about their alma maters. As an alumni relations officer I’m able to drive this dialogue by creating meaningful programs that connect graduates to their schools and their fellow alums. In turn, their conversations allow me to relive my own independent school, college, and graduate school experiences. I guess you could say that my job allows me to live vicariously through the alumni for whom I work.

What appeals to you about St. John’s Prep? I really enjoy working at institutions that embrace big ideas and aspire to change the world around them. The strategic plan outlined in “Prep 20/20” does that and more. It’s an exciting time to be at St. John’s. And it’s obvious that the alumni body is excited about this transformative time in the School’s history. I’m looking forward to harnessing that excitement as we build the alumni relations program that the Prep and its graduates so richly deserve.

What’s surprised you most about the Prep? The biggest surprise so far – not that it should – is the plethora of distinguished and notable alumni that St. John’s has

produced over the years. That’s a tremendous resource for someone in my position. I’m looking forward to working with these graduates and highlighting their accomplishments as we move the Prep’s alumni relations program forward.

What opportunities do you see for the alumni relations program? Although I’ve only been at St. John’s for a short time, I’ve quickly come to understand that the Prep has an extremely passionate and loyal alumni body that is looking for ways to engage and reengage with its alma mater. I see it as my charge to provide this amazing constituency

with numerous opportunities to connect with the institution that it loves so deeply. This means robust and substantive programs that involve alumni in the social, intellectual, cultural, and athletic life of the St. John’s. Prep graduates can look forward to novel ways of connecting to the School and one another in the future.

Do you have plans for engaging young alumni? There’s a wonderful sense of community here at the Prep, especially among current students and recent graduates. I’m focused on creating a strong and vibrant young alumni program that builds upon this sense of community – a program that connects students, alumni, and faculty to one another for life. I’d like Prep students to know that their relationship with the alumni community begins when they arrive as freshman, and for young alumni to understand that it continues after they head off to college. The Prep’s new young alumni program will concentrate on creating opportunities for recent graduates to right away so we don’t lose them to their undergraduate and graduate institutions.

Any last thoughts? Alumni satisfaction and participation is crucial to St. John’s success as an institution. I encourage Prep alums to contact me with their thoughts and ideas – or just to say hello. You can reach me at [email protected].

A L U M N I

It’s an exciting time to be at St. John’s. And it’s obvious that the alumni body is excited about this transformative time in the School’s history.

Brother LINUS MeMorIAL GoLf toUrNAMeNt MoNDAy, octoBer 7, 2013 • SALeM coUNtry cLUB!

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28th Annual


The Xaverian Award – given to the graduating senior who best models the Xaverian values of compassion, humility, simplicity, trust and zeal – was presented this year to Joe Flynn ’13. For English teacher Maryann Muhilly and others who know him, the honor comes as no surprise. “In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, when Don

Pedro contends that Beatrice was ‘born in a merry hour,’ Beatrice responds, ‘…a star danced, and under that was I born. /… God give you joy!’ Joe Flynn too must have been born in a merry hour under a dancing star. Joe’s abiding good will empowers him as a leader who inspires the people he serves to share his joy for life. For his influence, I have rarely — if ever — seen a student leader like Joe Flynn instill optimism and bonhomie in a senior class as Joe has done with the class of 2013.

CommenCement & Reunion

Class of 2013Three hundred graduates strong, the Class of 2013 came to St. John’s from 50 different communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As a class and as individuals, they studied hard, poured their hearts into myriad endeavors, won titles and championships, made lifelong friends, and left their mark at the Prep in ways large and small.

Redefining TeacherWith affection and humor, Commencement speaker Jay Pawlyk ’91 asked the graduates to recall the many teachers who influenced their Prep experience. “As sun-tanned 8th graders back in September of 2009, you probably defined ‘teacher’ as the man or woman in front of the classroom who knew lots of facts and, every few weeks, tested you on those facts… You have also learned that not all your teachers are literally ‘teachers’… Teachers surround us at every possible moment.… Embrace the fact that there are very few facts about who you are and enjoy the mystery of who will teach you next.”

English teacher Jay Pawlyk ’91

Clockwise from top of page: A scene from the Commencement procession with Antoni Athanasopoulos, Joseph August, and Mark Azarian. n Principal Keith Crowley, PhD reaches out with a handshake. n Sovannarath Pong ’13

“For the past four years, we learned how to love one another and be grateful for the people who love us.” — Sovannarath Pong ’13

COM M E NCE M E NT & R E U N ION i

College BoundAmherst CollegeArizona State UniversityAssumption CollegeBabson CollegeBates CollegeBentley UniversityBerklee College of MusicBoston CollegeBoston UniversityBowdoin CollegeBrandeis UniversityBryant UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityClemson UniversityCoastal Carolina UniversityColby CollegeCollege of CharlestonThe College of the Holy CrossCollege of William and MaryColorado State UniversityDartmouth CollegeDePaul UniversityDickinson CollegeDrexel UniversityElon UniversityEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEmerson CollegeEmmanuel CollegeEmory UniversityEndicott CollegeEuropean University GenevaFairfield UniversityFlorida State UniversityFordham UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityThe George Washington UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGordon CollegeHamilton CollegeHarvard UniversityHobart and William Smith CollegesHofstra UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIndiana University at BloomingtonIthaca CollegeJames Madison UniversityKing’s CollegeLasell CollegeLoyola University ChicagoMacalester CollegeMarist CollegeMassachusetts College of Art and DesignMassachusetts College of Pharmacy &

Health SciencesMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMerrimack CollegeMiami University, OxfordNew York Institute of Technology New York UniversityNew York University, Shanghai

Class of 2013 Valedictorian O’Neil danis and salutatorian matthew Brady embody the highest ideals of a Prep education. In their academic achievement, involvement in school life, success in athletics, and ready willingness to help others, both young men tapped all that St. John’s has to offer, and both gave back much in return. O’Neil (right) will head to Harvard University in the fall, while Matt will attend Yale University.

From left: Zachary Nathan and his parents. n Max Milone and Samuel Dicker on the way to the gym before Commencement.

Members of the Drama Guild strike a pose with teacher Alicia Greenwood following the Commencement ceremony: (front row) Christopher Losco, Matthew Taranto, Thomas Willwerth, and John McKeon; (back row) Benjamin Kuter, Eric Israel, Jordan Acheson, William Farley, Christopher Reed, Alexander Ing, David Bradburn, Ryan Silva, Adam Osmani, and Daniel Milaschewski.

From left: With Andrew Gibson right behind him, Jack Giblin greets religious studies teacher Dave Malaro during the procession. n Among the seniors putting their caps and gowns on in the gym before the Commencement procession were Omri de Pierre de Alpuche, Christopher Batista, and Brian Leguizamon.

COmmeNCemeNt 2013 sNaPsHOts

continues

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Clockwise from top left: Nicholas Nasser with his father, Trustee Paul Nasser. n Christopher Scangas flashes a big smile as Nathaniel Schmidt greets librarian Marge Saradjian and physics teacher Brother Phillip DiMarchi, CFX. n Headmaster Edward Hardiman, PhD with the McAuliffe clan: Tim ’07, Don ’77, William ’13 and Connor ’09. n Friends gather after Commencement: Anthony Provenzano, David Roy, and James Cranney.

Northeastern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNorwich UniversityPace UniversityPhiladelphia UniversityPlymouth State UniversityProvidence CollegePurdue UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityRadford UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRoger Williams UniversitySacred Heart UniversitySaint Anselm CollegeSaint Michael’s CollegeSalve Regina UniversitySouth Dakota School of Mines and

TechnologySouthern New Hampshire UniversitySt. John’s University Stetson UniversityStonehill CollegeSuffolk UniversitySyracuse UniversityTrinity CollegeTufts UniversityTulane UniversityUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of DelawareUniversity of DenverUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of HartfordUniversity of MaineUniversity of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts DartmouthUniversity of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of MiamiUniversity of MichiganUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at WilmingtonUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Rhode IslandUniversity of San DiegoUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of St AndrewsThe University of TampaUniversity of VermontVillanova UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and

State UniversityWentworth Institute of TechnologyWesleyan UniversityWestfield State UniversityWestminster CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonWorcester Polytechnic InstituteYale University

PassagesA wise and dedicated faculty is our greatest strength at St. John’s, and this year we said goodbye to four long-time teachers who retired at the end of the school year: Kathy Heffernan, student life coordinator, former director of campus ministry, and SwingTown! singer; dave malaro, religious studies teacher, photographer, and

club moderator; Bill Porter, English teacher and baseball coach; and Pat Yanchus ’67, math teacher, baseball coach, and football coach. Together they account for much institutional history at St. John’s, and we will miss them as colleagues and friends. Pictured: Pat Yanchus ’67 carried the ceremonial mace during the Commencement procession. With him is Spanish teacher Tess Witwicki, who marked 25 years of service at St. John’s this year.

College Bound continued

COM M E NCE M E NT & R E U N ION iii

the Class of 1963 came back to the Prep for a busy weekend of 50th reunion and Commencement activities, including a golf outing at salem Country Club, an information evening reception in Xavier Hall, a reunion dinner, the gold eagle diploma ceremony and the Commencement procession with the graduating Class of 2013. row 1: William E. Casey of Little Compton, RI; Michael G. Powers of Chatham; Daniel P. Hourihan of Mesa, AZ; Alexander Danish of Beverly, MA; Thomas J. Moroney of Stow, MA; Paul J. Cunney of Kailua, HI; Robert A. Saldarini of Newburyport, MA; and Robert J. Bateman of Ossining, NY. row 2: Peter Milano of Salisbury, MA; George E. Shea of Albuquerque, NM; John A. Mezza of Beverly; John P. Kinhan of Topsfield; William P. McHugh, Jr. of Danvers; Paul W. Madden of Ellicott City, MD; and Ronald J. Pascucci of Salisbury Beach. row 3: Anthony J. Reppucci of Bousval, Belgium; Philip D. Downey of Scituate, MA; Peter R. Merry of Salem, MA; Thomas J. Christian of Falls Village, CT; John J. Donoghue of Beverly, MA; Peter B. Briggs of Clewiston, FL; Terrence B. Horgan of Nashville, TN; and Robert M. Malay of Reading, MA. row 4: Martin R. Gilmartin of Southampton, NY; Robert E. Langan of Lynnfield, MA; George M. Shea of Fernandina, FL; Thomas Babb of Santa Rosa, CA; and William L. Finn of Holyoke, MA.

Class of 1963 Reunion Snapshots

From left: Ron Pascucci, Bob Saldarini and Mike Powers. n Paul Cunney and George M. Shea catch up at an informal 50th reunion reception on Friday evening of Reunion and Commencement weekend.

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From left: Hitting the links at Salem Country Club during reunion weekend: Ron Pascucci, Tony Reppucci, and Paul Madden. n Bob Bateman came to the reunion dinner with freshman yearbook in hand for classmates to sign 50 years later!

Catching up on Friday evening: (l to r) Terry Horgan, Dan Hourihan, Peter Merry and George E. Shea.

Classmates (l to r) Bob Bateman, Tom Christian, Bob Langan, Sandy Danish.

Phil Downey and Peter Milano

Bill Casey and Paul Madden

Paul Cunney and Bob Langan

COM M E NCE M E NT & R E U N ION v

Class of 1988 gathers at reunion for a group picture. Row 1: Jim Brown, Chad Riley, Paul DeFeo, Mike Treacy, Jamie Vetro, Anthony Fernandez and Michael Downes. Row 2: Kevin Johnson, Pat Daly, Matt Cushing, John Almeida, Rich Sinopoli, Chris McEnaney, and Jay Silvia. Row 3: Neil Papamechail, Matt Curran, Dean Lufkin, Marc Forgione, Stefan Vounessea, Kris Olson, Louis Brenner and Dean Xerras. Row 4: Tom Ayers, Mike Bardwell, Chuck DiGrande, Kevin Ouellette, Kip Durney, and Derek Zamagni. Row 5: Joe Rocha, Jeff Kampersal, Mike Tormey, Jonathan Kossuth, Todd Buckley, and Doug Morgan.

Class of 1988 Reunion Snapshots

Bill Kane, Matt Curran, and Todd Buckley at Salem Country Club.

Members of the Class of 1988 enjoyed a round of golf at Salem Country Club on reunion weekend (l to r) Kris Olson, Michael Duffy, Matt Cushing, Mike Bardwell, Kevin Ouellette and Joe Rocha.

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Are those family photos Kevin Johnson is showing Louis Brenner at the 25th reunion reception?

Happy to get together classmates at the reunion dinner: Michael Tormey, Jim Brown, and Louis Brenner.

Trustee Matt Cushing, Jeff Kampersal, and Paul DeFeo at the reunion reception.

Phil Ramil catches up with Dean Xerras and Andrew Zimmerman.

From left: Matt McDonough and children. n Chuck DiGrande, George Delaney, Chad Riley and Kara Delaney at the Saturday afternoon barbecue on campus. n Brett Jaffe and daughter Kaitlyn enjoy a sweet treat during the 25th reunion barbecue!

COM M E NCE M E NT & R E U N ION vii

Each year St. John’s presents awards to members of the senior class for their contributions to the life of the school through leadership, service and athletics. In the Class of 2013, the Loyalty and service award was presented to (pictured l to r): Sovannarath Pong, Kevin Low, Tucker Mathers, Daniel Milaschewski, Brian Poirier, Christopher Scangas, and Andrew Schatz. Campus ministry award: Mathew McGillivray. student athlete award: Matthew Brady. Best athlete award: Alexander Moore. Paul “Buster” diVincenzo athletic director’s award: Nicholas Bragole, Thomas Buonopane, Corey Jean-Jacques, Tucker Mathers, and Andrew Schatz.

A Family TraditionFor many families, attending St. John’s is a tradition that continues through the generations. The Class of 2013 included 33 of these families. All were recognized at Commencement with Legacy Awards.

Pictured above (l to r): Legacy Award recipients Thomas H. O’Shea, Jr. ’79 and his son, Thomas F. O’Shea, are flanked by Vice Chair of the Board of trustees David W. Ives ’75 and Headmaster Edward P. Hardiman, PhD. Deacon O’Shea assisted in celebrating the Baccalaureate Mass the evening before Commencement.

Benjamin J. Alpern Richard S. Alpern ’81 Lyndon B. Ambrefe Brian A. Ambrefe ’81 Robert J. Barry David W. Barry ’51* Shawn D. Barry ’81 Louis R. Berube, Jr. Louis R. Berube ’80 Zachary B. Blatt Henley R. Webb, Jr. ’86 Justin R. Brown Robert L. Brown, Jr. ’72 John J. Burke IV John J. Burke III ’82 Nathaniel W. Cabral James Cabral ’55* Brian E. Cabral ’79 Thomas G. Casale Gregory L. Casale ’81

Rory W. Cawley Leonard A. Cawley ’67 Joseph D. Crateau Richard Daly ’43 Andrew D. Dion Peter D. Dion ’83 Justin G. Farmer John P. Farmer ’79 Joseph D. Flynn John P. Flynn ’85 Jonathan G. Guerin John T. Guerin ’80 Alexander W. Iorio Richard Iorio, M.D. ’77 Corey John Mahoney John Mahoney ’50 William F. McAuliffe Donald T. McAuliffe, Jr., MD ’77 John William McKeon William McKeon ’51*

James R. McNeilly James F. McNeilly ’82 Alexander C. Moore Ronald S. Moore ’81 Dylan P. Morose Anthony Morose, Jr. ’55 Francis J. Murphy, Jr. Francis J. Murphy ’80 Thomas F. O’Shea Thomas O’Shea, MD ’46* Thomas H. O’Shea, Jr. ’79

John P. Runnals John J. Runnals ’81 Patrick T. Sears James M. Sears ’81 Cameron J. Shaheen Stephen J. Shaheen ’80 John W. Sharrio William J. Sharrio, Jr. ’74 Maxwell A. Shinnick Stephen W. Shinnick ’82

Ryan J. Silva Richard J. Sullivan ’49* Ethan M. Smith Kenneth J. Smith ’79 Alec E. Spencer Neil P. Spencer ’78 Joshua F. Wysocki Paul F. Wysocki ’82 * Deceased

COmmeNCemeNt 2013

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a L U m N IAlumni Events | Fall 2012–Winter 2013enjoy these pictures of Prep alumni gatherings and events!

Every winter, Prep graduates come back to St. John’s during sophomore year in college to share their collective wisdom about college life with current seniors. This year, the Class of 2011 was ably represented. We weren’t able to get a picture of the whole crew, but a big part of the group is pictured here. Kneeling: Matthew Bouzianis, Robert Byers; row 1: Colin Mageary, Tyler Newhall, Stephen Enos, CJ Hosterman, Connor Murray, Matthew West; row 2: Joseph Cattogio, Daniel Hurlbert, Eliseo Veras, Justin Grabowski, Brendan Leonard, Michael Beluch, Marco Egizi, Ryan Richard, Thomas Rogers, Mario Forgione, Justin Penney; row 3: Ryan Lane, Tyler Shepard, John D’Amico, Matthew Walter, Nicholas Koen, Jonathan Touchette, Christopher Enos, and John Daly.

A big crowd from the Class of 2007 converged at the Bell in Hand Tavern in Boston to celebrate their 5th reunion last fall. The group included (l to r) Ryan Malo, Matthew Macomber, Kevin McLaughlin, Pat Ryan, and Chris Murtagh.

Christmas party revelers from the Class of 1973 included Al Berry, John Carney, and Mike Waldron.

A Veteran’s Day ceremony on campus honored Prep alumni who have served our country in the military. Among those on hand for the program were Larry Conway ’65, Brett Celona ’12, a first year cadet at the U.S. Military Academy, and Len Cawley ’67.

Recent college grads filled the A. E. Studzinski Library in January for a career and networking program for college-aged alumni. Prep alumni professionals working in a variety of fields were on hand with career insights, networking tips, and advice about preparing for your first job search. The Class of 2012 was well represented by David Chinappi, Jacob Barosin, Anthony Capuano, Ben Nathan, and Gabriel Fernandez.

Athletic Director Jim O’Leary brought the Prep’s 2012 Super Bowl trophy to the annual alumni Christmas party at the Union Oyster House in Boston. Pictured (l to r): Prep Board of Trustees Chair Bernie Caniff ’72, Mike Maxey ’71, Jim O’Leary, Dana Hughes ’71, John Webb ’68, and Jim McNulty ’71.

Tom Civiello ’76 with Headmaster Ed Hardiman. Back in town from Australia, Tom logged the most miles to make it to the Christmas party.

United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz spoke at the Boston Business Breakfast in January. She is pictured on the right with husband Thomas Dolan ’72. Others from the Dolan clan at the event included Jack Dolan ’72 (left) and Dorothy Dolan, Managing Director for Fund for St. John’s. The program was held at the Boston College Club.

Brian Sheehan ’98 (left) and Patrick McDonough ’00 with Headmaster Ed Hardiman at the Boston Business Breakfast.

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Alumni parents John and Corrine Kelliher (left) chat with Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bernie Caniff ’72 and his wife, Debbie, also alumni parents.

Alumni parent and Trustee John Carnevale ’81 and his wife, Linda, arrive at the gala.

This lively group includes (l to r) varsity golf coach and retired faculty member Larry O’Neill, Maureen O’Neill, past parents Peter and Jan Wuehrmann, and Science Department chair Gary Smith.

Principal Keith Crowley and his wife, Patty, (left) chat with alumni parent and Trustee Betty Twomey and Vollie Fields.

Current parent and Trustee Rich Iorio ’77 and his wife, Mary Ellen, (left) with fellow parents Michael and Maura Sweeney.

Distinguished Alumnus Bill O’Brien ’88 and his wife, Colleen.

Owen Reilly’ 14 and Scott Selig ’14 were among a group of 18 tuxedo-clad students on hand to help the evening run smoothly.

Current parents and gala co-chairs Kim Carrigan (left) and Charleen McCarthy.

An Enchanted Garden

Taking a break during the silent auction are Prep parents (l to r) Gregory Palmer ’89, Jill Palmer, Brian Cabral ’79, Katie Rockett, Linda Shepard, and William Rockett.

ransformation was the themefor An Enchanted Garden Gala, an evening

to benefit St. John’s on March 16. More than 460 parents, alumni, trustees, friends, faculty, and staff attended the event, which included moving tributes to four members of the Prep community, who were inducted into the Hall of Honor that evening: Distinguished Alumnus Bill O’Brien ’88, Christine and James McCann ’52, and John Boyle. Enjoy these photos of what was a wonderful evening!

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s a teacher, coach, and competitor, John Boyle holds himself to the same high standards he expects of his students, and they respond with

an energy and resolve that inspires him every day.

A competitive runner who clocked his best time (2:30) at the Falmouth Marathon, John sees a clear connection between success in the classroom and success on the track.

“It’s the same mantra. Whether it’s solving math equations or running, you have to practice. You can’t afford to take days off,” he says.

John came to St. John’s in 1969, when Tom Ford hired the Jamaica Plain native to teach biology, coach track, and live on campus as a resident prefect. Three years later, St. John’s needed a chemistry teacher, and John stepped in.

“I hadn’t taught chemistry before, but in those days, if they asked you to teach something, you did it,” he recalls. “Phil DiMarchi arrived on the scene at about that time. I learned a great deal from him, and later, from Renee Zimmerman. We’ve got terrific young talent in the department now and I am still learning from them.”

As dedicated to coaching (cross country, winter track, track & field) as he is to teaching, John considers his partnership with longtime head coach Ray Carey ’67 to be among the most influential in his life.

“We’re both passionate about what we do and what track can do for kids,” he says. “At St. John’s, teaching and coaching is not just a job. You’re here for the boys. They need someone they can grow up with and see as a role model.”

John, his wife, Virginia, have two grown children, Jessica and Colin ’93. Jessica, who lives in Newport, Rhode Island, was a baby when her parents lived on campus in what is now the Ryken Center for the Arts. An avid outdoorsman, Colin lives in Montana.

Gala Honorees

John and Virginia Boyle with their daughter, Jessica.

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hris and Jim McCann ’52 believe that you

should do what you can to make life better for others. And fortunately for St. John’s, they have embraced Jim’s alma mater in a host of important ways.

Jim returned to the Prep in 2001 to join the World Languages faculty after a rewarding career teaching Latin at Malden, Andover and Reading high schools. A warm teacher who expected the best from his students, Jim received a doctorate in romance languages from Boston College. He served as chair of the foreign language department at Malden High School and as president of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association.

“Jim was not only a master teacher, honed in his craft over many classroom years, but he was, as they used to say, ‘a gentleman and a scholar.’ He cared about his students and he made them feel welcome,” said Gene Baron ’70, Jim’s colleague and fellow Prep Latin teacher.

A dyed-in-the-wool Eagles fan, Jim is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, and for six years his was the voice fans heard as announcer for varsity baseball games. His trademark became Prep sports trivia questions between innings. At the Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony in 2008, he was presented with the Crystal Eagle Award for his dedication to Prep athletics.

Chris spent her fundraising career in education and health care. She was director of annual giving and alumnae affairs at Regis College, her alma mater, and went on to serve as director of development and community affairs at the North Shore Medical Center, where she founded the annual Cancer Walk. She later became vice president for philanthropy at Hospice of the North Shore, where she oversaw the fundraising campaign to build the Kaplan Family Hospice House. In 2003, Chris asked then Headmaster Shannon if the Prep would host the annual Walk for Hospice of the North Shore. A decade later, hundreds of Prep students, families, faculty and staff are still engaged in this important community service.

Despite these professional demands on her time, Chris also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at St. John’s from 1995 to 2004, and as a trustee at her alma mater, St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, where she was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2003. Continuing her commitment to Catholic schools and health care, Chris is currently a trustee of Regis College and a Board member of Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston.

They have four children, all living in Danvers: James; Laura and her husband, Brian Szela; Mary Ellen and her husband, Michael Kaczynski; and Julie and her husband, Robert O’Brien. They also have six grandchildren, including Prep graduates Lt. Patrick O’Brien ’06 and Joseph Szela ’10, and Christina, Rachel, Kelsey and Katie.

Chris and Jim McCann ’52

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An Endowed Fund Opens DoorsP aul Ziolkowski ’58 learned firsthand about

the difference tuition assistance can make in a young man’s life. Born in Salem, he moved to Danvers with his family when he was quite young. Though his parents had always hoped Paul could go to St. John’s, they simply could not afford the tuition.

That all changed, however, when Paul’s parents learned about a scholarship given once every four years to an altar server at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church in Danvers. The family attended Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s, and when Paul turned 12, he became at altar server. He applied for the scholarship during his freshman year of high school, and was elated when he found out that he was the lucky recipient that year.

Paul thrived on the academic challenge the Prep offered. Whenever he met with difficulty, however, the Brothers were there to help. That was the case when he was applying to college and found the English portion of the SATs particularly tough. The extra tutoring the Brothers offered made all the difference, and Paul was accepted into the engineering program at Tufts University. He has always been grateful for the guidance and help he received at St. John’s. Just as important, Paul made lifelong friends at St. John’s, including Bill Cleary, Paul Famico and Ray Marquis.

Paul went on to a successful career with positions at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Boeing, Raytheon, DynaPert, and finally, as an engineer on Boston’s Big Dig. He and his wife Mary Lou were blessed with two children, Alexia and Sandy. Sandy followed in his father’s footsteps to St. John’s in the Class of 1987.

After Mary Lou passed away in 2000, Paul established an endowed fund at St. John’s in her honor. The Mary Louise Ziolkowski Fund provides

tuition assistance for students who would otherwise be unable to attend the Prep. Mary Lou was a teacher who knew the importance of education, and he felt the fund would be a tribute to her and a way to support St. John’s. “I support the Prep financially as my way of giving back for the opportunities and excellent education I received during my formative years,” he says.

In the most recent chapter of his life, Paul discovered new connections to the Prep, when he married Julie Deeley. Her deceased husband, Bob Deeley ’58, also graduated from St. John’s. Coincidentally, he was a classmate of Paul’s, although they did not know one another as students. She and Paul decided to celebrate their own marriage in the chapel at St. John’s as an expression of how much the school means to both of them.

Paul is forever grateful for the foundation he gained at St. John’s. In establishing an endowment fund, he hopes to open the door to similar opportunities for students today and in the future. n

Unrestricted endowment dollars are used by St. John’s wherever there is a need on campus. These funds have not been designated for a specific purpose.Endowment value as of January 31, 2013.

the Prep’s endowment at Work

$11.5 million

4%faculty and

departmental support

65%tuition

assistance

31%unrestricted

A healthy endowment is critical for all academic institutions. St. John’s has chosen to make endowment growth a priority to ensure a strong financial future.

The endowment provides opportunities for students through

tuition assistance, support for faculty through professional development, and additional funding for academic departments and athletics. By focusing on endowment growth, St. John’s can continue to respond to the needs of students, while ensuring a strong future for the school.

Alumni and friends alike create named endowment funds for many reasons. They do it to give back to a school that means so much to them, they do it to honor a family name or to create a legacy, and they do it to make a difference in the lives of Prep students.

To learn more about the individual named funds at St. John’s please visit the website at www.stjohnsprep.org/endowment.

endowment, en ·̍dou·mənt, n.

1. The action of endowing something

or someone. 2. An income or form

of property given or bequeathed to

someone. Synonyms: gift, donation,

grant, foundation

The Mary Louise Ziolkowski Fund provides tuition assistance for

students who would otherwise be unable to attend the Prep.

Mary Lou was a teacher who knew the importance of education…


Senior ClassLike Prep graduates before them, students at St. John’s today strive to leave a lasting impression at the school that

has given them so much. They know that they benefit daily from gifts to The Fund for St. John’s, and they want to do their part by giving back. Members of the new Student Ambassadors leadership group have been inspired by the commitment of Prep alumni, and they hope to support St. John’s in the same way.

Freshman Thomas Meal says it best. “I’m proud to be an Eagle. I love my school and feel that the opportunities I have here at St. John’s are amazing. I look forward to meeting new people, especially alumni, and consider it a great honor to represent St. John’s. I feel that by helping encourage participation in The Fund for St. John’s, I can have an impact on the future of the school, so other students can enjoy the opportunities and education I am experiencing. I look forward to making a difference.”

The senior class also understands that they don’t have to wait to pass on the transformative experience of a Prep education. Through their class gift campaign, Eagles Promise, seniors take the initiative to raise awareness about the importance of annual giving so that they can make an impact well before commencement.

Pictured above, Student Ambassadors (seated l to r): Naazish Sheikh ’15, Matthew LaRosa ’13, William Collibee ’13, Daniel Kennedy ’13, Vincent LaRovere ’14, and Richard Citrano ’14; (back row, l to r) Evan Roberts ’14, Alexander Ricciardelli ’14, Andrew DePiano ’14, Anthony Gaeta ’14, Philip Dytko ’13, Thomas Meal ’16, Thomas Johnston ’14, Adeeb Shaji ’14, and Anthony Perry ’14.

College AgeDuring Pete Trainor’s days at the Prep, he gained perspective on two

important life lessons: service and giving back. Starting with his senior class gift, Pete became aware that participating in the annual fund was more important than the amount of his gift. He understood that a gift to The Fund for St. John’s would help provide resources faculty and students need every day. As a sophomore at Boston College, Pete has continued that tradition and is among the many college students participating in The Fund.

Pete also developed a commitment of service at St. John’s. “Next fall I will be studying abroad in South Africa, studying at the University of Cape Town and volunteering with a local service placement. Through this six-month experience and after, I hope to continue to broaden my perspective on service, and learn more about systemic injustices that were introduced to me through my transformative experience at the Prep.”

Career Years These are the years of building your career, becoming more active in alumni programs, and increasing your

giving to become a member of one of the Prep’s leadership giving societies. These gifts enable St. John’s to keep tuition within the financial reach of all families, to retain talented and dedicated faculty, and to maintain the challenging academic programs for which St. John’s is known and respected. Matt Katzman ’01 is co-chairing the Alumni Aspire Society, which encourages young alumni to make gifts of $500. “St. John’s taught me how to learn, to compete, to be part of a community, and most importantly, to give back,” he says.

Milestone ReunionsReunion giving is a powerful way to mark this significant milestone in your life. It is also an occasion

for your class to come together with a gift that will help guarantee that future students will benefit from the same formative Prep education you experienced. In the past 10 years, for example, 50th reunion class giving has raised more than $300,000, and with each class, participation rates climb. Last year, the Class of 1962 topped them all with a gift of $116,000. “Whether it’s your 25th or 50th, reunion giving creates a unique opportunity for you, individually and with your class, to create a lasting legacy that reflects how St. John’s Prep has shaped and enriched our lives,” says Peter Merry ’63, a member of his 50th reunion committee. n

It’s never too soon and never too late to help make it affordable for all students to experience the transformative impact of a Prep education. Alumni from all generations, and in all stages of their lives, have chosen to make a commitment to philanthropy at St. John’s, and we are grateful. Whether you are just finishing your senior year at the Prep, still in college, mid-career, or a Gold Eagle, we applaud your gifts. They are the building blocks for a vibrant future at St. John’s.

alumni giving step by step1

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Senior Class

College Age

Career Years

Milestone Reunions

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C L a s s N O t e s

In Memoriam St. John’s Prep lost one of its best loved and most respected figures when thomas g. Ford passed away in May. Tom came to the Prep in 1963 as an English teacher, football coach, and basketball coach. He became director of studies and was later appointed as assistant headmaster by Headmaster Brother Edward Keefe, CFX. He was a valued mentor to younger teachers and a skilled academic advisor to students until his retirement in 1993. A founding member of the Prep Varsity Club, he was instrumental in establishing the St. John’s Prep Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom and his wife, Janet, retired to Florida, where he was active in the community, the church, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He is survived by daughter, Maureen Ford Miller, and son, T. Gillen Ford ’84.

Please remember in your prayers these members of the Prep community who have passed away recently.

Lt. Col. Robert W. Pugh ’36Arthur J. Kavanagh ’45Thomas H. O’Shea, M.D. ’46James J. Warren ’47William J. Shea ’51James H. Frame ’52Thomas M. Greene, Jr. ’52James F. McCloskey ’53John R. Akin ’55Col. Henry M. Dermody ’57William J. Shanahan ’57 Francis E. Kelly ’58Richard H. Parslow ’58Patrick H. Flynn ’60John G. Gittzus, M.D. ’65J. Paul Doyle ’75Edward P. Sheehy ’79David C. Howell ’80Joshua M. Davis ’94Patrick S. Winters ’95

’54 tom Leonard began the New Year with a new program to

restore his mobility following the illness that necessitated removal of his leg. He has made huge progress over the past year and, on the advice of his doctors, is now trying a different prosthesis. He is receiving therapy at Gordon College which has a state of the art gymnasium designed with the handicapped in mind. Tom stays active with the Prep as a member of the planned giving committee.

’55 John Hubisz writes, “Although technically, Jola and I are

retired after over 90 years of teaching between us, we are still quite busy. Line dancing (Jola), bridge (both), gardening (Jola), John Locke Society (John), speaking engagements (John), working with homeschoolers on science & religion (John), etc. I am now an adjunct professor of physics at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. That gets me an office, computer access, mail privileges, and cheap parking access. I write a monthly column reviewing books for “The Physics Teacher”, a publication of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). I served as president of the AAPT a few years back, after spending seven years on the board. I am still active in the North Carolina Section of the AAPT, an organization that I started in 1996. I was ordained in June of 1975 and am currently assigned to St. Mary Magdalene parish in Apex, NC. I have worked with this parish since it was formed in 1999. Presently, I am in charge of the RCIA process where I teach a weekly session on Catholicism. Other than normal parish duties I have worked with the Raleigh Tribunal since 1993 helping folks to reconcile their marriages within the Church. A couple of years ago we lost the 20+ acres that were our home to the building of a new highway (the 540 around Raleigh). They cut the four 100-year-old oaks that surrounded our home and all that is left is the 150-year-old oak. We were able to purchase a beautiful home on a little more than six acres. Jola is still working through the move (e.g. no more animals coming by for food, no wide open spaces, and no more free walks through the woods with our dogs), but I have had little problem adapting. P.S. If you happen to be in the area, 919.362.5782 or [email protected]

’58 david Crowley would like to thank all his classmates and the

entire Prep community for their thoughts and prayers during the past year. He says, “It has been a time of surgeries,

chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. I am now feeling much better – the new normal. As a physician I know the reality is that I would not be alive had these medical problems developed 10-20 years ago. Modern medicine has its problems, but also its share of miracles. I look forward to hearing from members of the Class of 1958 about their stories. My e-mail address is [email protected].”

’60 Val dumais and his wife, Susan, celebrated 47 years of marriage

in November. In December his son married a beautiful Irish lady and his two daughters were junior bridesmaids. Val served as best man. They then spent five days with their daughter and her family at Sugarloaf Resort in Carrabassett Valley, Maine watching several of their four granddaughters, ages 7, 5, 2, and 10 months learn to ski.

’61 tony Vorias and his wife, Carol-Ann, attended the

inactivation ceremonies for the USS Enterprise in Norfolk, Virginia, in November. Tony was serving as a fighter pilot flying F-4 Phantoms onboard the Enterprise off Hawaii in 1969, when it experienced a series of explosions that resulted in the loss of 27 shipmates and serious injuries to many more. The ceremonies included a fire reunion and reflection service honoring those who had been lost. Tony had the chance to chat with a young seaman who told him that there is a plaque onboard that every new crew member visits as part of their indoctrination and the names of the victims are read aloud. Tony and Carol-Ann spent several hours touring the ship. Approximately 12,000 people attended the inactivation ceremony the following

Tony Vorias ’61 and his wife, Carol-Ann, aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.


day. Tony and Carol-Ann also visited Kitty Hawk in North Carolina that weekend and were struck by the contrast between the Wright Brothers’ 12-second flight and the two-hour commercial flight that took them from North Carolina back to their home in West Palm Beach, Florida. You can read more about Tony’s experience with the Enterprise and see links and photos about the ceremonies on our website.

’63 george e. shea sent us this update summarizing the 50

years since his graduation. “As in every life there have been setbacks, but overall I’ve accomplished most of what I’ve wanted and presided over a relaxed and pleasant life. After leaving St. John’s in 1963, I went on to Rutgers for a year, but that didn’t work out. In 1968, I graduated with honors from Salem State College. This was not a good time to graduate since the war was going on. I lived in Buffalo for a year as an insurance investigator and a stringer for the Buffalo Courier Express. I then planned to attend the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, but the draft interfered and I spent four years in the Air Force. Over those four years, Northwestern held my place at Medill from which I graduated in 1974. While in Chicago, I worked as a stringer for Chicago Today and WBBM. After graduating, jobs were scarce in journalism and I went to work as a Congressional liaison with the EPA for two years. I married in 1975, to Nancy Miller at Hamilton Hall in Salem. Nancy hated Washington so we returned to Salem where I worked in Boston for two years as a communications director for the Massachusetts Department of

Education. After two years I became a senior consultant for a firm out of Greenwich, CT, that advised electric and gas utilities on marketing, advertising and regulatory affairs. By 1984, I was senior vice president for client affairs. Also, in that year the owners of the firm decided to move the company to Albuquerque, N. M. Since my wife was a Golden Buffalo of CU, She could see nothing better than moving to the Southwest. For six years, I couldn’t stand the place, or the work. In 1987 I quit the job, but not the place. Since 1968, it seems I had never stopped traveling on business. Since I had my teaching degree and a master’s in education from Chapman College, I began what was to be my first career, teaching. I started at a high school that was mostly Hispanic, poor, engulfed by crime and, in many cases, despair. At age 45, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Over the next ten years, I thrived and my students thrived. I became swim coach, yearbook adviser, appeared in student plays, and created a world humanities curriculum. It was the first time in my career that I felt fulfilled. In 1990, I was recruited to teach at New Mexico’s top public high school to create a law curriculum and a mock trial team, which I did. In addition, I was asked to create the AP US History curriculum and later the AP European History curriculum, both of which grew successfully from the low 40s in numbers to over 200 for US and 100 for European. My greatest satisfaction was reviewing the test scores – always well above the national average. But what I most enjoyed was seeing the “average” student scoring a 4 or even a 5 on the test. As in everything

in life, there are setbacks. My mother, who raised four boys all alone and all of whom attended St. John’s, died of cancer in 1995. My wife contracted a serious cancer in 1999, but has survived despite serious side effects, and I came down with a serious case of adult onset asthma, which has greatly interfered with my already awful golf game. Since our health was not the best, Nancy and I decided to retire in 2010. I’ve served as a director of our homeowners association, president of the neighborhood association, taught journalism at the University of New Mexico and for years was active in Kiwanis. Don’t be fooled, I’ve left out some bad spots. As I’ve always said, life is a series of losses, failures and regrets, but with good times in between. As Schopenhauer wrote, “The first two-thirds of our lives is narration and the last third is commentary.” To paraphrase, toward the end things begin to make sense. I’ve marginally kept in touch with some of my classmates, for many I’ve lost touch. I will say we were a remarkable bunch of characters, all of whom had character. I look forward to seeing as many as possible in May.”

’64 dave smith and his wife, Joyce, are enjoying their new home

on the island of Kauai. An educator and administrator with the Southborough, Massachusetts, public school system for 34 years, Dave retired as the assistant principal of the P. Brent Trottier Middle School. He enjoys scuba diving and underwater photography, and has participated in numerous dive research expeditions to many locations including Australia, Fiji, Mexico, Israel, and the Red Sea. He and his wife recently

Software executive scott shaunessy ’83 traded his suit and tie for hockey gear in December, when he traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, with Bobby Carpenter ’81 to play for Team USA in the Arctic Cup. Against tough competition, the Americans played very well, finishing fourth after Russia in first place, Norway in second, and Sweden in third. Founded in 2011, the Arctic Cup is open to amateur and former professional players aged 40 and older. It is sponsored by the Arctic Council, an international organization founded in 1996 to protect the natural resources of the Arctic environment by fostering cooperation among Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. A hockey and football stand-out at St. John’s, Scott was inducted in the Prep’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He continues to be actively involved in playing and coaching hockey, an interest that runs in the family. His two daughters are both avid hockey players. Caroline, who played last year on a state championship team at Duxbury High School, is now a sophomore hockey player at Tabor Academy. Daughter Julia plays boys hockey at the Squirt level. Scott is the founder and CEO of ideaPoint, a software company that helps companies promote innovation and efficiency. The company licenses its software application to large pharmaceutical companies such as J&J, Pfizer, Abbott, Novartis and others. Scott and his partners started ideaPoint in 2008. He is happy to report that the company is now profitable and continuing to grow. Scott and his wife, Jeanne, live in Duxbury.

Scott Shaunessy (front row, second from left) and Bobby Carpenter (back row, third from right) with Team USA at the Arctic Cup.


celebrated their anniversary with a six-week trip to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. Dave has two children, Katherine and Michael. Bill Provenzano retired from his position as president of Ohio Valley General Hospital in Pittsburgh and is now just managing the real estate he owns in Pittsburgh. He spends a lot of time at his homes in Amelia Island, Florida, and Brewster on Cape Cod when he is not in Pittsburgh. He’d be happy to welcome classmates in either location! He has three children. His older son is a physician in Pittsburgh and has two children; his daughter teaches in Denver and has three children; and his younger son is a marine engineer and travels the world. He says, “I appreciate everything I learned as St. John’s as a boarding student. Not only what I learned from books but what I learned about life from the brothers and from the other students. It was a wonderful experience. My very best to all my classmates and the brothers.”

’66 John Nash recently assumed the position of president and

CEO of Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton. Franciscan is a specialty hospital working with children requiring long-term acute care. It also has a large mental health program, and operates the Kennedy Day School for children with special needs. John says that he see greg miller all the time, and stays in touch with Peter dalton. Bob Luongo writes, “Once a New Englander, always a New Englander? Not in my case. I have been living in the Texas Hill Country since 1988. That means this year will be 25 years … wow! I never imagined I would end up here. In fact, I ended up here by accident, but that’s a long story. Southern culture took us a long time to adjust to. Southerners are very round about in the way they communicate and most do not like to be too direct. We New Englanders like to get right down to business. What has kept me here is my custom home building business, Craftmaster Custom Homes. Of course, the home building business here took a big hit in 2009 and only now has started to recover. We definitely miss New England, but not the severe winters, however all seems to be changing as the earth is warming. I built a house in Hebron, N.H., and it has been a great getaway from the hot Texas summers. The earth’s warming cycle has caused severe drought conditions here and all the lakes and rivers are drying up. I would love to hear from my old classmates and if you are traveling to Austin or San Antonio, please contact me; I’d be happy to put you up for a night or two.”

’68 Joe mcdonough is a partner with the U.S. law firm Holland &

Knight, managing the Middle East region and working out of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He recently managed a project for the Dubai Judicial Institute and the U.S. Embassy to bring speaker to train judges in how the U.S. law handles social media issues, as well as how to establish an alternative sentencing system. In March a similar program called the Dubai Scholars brought a delegation of U.S. law students to Dubai to learn about Sharia law and the legal system. John Callahan is retired and living in Escondido, California. He was back in Massachusetts over Christmas to visit his mom and sister, as well as his youngest son, Jon, who teaches automotive diagnosis at UTI Norwood and is a master mechanic.

’69 Kevin mcmahon reports that this is his 20th anniversary

as a judge and will probably be his last full-time year. He says his wife, Patti, has fallen in love with a place they bought in Venice, Florida, and he has to admit that the winters are getting to be a drag in Connecticut, where they reside. He’s not heard from any of his Prep classmates in a while, but would love to. richard montoni was recently named Executive of the Year at the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards in Washington D.C. His company, MAXIMUS, was recognized as a finalist for the Contractor of the Year award. The awards recognize “leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence of the people and businesses in the region’s government contracting community.” Rich is president and CEO of MAXIMUS, a leading operator of government health and human services programs in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. He says, “It is a distinct honor to be recognized by the GovCon Awards program. More importantly, it is a privilege to work with the nearly 9,000 MAXIMUS employees worldwide who made this recognition possible. The award was not the result of an individual accomplishment, but instead a reflection of the company’s collective success.” Peter Healey and his classmate and brother-in-law, Jon malay, got together earlier this year and swapped remembrances of Larry O’Neill, Frank “Pinky” Sheehan, and Brothers Boniface, Ephrem, Peyton, Linus and Norman. They celebrated the Prep state and Catholic Conference football championships with a drink or two. They will get together again to play golf. Peter was at the Prep in the fall for the B.C.

C L a s s N O t e s

Evolutionary biologist and ichthyologist Brian sidlasukas ’94 turned to Facebook when he had to identify some 5,000 fish that he and his fellow researchers had documented during an expedition to the Cuyuni River in Guyana. The results created a lot of interest, online and in the scientific community.

Immigration policies in Guyana require scientists to identify every specimen before bringing them home for further study. In Brian’s case, time was short, so he posted his photographs on Facebook and hoped for the best. Members of worldwide scientific community responded, and in less that 24 hours, every specimen had been correctly identified. Facebook produced a video about Brian’s experience and his research; you can watch it at http://www.facebookstories.com/stories/1570/video-speeding-up-science.

Brian is an assistant professor of ichthyology at Oregon State University. During the past year he received three major awards for his work: Savery Outstanding Young Faculty Member, Vice-Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Outreach, and Agricultural Executive Council’s Outstanding Young Faculty Award. In addition, he had received word that the National Science Foundation will provide his lab with a half million dollars to study the biodiversity of South American fishes. Brian began his work at Cornell University, where he majored in biology. He went on to get his master’s and doctorate in evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago, and he has been teaching at Oregon State since 2009.

When he isn’t teaching and doing research, Brian enjoys French cooking, performing early music, and playing strategy board games. His wife, Rae, is a vocalist and harpist, and they sometimes perform together as the duo of Lion and Lily. They live in Corvallis.


High game, and it brought back fond memories of his own team’s state and Catholic Conference championships. This year, he and his wife are off to Cancun, Vail and Alaska with a side trip to Bowdoin for his 40th reunion.

’70 James garvey writes, “Although I

have remained silent since my graduation days, the spirit of St. John’s Prep has remained close to me. Upon graduation I attended Boston College and completed a degree in English literature. Ultimately, I wound up working for several luxury home furnishings brands as a national sales manager. I married and helped raise three children who are now grown adults. Through some life experiences which led to a deeper investigation of my faith, I pursued an MA in theology at St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia. This deepened my spirituality and upon graduation I entered Fordham’s program to become a Spiritual Director. Grace was intervening in the form of trials. My marriage was over, the kids were gone, the house was sold and the job went down. I had more questions to answer. Following an extraordinary visit to the Holy Land I entered the Spiritual Exercises for a 30-day silent retreat. A year later I entered religious life at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania, to pursue a vocation that was conceived at the Prep. Following a two-year novitiate, I took Simple vows this past August and am now completing academic requirements in Chicago towards ordination in three years. My journey has been circuitous and incredibly blessed. For the wonderful Brothers who guided me by their example, to my classmates and to the band of boys who followed Harry Martin – I send my deepest affection.” Chris Hansen has been living in the United Kingdom for 19 years. He has now formally retired and has received his senior transport pass from the city of London entitling him to free use of public transport. He has already used his senior admission to an exhibition. He celebrated his new status by taking a seven-week trip to Australia and New Zealand. He started in Singapore at the beginning of March, and went on to Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand for a week. He went on to Australia, where he visited Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, before returning to London, again via Singapore. He is hoping that he’ll be able to attend the class of 70’s 50th reunion in 2020.

’73 Henry C. (Neil) shelley, Jr. recently

retired as a Captain from the Navy Reserve after 31 years of active and reserve service. He is serving as the general counsel to the Department of Defense Inspector General. He leads an office of 14 attorneys providing advice to more than 1,500 auditors,

investigators, and inspectors serving worldwide. He makes his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife, Elizabeth, also a Navy veteran and an attorney with the federal government. They have four children.

’74 Jim Belleau has released his first book, “Quantum Reggae,

Message from Bob, Volume Oneness.” Published by Diamond Clear Vision, the book penetrates the secret of Bob Marley’s world-wide success in a manner that no other book has ever done. It includes new material designed to add to Marley’s global influence.

’75 Keith Lombardo reports, “We are very busy with our five

children. Dimitri, 17, will be graduating this year from Gulf Coast High School in Naples, where he lettered in football for three years. Undecided on what college he will attend. Natalia and Sabrina, 16, are rising seniors at Gulf Coast High School. Natalia is busy studying, and loves her social life. Sabrina is a varsity high school cheerleader and works as a hostess at 821 Bistro in Naples. Their goal is to attend FSU. Adriana, 13, attends 7th grade at Oakridge Middle School. She competes for Top Gun Cheerleading in Naples. Bianca is in the 2nd grade at The Vineyards Elementary School, and she competes for Top Gun Cheerleading. Our nutritional/wellness business is thriving, has never been

Keith Lombardo ’75 and his wife, Tracy, have been married for 21 years.

Henry (Neil) Shelley ’73

Using the power of networking and shared business expertise is something well understood among the Prep alumni community, and it becomes especially important when new businesses are involved. Three of our alums are demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit by starting new businesses. They are also sharing their passion and business experience by serving on the board of an organization called YENS – Young Entrepreneurs of the North Shore.

andrew mansfield ’01 and Brendan murray ’01 serve on the YENS board of directors. Both small business owners, they have recently decided to combine their businesses into one entity. Andrew was running GreenPro, a landscaping company, and Brendan ran Masonry and More. Since the companies served complementary needs, it seemed wise to pool their resources and build a bigger and more comprehensive business. The result is Brick & Turf Company, which is expected to have 20 employees and do $2 million in business next year.

Kevin Hoang ’07 is a graduate of Salem State and is now an accountant at Alexander, Aronson & Finning, P.C., a CPA firm involved with wealth management and business consulting. Kevin does tax and audit work for them. He is also in the process of opening an art and photography store in Salem. Kevin is the assistant treasurer and marketer for YENS.

YENS is a non-profit organization formed through the Enterprise Center at Salem State University; it was funded by a grant from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. Targeted to young business owners, YENS aims to provide resources to young business owners and a referral network to allow these business owners to reach out and connect with each other. YENS also hosts networking events for business relationship building and workshops for business development in all areas.


better, and this keeps us very busy as we do business in 45 countries. We are involved locally, and internationally with our company’s HLF Family Foundation, which has numerous charities. I’m in contact with tony ’76 and Bill sharrio ’74, as well as John Lang. It was a great experience to see the Prep beat Xaverian this past Thanksgiving, and to see my quarterback, Bill Sharrio, and tailback, Tony Sharrio, who I blocked for as a fullback, at the game! The best experience of all was watching Bill’s son, Tony’s nephew, Jack Sharrio, guide the Prep to a win and beat Brockton in the Super Bowl! don Jalbert has had a busy year. He injured his knee which led to a staph infection, and he’s been on crutches since last April and will be until he has knee replacement surgery in June. He teaches computer applications at Central Catholic High School. He says, “The knee injury has a silver lining, however. I have been able to work on my art extensively and have had several exhibitions, have sold some of my art and am developing a line of greeting cards. When one door closes, God opens another.” To see Don’s work go to www.flickr.com/donjal.

’77 mark Litner is still practicing law with Jaffe & Berlin in Chicago.

His daughter, Jennifer (21), graduated from Tulane University and is applying to graduate schools. His younger daughter, Marissa, graduated from high school in May and was waiting to hear from colleges when he wrote. Mark sends his best to the Prep family. michael Buba is a project manager at NSMC-Salem Hospital, overseeing renovations to the hospital that are focused on creating a modern, first-class healthcare facility. In addition he is active as a baseball umpire and football referee for many of the high schools in the Northeast Conference, Cape Ann League, and Middlesex Conference, as well as with many youth and men’s baseball and football programs. He figures he must be getting old as his granddaughter began kindergarten this year. His daughter, Hanna, became engaged and is planning a wedding in 2014. He reports that the Class of ’77 golf committee met in December to discuss all pertinent issues, past and present. doug Hepworth and family are living in New York. His son, Dash, will soon be 11. Doug says the commute from Manhattan pretty much precludes his applying to the Prep. He and his wife also have a daughter, Tiarna, who is 8. He says he sees quite a bit of rich Jagolta and Rich’s brother, Ken ’78, each summer in Nantucket and that’s always fun.

’79 Bruce addison is actively involved in life on the New

Hampshire seacoast, where he serves on the board of two non-profits. One is the Piscataqua Maritime Commission which sponsors Portsmouth Tall Ships and Sea Challenge, a weeklong trip on a schooner for 35 challenged youth. The other is Great Bay Stewards which protects and preserves the vitality of the Great Bay Estuarine system. Bruce has a daughter at U.N.H. and two boys at Portsmouth High School. He is a senior vice president for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

’80 Jay Byrne reports, “Happily married with children, my wife,

Ann, and I recently marked our 15 year wedding anniversary and 15 years living in St. Louis, Missouri. We return every summer to Massachusetts to reconnect and get on the water. Our 14-year-old daughter, Erin, is a nationally ranked championship Irish step dancer and a freshman at the John Burroughs School. Our 12-year-old, Paul, is finishing sixth grade and will be competing with his state championship winning team in the U.S. National Chess Championships this year.” Kevin maguire sits on the board of the non-profit YellowUmbrella.org, an organization dedicated to cervical cancer awareness and headed by local musician and survivor Christine Baze. Christine has worked for 15 years on prevention and regular screening initiatives and has worked closely with pharmaceutical companies in developing the vaccine that can save lives. Kevin and his wife, Amy, operate an interactive special events facility in Peabody called Pump It Up. Their two younger children, Jack, 11, and Casey, 9, are looking forward to attending the Prep in a few years. The family lives in Marblehead and Kevin is on the parish pastoral council for Our Lady Star of the Sea. He says, “I see Chris Hawthorne and Chris davis ’79 and other Prep graduates more and more; many are new friends that graduated either before or after my time at SJP. It is so great to see the wonderful network that we have. This is the fabric of our lives and it is a treasure to be part of the heritage that I hope my boys continue.”

’82 LtCol John P. Christopher, UsmC was married to the

former Valeria Valentina Dopcea in Boston in October, 2012. LtCol Christopher is currently serving as the U.S. Marine Corps’ National Security Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Security Studies Program in Cambridge.

C L a s s N O t e s

As soon as he heard someone cry “avalanche,” todd glew ’02 rushed to the rescue. His quick response and training as a back country guide helped save the life of a 36-year-old man who had been swept over a cliff and buried under five feet of snow near Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Todd was leading a group of three skiers in Silver Fork Canyon on February 3 when he heard the cry and saw the 250-foot wide, 100-foot long avalanche hit the man, an experienced skier who was not in Todd’s group.

“I was hiking up when I heard ‘avalanche,’” says Todd. “I looked across through the trees that were blocking my view and saw the slide. I immediately reacted, told my clients to hang tight, and zipped downhill with my climbing skins on. I told his partner to get his probe and shovel ready as I performed the beacon search. He hit the victim on first strike and we dug the guy out,” he says.

This was the first time he had to dig someone out of an avalanche, Todd told The Salt Lake Tribune. A back country guide for eight years, he said the experience should remind anyone who skis in avalanche-prone areas to wear a beacon and bring a probe and shovel.

Todd, who competed in the 2008 Ski Mountaineering World Championships as a member of the US Ski Mountaineering team, has been climbing and skiing since his days at the Prep. He has a degree in experiential education from the University of Utah, and he is a certified ski guide and wilderness first responder. An avalanche observer for the Utah Avalanche Center and a mountain guide for Utah Mountain Adventures and Timberline Mountain Guides, he also teaches avalanche and mountaineering courses. “I am basically a guide and teacher of all mountain disciplines – rock, ice, alpine, and ski.”


’83 david glatz is living in Casteldefels, Spain, a beach

suburb about 20 minutes south of Barcelona. He and his wife, Monica, have a daughter, Lucia (7), and welcomed their second daughter, Rocio, in November. He is collaborating with a startup, hamlovers.com, bringing exquisite Spanish flavors to the U.S. and all of Europe.

’84 Phil Chisholm reports, “I’ve been living in Franklin, MA,

for several years and work for Fidelity Investments in Smithfield, RI, heading a 401k product development team. My wife, Robin, and I have two sons attending Xaverian Brothers High School. Jamie is a junior and Andrew is a freshman. With both boys playing sports (tennis, basketball) it makes for an interesting experience coming back to SJP to see my boys play against the Eagles! I still keep in touch with many friends from Prep days (Paul Pilkons, rusty sullivan, Jeff Jones, John maestranzi, Chris Wysopal ’83) and regularly make the

trip to the North Shore for get together dinners.” ron Kowalski was married in December to Shauna Lagatol of Norwalk, CT. Ron is a litigation partner with Cacace, Tusch & Santagata in Stamford. Shauna is a senior marketing manager at Nestle Waters, North America. John sullivan is an associate professor at Boston University and has recently been appointed to the law school LLM program, teaching international mergers and acquisitions. John and his wife, Holly, are now Prep parents with their son, John, a member of the class of 2015.

’90 steve Chaggaris has returned to CBS News where he has

been named executive Washington editor for CBSNews.com. He is in charge of directing the editorial coverage of politics and Washington for CBS News’ website. On the home front, Steve and his wife, Jenny, welcomed their first child, Peter Edmund, in September. His arrival nine weeks early and weighing only

2 lbs. 15 oz. meant a lengthy stay in the NICU at Georgetown University Hospital, but he’s now strong and healthy and enjoying being at home.

’92 John sullivan provided an update on his triathlon activities.

He took up the endurance sport at the age of 38 and is now in his second season. He completed his first race in Naples, Florida, with an overall 19th place finish as well as a first-place finish in his age group. He is looking forward to many more races this year; his next is in the Northeast in May. He plans to continue his education to become a personal trainer so that he can pass on his physical conditioning regimen, experiences, and education to help others lead a healthier lifestyle.

’93 Justin Faro has left his job at Electric Insurance Company

after 15 years to pursue a new career as the EMC Xpressions developer at Homesite Insurance in Boston. Justin and his wife, Shanna, live in Avon with their son, Cole.

’94 William murray and his girlfriend, Rhona McFarlane,

traveled to Europe to celebrate Christmas with her family in London, where she

John Sullivan ’92 clocking the miles in training for an upcoming triathlon.

William Murray ’94 and his fiancée, Rhoda MacFarlane, in Bruges last winter.

Photo by Allegra Boverman appeared in the Gloucester Daily Times.

We are proud to report that United States Marine Corps Cpl. adam Curcuru, a 2005 graduate of St. John’s, was recently awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He received the high honor after sustaining head injuries while serving in Afghanistan.

Curcuru served two tours of duty, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. While stationed in Marjah, Afghanistan, he was a lead gunner in charge of setting up security, as well as looking for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). While on duty, his truck was blown up six times, resulting in several serious concussions. The head injuries that Curcuru suffered have lead to difficulties with memory, as well as other daily struggles for the Marine.

This honor was particularly significant because the military has only recently recognized head injuries as a category for the Purple Heart Medal.

“I am not surprised that Adam would be a recipient of such a brave honor. I remember him as a strong young man and excellent athlete with an outstanding work ethic and a heart of gold,” said Deb Tierney, who was Curcuru’s school counselor at St. John’s.

The Gloucester native received the award in City Hall’s Kyrouz Auditorium in front of friends and family, including his wife, Janessa, and two daughters, Kajsa, 7, and Kiara, 3.

Curcuru is currently pursuing two bachelor’s degrees from Salem State University in business administration and political science, with a minor in economics. He hopes to pursue a career as a Veterans Affairs representative.

Phil Chisholm ’84 is flanked by his sons, Andrew (Xaverian ’16) left and Jamie (Xaverian ’14) right. He says, “At least Thanksgiving day morning was fun for one of us!”


Wedding Bells

dan ravens ’05 and Amanda Almeida were married last June at the New Seabury Country Club on Cape Cod. The couple now makes their home in Melrose.

grew up. During their visit, they escaped to Bruges, Belgium, for a few days, where he proposed to her while overlooking the Minnewater, which is also known as the Lake of Love. They currently live in Arlington, MA, and are planning a wedding in late 2013. Chris mcNamara and his wife, Giuseppina DiSisto, welcomed their first child, Christopher Joseph DiSisto McNamara, in October. Chris is a principle at the law firm of Liwo & McNamara, P.C. in Wakefield. John schneider is also a new dad. He and his wife, Amanda, have a new son, Anderson Jones Schneider, who arrived in November.

’95 steven Houle is living in Shenzhen, China, and working

for America II International, an electronic components distributor, as director for the Shenzhen branch. Jeremy Long says that he is enjoying his new status as a member of the Prep’s Athletic Hall of Fame and that the support and congratulations have been overwhelming. Jeremy is a senior safety officer for Prime Steel Erecting, Inc., a union steel company. He has been the project manager and ironworker on a number of interesting buildings across the Boston area including the new B.U. student center, Pfizer’s new corporate office in Cambridge, Assembly Row Living Facility in Somerville and the new B.U. School of Law. He and his wife, Giselle, have a son named Dylan and are expecting their second son in May. He stays in touch with Joe dooley often, as well as doug Papows ’97, Bobby Batten ’94 and John Pascucci.

’96 matt Koidin and his wife, Christine, are living in

San Francisco with their two daughters, Maile (3) and Lauren, who arrived in January. Matt is the CTO for a startup called Pocket. They are building a “DVR” for the web – helping people who discovering interesting content on the Web but don’t have time to view it. Once

saved to Pocket, the list of content is visible on any device – phone, tablet or computer – and can be viewed at any time. Matt served as co-chair of the Duke Global Entrepreneurship Network that organizes many events in the Bay Area geared at connecting the Duke community interested in entrepreneurship and related fields. He is also on the board of the Presidio Knolls School, where his daughter is in pre-school. The school is a Mandarin immersion pre-k to 8th grade and it’s still young. He’s actively involved in helping it grow and drawing on all of the things that made SJP wonderful. He stays in touch with classmates Pete Collins, matt Curtis, ryan gillis, Jon Henry, Pete rae, Pat russo, mark theriault and Ben trombley. He returned to Boston last summer so that he and Ryan Gillis could ride together in the Pan Mass Challenge which he describes as an amazing experience for a great cause.

’98 Brad Pitcher and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their second

daughter, Nora, in January. He reports that mom and baby are happy and healthy and dad is on cloud nine. ryan Webb and his wife, Jaime, are living in Brooklyn, N.Y., and are proud parents of a daughter, Parker, who was a year old in December. He has moved from the creative side of making DIRECTV commercials to the ad sales team for DIRECTV, and is now head of strategic partnership and tune in advertising for the group. Ryan attended the NYC alumni event in the fall and enjoyed catching up with classmate steve murray. Bernie Caniff has a new job as an account executive for partnerships with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. mike Kelliher and his new bride, Laura Keating, are living in Kensington, Calif., following their wedding last August. Mike is working at Pacific Gas & Electric in San Francisco where he is managing the accounting for their commodity hedging programs. Laura is an environmental engineer in the Walnut Creek office of CDM Smith.

’99 derek Carpenter and his wife, Brittany, have been

married for four years. They have one son, Owen, and are expecting their second child in July. Derek is a territory manager for Atrium, a medical device company based in Hudson, N.H. They live in Bedford, N.H. mark Collura has taken on a new role as vice president of sales at The Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company providing fact-based research to businesses and individuals. Ben Kenna is living in Beverly with his wife and two-year-old daughter, Lily. He

C L a s s N O t e s

John Schneider ’94 and his wife, Amanda, with their new son, Anderson, who was born in November.

russell grossman ’03 and his wife, Amy, were married in May 2012 in Lexington. They are living in Peabody with their Shetland sheepdog, Scout.

mike Kelliher ’98 and Laura Keating were married in August at the Wequassett Resort on Cape Cod. Mike’s brother, tom Kelliher ’04 was his best man.

Jonathan Hartnett ’04 was married on October 6, 2012 to Jean Snow. In attendance at the wedding were many Prep alumni including: sean doyle ’04, Colin Connolly ’04, robert mcCauley ’04, Nicholas Figueiredo ’04, michael Howard ’04, Joseph magnarelli ’04, michael ryan ’04, Justin Herman ’04, sean martin ’04, Kevin King ’04, father of the groom Joel Hartnett ’74 and michael Kapnis ’76.


top row, l to r: Owen Carpenter (17 months) is the son of Brittany & derek Carpenter ’99. ✻ Ella Rose Riccio, born in July, is the daughter of Leslie and steve riccio ’04. ✻ ryan adams ’89 and his wife, Suzanne, welcomed their first baby in August, a boy named Blake Charles. ✻ In September, Peter Edmund Chaggaris was born to Jenny and steve Chaggaris ’90. Center row, l to r: andy st. Pierre ’99 and his wife, Tanea, welcomed their first child, Louis Thomas, born in September. ✻ Chris mcNamara ’94 and his wife, Giuseppina DiSisto, welcomed their first child, Christopher Joseph DiSisto McNamara, in October. ✻ scott Chase ’96 and his wife, Natalie, are the proud parents of Dylan Louis Chase, born in October. ✻ Jack Holden was born in December and is the son of Becky and John Holden ’93. Left: In January, Christine & matt Koidin ’96 welcomed their second daughter, Lauren, shown here with her big sister, Maile who is 3.

Oh Baby!

works for EBSCO Publishing in their Topsfield office. He spent time over the holidays with Paul mcmorrow and his wife and two children, Tess and Jack, as well as with mick abodeely, mark abodeely ’01 and Chris Nabhan ’01. He is looking forward to the Brother Linus Golf Tournament, as well as other Prep events in 2013. ryan Leahy is working with student athletes through the Legends Baseball prospect teams, helping them to find a school that suits them both academically and athletically. He draws on the connections he’s made both coaching at the University of Pittsburgh and scouting with the Los Angeles Angels. Christopher dent was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve last May. He is now planning his September 2013 wedding to Brianne Howe. Chris lives in Nahant where he has been appointed chairman of the Finance and Advisory Committee for the town. andy st. Pierre recently received his MBA from Boston College and is currently the business manager at Saint Joseph Prep in Boston.

’00 michael Hartigan has taken a new position as communications

director for U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts District 3. Michael is a graduate of Providence College and formerly did communications work for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.

’01 Paul roberts is planning on joining a mission trip to Ecuador

this year with the Rostro de Cristo program organized by Fr. Jim ronan ’62, his parish priest in Charlestown. He has consulted with Prep faculty Mrs. Wendy Larivee, and Mr. Ed Dooley to share their personal insights into this experience. Paul is part of a men’s faith group that meets weekly and includes classmates dan Hahesy, Josh richards and Jim murphy. The group gathers to study scripture, watch films, and engage in dialogue that helps them all to become more courageous and faithful fathers, husbands, boyfriends, sons, brothers and ultimately followers of Christ. Alums interested in participating in what Paul describes as a fun, laid-back and inspiring group can reach him at [email protected]. On Saturday mornings flag football games are held at Tufts University and Paul reports that classmates Josh Krause, Curtis ranta, matt Harrington, Jim murphy and steve middler, along with Jon Cassidy ’04 and Pat murphy ’04 have all made appearances on the gridiron this year. The more the merrier – all are welcome. An alumni tennis tournament is planned for late June. Stay tuned for more information. grant Felteau is a senior business development manager with Experian Marketing and is

responsible for the strategic growth of their high value software partnerships throughout North America. In September he became engaged to Brittany Hudnall, and they are planning a September 2013 wedding in Boston. He is happy to help any alums looking for career advice or just network and catch up. Joe Barszcz was married in March to Kiki Bush of Woodstock, Vermont. He says 2013 looks to be a challenging year and he hopes to accomplish his National Teaching Board license in chemistry. Joe is teaching at Kailua High School in Kailua, Hawaii. Joe sends, “A big mahalo to the SJP staff for instilling the passion for educating in me.” ricky Chen moved from Chicago to Hong Kong in May 2011, to take a new job as a private equity associate at Ropes & Gray. He was among the alumni who welcomed Headmaster Edward Hardiman to Hong Kong when he visited there last year. He spent a portion of last year working in Tokyo and then took a backpacking safari trip that took him through four African countries, ending at the beautiful Victoria Falls. He is now back at work in Hong Kong. Ben Zani is living in Chattanooga, Tenn. He has attained his license as a nursing home administrator and is the executive director of Life Care Center of East Ridge. He says that he has essentially joined the family business as his father,


Paul Zani ’78, has long been a nursing home administrator. Ben regularly leans on him for advice in running his 130-bed skilled rehabilitation facility. He continues to contribute sports content for the Chattanooga Times Free Press as well. Ben was married in October to Ashley Williams in an outdoor ceremony televised by the local NBC affiliate. He reports that dan simoes came from New York City to join the festivities. He and Ashley are expecting their first child in July. He hopes that should it be a boy, the Prep will build a satellite campus in Chattanooga by the year 2027.

’03 stephen miles recently caught up with fellow lax player and

classmate Chris sava who was on a road trip taking him to a job in the ski industry in Colorado. They shared some drinks at the Venice Ale House on the boardwalk of Venice Beach in sunny southern California. Steve has been at BeCore, an experiential marketing firm, for two years. One of his projects, PSAM: The Great Paper Airplane Project, won a Cannes Gold Lion award. It entailed directing cameras for unmanned aircraft, airspace restrictions, helicopters, stunt planes and more. You can find it on YouTube. russell grossman graduated from Clark University in 2008 with a degree in Jewish studies and received his master’s in public administration from Clark in 2010. He and his wife, Amy, whom he met at Clark, were married in May of 2011 and they share their home in Peabody with their Shetland sheepdog, Scout. Russ works at the Peabody Institute Library and Amy is the business manager of a dog walking company in Woburn. Jonathan Paly was married in May 2012, to Victoria Federico in Mamaroneck, N.Y. He began

medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in August. Victoria is a healthcare economic consultant. sami Boulos is still living in Danvers and working for Suffolk Construction. He is a senior project engineer and has just finished a large addition and renovation at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He has begun work on his next project which is a cancer treatment center for Lawrence+Memorial Hospital in Waterford, Conn.

’04 Neil scott has moved to Washington, D.C., and taken

a job with the Republican Governors’ Association. He is the executive roundtable northeast region membership director. Neil has worked as finance director on several Massachusetts election campaigns. He is a graduate of Villanova. tom Kelliher is an audit manager in the Boston office of Ernst & Young. Tom has retired as an active rugby player after four years in a starting role on Bentley University’s championship teams. He is, however, able to work in Bentley’s annual rugby pub crawl into his busy schedule.

’05 dan ravens was married last June to his long-time girlfriend

Amanda Almeida. They met while working on Cape Cod in 2006. They have purchased their first home in Melrose and are excited to be starting their life together. Dan will graduate from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in May and will join the practice of his father and brother, michael ’98, Ravens Family Dental in Reading. Joe Boghos proposed to Monica Taylor over the holiday season and they are now planning a wedding in August, 2013 in Castine, Maine – a favorite vacation spot they’ve been

C L a s s N O t e s

2005 Classmates (L to R) Ian Merry, Conor Maguire, Spencer Slam, Drew LeBlanc, and Austin Carr came from all corners of the country for a mini-reunion last fall in Austin, Texas, and took in a UT basketball game.

PJ Mugford (left) and Rob Noe pay a visit to the Eagles Bookstore.

Good friends PJ mugford ’07 and rob Noe ’07, went into the custom t-shirt business while they were at the Prep. They were so successful that by sophomore year of college they had sold the business and invested the proceeds in a new custom clothing venture. Convinced that there was a market for school logowear from premium outfitters like Patagonia, the two started Custom Universe in 2009. With their line now sold at 80 college and university bookstores and revenue expected to hit $1 million this year, it looks like PJ and Rob’s instincts were right.

Not content to rest on the success of Custom Universe, in 2011 the two started a retail store in Nantucket. Capitalizing on the island location, the Sail Loft started out selling clothing designed for sailors and rowing enthusiasts. Successful once again, PJ and Rob quickly expanded the Sail Loft to offer a complete line of casual clothing and accessories for men and women. According to a December 2012 profile in The Boston Globe, the Sail Loft is considered “an essential stop for Nantucket’s preppy set.” Next up, the retail dynamos have their sights set on a second retail store, this time in Boston, and they’re thinking about starting their own line of clothing.


visiting for years. Joe and Monica met while they were working summer jobs on Cape Cod and maintained a long-distance relationship through college – him at B.C. , her at Elon. They are living on Beacon Hill in Boston and are very excited to start their lives together.

’06 Joseph Jasinski started his first journalism gig in August as a

sports writer for The Herald newspaper in Jasper, Ind., about an hour from where he went to college in Bloomington. He says, “So far, covering high school basketball in the Hoosier state has been a memorable experience for me.”

’07 John Howie has been promoted to associate in the corporate

strategy section of JP Morgan Chase in New York.

’08 James Hurlbert is living in Germany on a Fulbright

grant and traveling around Europe. Bo Burnham was included in the January 2013 Vanity Fair comedy issue which was guest edited by Judd Apatow. Bo was featured with other rising comics Apatow says are doing great work right now. You can also see a clip of Bo and the others on the Vanity Fair website.

’09 Christopher Leone is working on social media coverage for

the Global Rallycross Championship which runs racecars at X Games and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, among other places. Drivers include Tanner Foust (who also hosts Top Gear in the U.S.), Brian Deegan (a freestyle motocross legend), Ken Block (driver in the famous Gymkhana videos) and Travis Pastrana (who debuted at X Games in his teens and has raced everything from motocross to NASCAR). Chris’ posts can be found on their website, www.global-rallycross.com. andrew Hannigan backpacked through Brazil in February 2012, and was there for Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. He trekked through Chapada Diamantina National Park in central Brazil and spent a week in the Amazon. He is a senior at Dartmouth majoring in computer science and writing his senior theses in algorithm design. He is music director of his a capella group, the Dartmouth Cords. He’s enjoying his senior year including lots of pond hockey and skiing. Next year he will be working for MDT Advisers in Boston. Chris Fitzpatrick serves as president of the Boston College Model United Nations Club. This winter they hosted their inaugural conference for high school students. As former president of St. John’s Prep’s MUN, and the secretary-general at the 2009

SJPMUN Conference, he was delighted to welcome the Prep delegation to BC for this event.

’10 dan simeone is a communications and cinema

studies major at Northeastern University. He recently completed his first co-op job with Lunchpail Productions in South Boston. eric Clopper is physics and mathematical economics double major at Colgate University. He is working on a graduate level energy technology textbook at Harvard University and will spend the spring semester at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Just back from Australia is danny Walsh, who studied for a semester in Melbourne and then spent a month backpacking and living in the mountains of New Zealand. Danny is now in a co-op semester at Northeastern working as a bio-mechanical engineer and doing research and development on surgical devices in the field of sports medicine. He is also working with a startup non-profit called the B.Good Family Foundation through which local Boston runners fundraise with the help of a corporate sponsor, b.good, to run the Boston Marathon. Funds raised will provide grants to individuals who are

trying to effect positive change in the community.

’11 david Peters is a sophomore at Boston College majoring in

psychology and on a pre-medicine track. He’s hoping to go to medical school and become a pediatrician. David serves with the AHANA Leadership Council Volunteer Corps. He went to an academically low achieving part of Mississippi with that group to volunteer in schools and after-school programs, to learn first-hand about the education gap and education reform, and to host panel discussions about college and preparing for college at both a charter school where students are strongly considering college and a local public high school where most students are not even considering applying to college. He also volunteers weekly at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in the emergency department with the radiology team. He is a member of BC’s all-male step team called “SC”, a predominantly African-American step dance team which is perhaps the most popular performing arts group on campus. n

Bo Burnham ’08 (far left) as pictured in the January 2013 issue of Vanity Fair.


I N C L O s I N g

Reel Life with Ned Gubbins ’90F ilmmaker Ned Gubbins lives in

Paris, where he is at work on a new feature-length documentary about the American campaign finance system. His earlier life as a management consultant

in Washington, DC, and Paris was good preparation for making films, he says. And living abroad has broadened his perspective in all kinds of ways – intellectually, culturally, socially and gastronomically. We caught up with him and asked about his work.

How did you get into producing films? Deep inside, I knew I was interested in doing something creative. I found myself gravitating to film. My neighborhood was full of small theaters where you could see “Casablanca” or “North by Northwest” on the big screen, not to mention loads of French and foreign language films from around the world. A young director I had met at a dinner party asked me to play a role in her short film. As I got involved in the project, I started asking questions a consultant might ask. When she said she was looking for a producer, I realized that my consulting experiences – in particular being thrown onto a wide variety of projects and having to learn quickly and intuitively – could translate into being a film producer.

How do you find new projects? Some projects grow out of meeting a filmmaker and discussing common interests. In other cases, I am approached about specific projects. For example, a young filmmaker contacted me about a documentary on finding humor in the West Bank. The idea was to tell the story of how humor helps those living in a conflict zone cope with tragedy on a regular basis. She showed me some unusual, moving footage of Palestinians telling jokes, images in complete contrast to the ones hammered regularly into our heads in the media. The result was “(No) Laughing Matter,” which premiered in the U.S. at the Full Frame Festival in Durham, NC.

Other projects have grown out of simply wanting to help a fellow filmmaker. A good friend from college, Theresa Loong, asked me to help her produce “Every Day is Holiday,” a documentary about how her father survived as a POW in Japan during World War II and set out on a quest to become a citizen of the country that liberated him. The film was broadcast in 2012 on public television in the U.S.

What films appeal to you? I look for stories that move me personally, have not yet been told, or look at a subject from a refreshing new angle. I tend to look for projects that tell a deeper story, along the lines of long-form journalism. I also like films that are less conventionally journalistic and more cinematic in form.

Where do you live and what’s it like to be an american in Paris? I live on the Left Bank, in the 6th arrondissement, between Saint-Germain-des-Près and Montparnasse. It’s architecturally beautiful and chock full of interesting cafés, shops and restaurants, not to mention some great museums and gardens. There’s even a St. François Xavier metro stop

nearby to remind me of St. John’s on a regular basis. As a foreigner, you benefit from the décalage – the gap or contrast between your own culture and that of the country you’re living in. It forces you to defend, question or change your assumptions on a regular basis.

Is crowdfunding changing how films are financed today? I helped pioneer the use of crowdfunding to produce

“(No) Laughing Matter.” It has helped begin to democratize which documentaries are made by giving the audience the ability to fund stories they find compelling. It’s still a challenge to raise money for independent documentaries, but at least you have the option to crowdfund today. Perhaps it will develop in new and exciting ways, allowing for a greater diversity of films to get made.

any reflections on the Prep’s influence in your life? Although I enjoyed my classes at Harvard, I think some of the best teachers I ever had were at the Prep – passionate dedicated teachers who set the bar for excellence very high. Would I have been able to show up and get a job in Paris if I didn’t have outstanding French teachers like Mr. Nance and Mr. O’Loughlin? Would I have dared become a filmmaker if I didn’t have inspirational English teachers like Mr. Cimerol and Mr. Gilmore? The impact of these fantastic teachers is too far-reaching and too significant to quantify. n

In a cinematic note, Ned and his wife, Daphne, grew up in Manchester but never met until both were living in Paris. They married in 2010.

“Although I enjoyed my classes at Harvard, I think some of

the best teachers I ever had were at the Prep – passionate dedicated teachers who set the

bar for excellence very high.”


“It’s not who we are, it’s what we do that defines us. St. John’s Prep teaches things that the world has forgotten are important. How to shake someone’s hand, look the person in the eye, tell the truth, do the right thing when no one sees it. St. John’s provides an atmosphere where students learn to become men of character.”

– Tim Broderick ’05, SJP faculty member

Give to The Fund for St. John’s. Help provide the resources that will continue to transform the lives of young men from all walks of life every day.

Make your gift to The Fund for St. John’s online at www.stjohnsprep.org, call 800.292.0227, or send a check payable to St. John’s Prep to Office for Institutional Advancement, St. John’s Prep, 72 Spring Street, Danvers, MA 01923.

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Clockwise from top: The good luck balloon expresses the sentiment of the day as Paul Crehan, Gerald Kahari, Andrew Brandano, Justin Longo, Nicolas Gianelli, and Bryan Uva come together for a picture. n Nathaniel Cabral and Alexander Cain greet teachers along the path of the Commencement procession. n Nathaniel Ward and family before the Commencement ceremony. n Matthew Censullo ’14, Student Council president for 2013-2014, leads the Commencement procession.

Congratulations St. John’s Prep Class of 2013!

sjp today summer 2013

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