Fall 2009 Tolle Lege

FALL 2009

Tolle Lege! The St. Rita of Cascia High School

1

GOLF OUTING

2

PRESIDENT's letter

3-7

in the news

8-9

athletics

10

advancement

11

in memoriam

12

HOMECOMING

Summer State Title Wraps Up Successful Year for Baseball Team

T

he 2009 Season was a huge success for St. Rita of Cascia High School's Varsity Mustang Baseball team. Regular season play began with the Mustangs being ranked #1 in the area by three of the top local newspapers and 20th in the nation by Baseball America Magazine. ...Continue Reading on Page 8

The Mustang Summer Baseball Team gathers around their new trophy after capturing the State Title in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association's Phil Lawler Summer Classic tournament. The victory wrapped up an already successful year for the Mustangs who ended the regular season as Super Sectional Champions.

“Take Up and Read”

Alumni Magazine

34th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing Raises $26,500 to Assist Current St. Rita Students

T

he 34th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing, held Friday, July 24th, raised over $26,500. Over 260 alumni, family, and friends joined together at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont, IL for a wonderful day. This year's golf outing was one of the most successful in recent St. Rita of Cascia High School history. It was also the highest attended outing at St. Rita President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 joins a foursome on the golf course at the 34th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing that was held on July 24th. Gleneagles this year. This year's outing was one of the most successful in recent St. Rita history. The money raised will directly benefit students attending St. Rita. St. Rita currently offers The 35th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing over $900,000 annually in scholarships and will be held at Gleneagles next year. Golfers financial aid. should save the date for Friday, July 23, 2010.

Board Chairman Ernest Mrozek '71 Named St. Rita of Cascia High School Vice President

E

rnie Mrozek '71 has been named St. Rita of Cascia High School's new Vice President. Ernie, who has been a member of St. Rita's Board of Directors for the past three years, also took over as the Chairman of the

Board on July 1st. Upon graduating from St. Rita, Ernie went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a BS in Accounting in 1976. For 12 years Ernie worked at Arthur Anderson before he moved on to The ServiceMaster Company, a Fortune 500 company with annual revenues of over $3 billion. Ernie remained at ServiceMaster for over 20 years and was the President and Chief Operating Officer prior to his retirement over a year ago following the sale of the company. Ernie has been married for 35 years to his wife Diane and has two children, Maggie 26 and Matt 17. Mrozek is offering his services Pro Bono and will oversee long-term planning, school finances, the Office of Institutional AdPresident Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 is joined by new Vice vancement, and the Admissions Office. He will also be a mentor to the students. President and Chairman of the Board Ernie Mrozek '71.

1

Tolle Lege! is a publication of the St. Rita of Cascia High School Office of Institutional Advancement 7740 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60620 Telephone: (773) 925-5029 Fax: (773) 925-6582 E-mail: [email protected]

From the Desk of the President Fall 2009 Dear Ritamen & Friends:

St. Rita High School is sponsored by the Augustinian Order and has been serving the Chicagoland area since 1905.

105 - 23,207 - 707 - 1

Administration

No, these are not my lottery or Keno numbers! These are numbers that tell an awesome story. The awesome story that is St. Rita of Cascia High School.

Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 | President Mrs. Sally E. Deenihan | Principal Mr. Ernest J. Mrozek '71 | Vice President

Office of Institutional Advancement Mr. Joshua R. Blaszak '02 | Director of Public Relations Mrs. Trisha A. Harrington | Administrative Assistant Mr. John Schmitt '84 | Director of Annual Appeal Mr. Javier Solorio II '02 | Director of Graphic Design

Board of Directors Mr. James J. Brasher '71 Mr. Sean J. Carney '74 Dr. John Donahue, Ed.D., J.D. Mr. James Gagnard '64 Mr. Thomas M. Harrington '74, Ex-officio Mr. Thomas J. Healy '83 Bro. Gary Hresil, O.S.A. '86, Ex-officio Mr. Gregory J. Jania '89 Mr. Mark A. Kelly '84 Alderman Lona Lane, 18th Ward Very Rev. William Lego, O.S.A. , Ex-officio Mr. Timothy I. McArdle (Hon.) Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83, Ex-officio Mr. Ernest J. Mrozek '71, Chairman Mr. John O’Neill '79 The Honorable Noreen Daly Reilly Mr. Stephen M. Schaller '83 Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A. '83 Mr. Terrance R. Stefanski Mr. J. J. Wilczewski '92

We are entering our 105th academic year on the shoulders of the 23,207 Ritamen who have graduated with pride and helped make a difference in the world. Many of you reading this make up that impressive number. We have 707 students starting the 2009-2010 year from throughout the Southside of Chicago and every suburb imaginable and do not forget Indiana! All of us together make the 1 St. Rita Family. These are not just statistics, but rather each member tells a wonderful story about dedication, pride and tradition. All hallmarks of St. Rita High School. Thank you for all you do to add to the success of St. Rita. Thanks especially to all who helped us not only reach our 2008-2009 Annual Appeal goal of $643,650.00, but surpass it with $645,338.00 in an economy where every charity is down and some down considerably. This shows to me the pride and dedication of our Ritamen and friends. Let’s do it again this year! I am pleased to announce the new Vice President of St. Rita of Cascia High School, Mr. Ernest Mrozek of the Class of 1971. Ernie is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at St. Rita. Ernie has been very generous with his time, talent, and treasure and I am so grateful that he will be assisting me in making St. Rita an even better place for our young Ritamen of today and tomorrow! Welcome Ernie! You are always welcome here on campus. Stop by for a visit anytime. God Bless you all and may St. Rita powerfully intercede for us all! Sincerely,

Emeriti Members of the Board of Directors Mr. Ronald M. Abramowicz '60 Mr. Patrick E. Mahoney '54 Mr. Michael J. McArdle '54 Mr. James C. Miller '47 Mr. Donald A. Petkus '58 Mr. Edward J. Schmit '63 Mr. Michael Schneider '46 Mr. Arthur R. Velasquez '56

Secretary to the Board Ms. Vivian Oliva

Alumni Board of Advisors

2

Mr. Anthony J. Calarco '01 Mr. Nicholas A. Calarco '73 Mr. Sean J. Carney '74 Mr. Robert W. Gallagher '83 Mr. Richard Hochgraver '71 Mr. Michael Jilek '97 Mr. Sylvester Majka '64 Mr. Patrick J. O'Malley '77

Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 President

Calendar

September 3 Novena to St. Rita | 7:00 p.m. September 9 Ritamen Luncheon September 11 First Home Football Game vs. Br. Rice | 7:30 p.m. September 18 Homecoming Football Game vs. Fenwick | 7:30 p.m. September 20 Family Mass and Breakfast | 9:00 a.m. October 1 Novena to St. Rita | 7:00 p.m. October 9 Football Game vs. Providence Catholic | 7:30 p.m. October 21 President's Club Dinner

MUSTANG NEWS Mustangs Making News Students Initiate Annual Service Trip in Lawrence, Massachusetts

S

ummer vacation began for six St. Rita of Cascia High School students by taking volunteering to a different level. These students took part in St. Rita’s first ever weeklong Service Trip. The students, all members of St. Rita’s incoming senior class, traveled to Lawrence, Massachusetts for a week filled with various service opportunities, as well as reflection and education on volunteering. The students who participated were Jack Allen (St. John Fisher), Mike Basic (St. Mary Star of the Sea), Dan Dillon (Most Holy Redeemer), Kevin Handler (Queen of Martyrs), Roberto Hernandez (Nativity BVM), and Tom Riordan (St. Cajetan). The Service Trip, which St. Rita plans to continue annually, provided participants a chance to remove themselves from their everyday routines and become fully immersed in service. Each morning the young men began with prayer and traveled to worksites for the day. After the daily volunteer work was completed the group would gather together to reflect on what had taken place and discussed other issues related to their service. Organized under St. Rita’s Campus Ministry Office, Lawrence, Massachusetts was selected as the location for this 1st Annual Service Trip due to the vast amount of aid needed in that area. Lawrence is currently the 23rd poorest city in the United States. The Order of St. Augustine, which St. Rita is a part, also has a presence in the Lawrence community. Thus, the students had a strong connection to those they were assisting. The students took on many different tasks during the trip. They assisted partnering organizations in whatever ways necessary. Time was spent tutoring and mentoring boys at Blessed Stephen Bellesini O.S.A. Academy, a private, independent Catholic middle school dedicated to providing a quality, scholarship education to boys from limited financial means living in Lawrence. Other volunteer time was spent assisting with projects at Lazarus House Ministries and serving meals at the Cor Unum Meal Center. The development of the Service Trip opportunity was led by the Director of Campus Ministry, Mrs. Vicki Blaszak, and Campus Ministry’s Augustinian Volunteer, Ms. Meghan Fitzgerald. The Campus Ministry Office is working to offer a range of volunteering opportunities to St. Rita students in order to spiritually enlighten

St. Rita students and faculty assisted at the Cor Unum Meal Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts as part of St. Rita’s 1st Annual Service Trip. Back row from left: Director of Public Relations/Mathematics Teacher Mr. Josh Blaszak '02, Dan Dillon ’10 (Most Holy Redeemer), Augustinian Volunteer Mr. Joe Toomey, Roberto Hernandez ’10 (Nativity BVM), Mike Basic ’10 (St. Mary Star of the Sea), Jack Allen ’10 (St. John Fisher), and Tom Riordan ’10 (St. Cajetan). Front row from left: Kevin Handler ’10 (Queen of Martyrs), Director of Campus Ministry Mrs. Vicki Blaszak, and Augustinian Volunteer Ms. Meghan Fitzgerald.

and educate them, while at the same time connect them to those in surrounding communities and abroad. “It was great to see our students move beyond their comfort zone and commit to helping others for an extended period of time. It’s easy to get caught up in our daily routines, so the challenge of living as a community and putting our faith into action for an entire week will hopefully help bring about a deeper understanding of our Augustinian values,” said Mrs. Blaszak. “We hope that our young men have recognized the face of God in people from all walks of life and will continue to serve others as we are all called to do as Christians,” she said. The 1st Annual Service Trip took place May 31st through June 6th. The students were accompanied by Mrs. Blaszak, Ms. Fitzgerald, Director of Public Relations/Mathematics Teacher Mr. Josh Blaszak '02 and Augustinian Volunteer Mr. Joe Toomey. Everyone who participated, including the faculty, found the week to be extremely rewarding and educational. Following the trip’s success, plans are already underway for the 2nd Annual Service Trip.

Two Longtime Faculty Members Retire

T

wo of St. Rita of Cascia High School's most well-known and longtime faculty members began a new chapter in their lives as they retired from teaching following the 2008-2009 Academic Year. Biology teacher Mr. Robert Gasiecki and Business/Computer teacher Mr. Richard

Veritas † Unitas † Caritas

Grill '64 each spent their careers educating thousands of students at St. Rita. Together they contributed a total of 79 years of dedicated service to St. Rita, Mr. Gasiecki with 38 years and Mr. Grill with 41 years. The St. Rita family thanks them and wishes them the best of luck and God's blessings as they begin their retirement.

Mr. Robert Gasiecki St. Rita Teacher 38 Years

Mr. Richard Grill '64 St. Rita Teacher 41 Years

3

IN THE NEWS

From the Director of the Annual Appeal Fall 2009

Dear Alumni and Benefactors:

I sincerely thank you for your loyal support to St. Rita of Cascia High School. It is your loyal support that has once again allowed us to reach and surpass the goal of our Annual Appeal. I hope and pray that you realize how important you are to the great success of our fine school. St. Rita High School succeeded in raising $645,388 for the 2008-2009 Annual Appeal. This is an amazing example of the true dedication all of you have to St. Rita. In these trying times, where reports shows that charitable gifts have decreased, the St. Rita Annual Appeal has experienced over 5% growth. This is a tribute to our Alumni and all our benefactors for their loyalty in keeping St. Rita a priority with their charitable giving. As the Director of the Annual Appeal, I can say with certainty that the Annual Appeal is the lifesource of the school. Each and every year is a challenge, but your gifts truly make the difference. The success of the Annual Appeal helps us to award over $900,000 annually in scholarships and financial aid to our current students. As we begin a new academic year, we continue to need your help! Please consider a gift to the 2009-2010 Annual Appeal, which will help us continue our mission to provide the premier Catholic education on the Southside of Chicago. Sincerely, May God Bless you and your family!



John Schmitt ‘84 Director of the Annual Appeal

73rd Annual Alumni Banquet Brings Over 600 Attendees to Campus

F

or the second consecutive year, over 600 Ritamen and their guests gathered on campus at St. Rita of Cascia High School for the 73rd Annual Alumni Banquet and Class Reunion. This installment attracted huge turnouts from the anniversary classes and featured a stellar collection of honorees. The golden Mustang class of 1959 was 90 men strong at the reunion, and they looked sharp as they enjoyed their private cocktail hour in matching letterman sweatshirts, specially conceived this year by Don Baldinelli '59, who was also a Loyalty Award winner that evening. Mr. Baldinelli joined many other Ritamen on stage to accept honors for their dedicated service to the school. Fellow Loyalty Award winners were Hen-

Legacy Scholarships

ry “Butch” Bianco '59, Chris Larkin '84, and Alex Zaleski '84. Athletic Awards were presented to four 1984 classmates – Mark Kelly, Mark McGowan, Gregory Pastorek, and Jeffrey Schaaf. Hall of Fame Inductees included Robert Craig '49, Joe Gorman '81, McAlister Merchant '61, Curtis Price '88, and Ronald Kaleta '59 (dec.), whose family was in strong attendance to receive the award on his behalf. Legendary coaches Jack Quinn and Gene Schaller were also inducted into the Hall. Several other honors took place during the spectacular evening. Current Director of Admissions and Varsity Hockey Coach Craig Ferguson was made an Honorary Alumnus, Nick Calarco '73 was presented with the Crest of St. Augustine Award for his faithful service to the school, and Mike

Georgopulos was the 2009 Man of the Year. Each honoree was highlighted in a custom video presentation, created by Director of Graphic Design Javier Solorio II '02 and narrated by Dean of Men John Nee '93. The video included a welcome from Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83, President of St. Rita, as he was traveling in Italy with the Mustang Band during the banquet. Each honoree was featured with a personalized slideshow and voice-over biography, and Man of the Year Mike Georgopulos pre-taped his touching acceptance speech. The production was a huge hit, and can be viewed in its entirety at www.stritahs.com/ alumni/banquet. The 74th Annual Alumni Banquet will once again be held on campus. Save the date for Friday, April 16, 2010.

For 105 years St. Rita of Cascia High School has been providing a tradition of excellence in education. This tradition has led to student ACT scores rising each of the past 5 years. Encourage family members to continue the tradition. Students who have a father, grandfather, or great-grandfather (maternal or paternal), who is a graduate of St. Rita or Mendel Catholic High School, are eligible for a $1,000 Legacy Scholarship for their first year at St. Rita. Over 25% of the students in St. Rita's current freshman class are benefiting from these scholarships. For Scholarship Details, Contact Craig Ferguson - Director of Admissions | (773) 925-7482.

4

TOLLE LEGE! FALL 2009

IN THE NEWS Class of 2009 Earns Over $10.6 Million in Merit-Based Scholarships

Valedictorian Daniel K. Moore

O

n Sunday, May 17th, 167 Ritamen walked across the Sanctuary of the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel to become St. Rita's newest alumni as commencement exercises for the Class of 2009 were held. 97% of the graduates from the Class of 2009 will be attending college this year, as others are entering the armed forces, trade schools and the work force. St. Rita sent forth students who are enrolling in schools such as the University of Notre Dame, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Chicago, and Villanova University. Collectively, graduates of the class earned over $10.6 million in merit-based scholarships.

Salutatorian Benjamin G. Richardson On Sunday, May 17th, 167 Ritamen became alumni as commencement exercises for the Class of 2009 were held on campus. The Class of 2009 earned over $10.6 million in merit-based scholarships. 18% were named Illinois State Scholars.

The Class of 2009 also had 61 members in the National Honor Society, 30 members or 18% of the class named as Illinois State Scholars, and 43 members recognized with United States Presidential Education Awards. Valedictorian Daniel K. Moore (St. John Fisher) will be attending the University of Chicago this fall. Dan was on the Gold Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society, a Heeney Award recipient, an Illinois State Scholar, a recipient of the United States Presidential Education Award, and was named to the

IHSA All-State Academic Team. During his four years Dan was also very active in athletics and activities. He was a member of the Mustang Swimming team, Scholastic Bowl team, Math team, Theatre Group, Cascian yearbook, and was the Editorin-Chief of The Ritan student newspaper. During his commencement address, Dan recalled his time at St. Rita and spoke of what he will remember most as he moves forward on life's journey. He said, "When I look back on my experiences at St. Rita, many things come to mind: the high

caliber of our achievements, the challenges we had to overcome, and the journeys we prepared to embark upon. The biggest thing that comes to mind though is the St. Rita Family. One of the most important things St. Rita has taught me is how to appreciate people. I truly believe we are all a family." Salutatorian Benjamin G. Richardson (St. Bernadine) will also be attending the University of Chicago in the Fall. Ben was on the Gold Honor Roll, a Heeney Award recipient, a member of the National Honor Society, an Illinois State Scholar, and a recipient of the United States Presidential Education Award.

North American Augustinian Friars Attend Convocation in Illinois

A

ugustinian Friars from all across the four Provinces in North America recently joined together as one in St. Charles, IL to celebrate being Augustinian. Over 200 Friars were in attendance for the 2009 Convocation held from June 8th-12th. This event was the largest ever gathering of its kind for the North American Augustinians. Over 200 Augustinians were present June 8th-12th at the Convocation of Augustinian Friars from the four North American Provinces.

Become of member of the 1905 Guild. Remember St. Rita of Cascia High School in your Estate Planning.

For information on assisting St. Rita through your estate plan and becoming a member of the 1905 Guild, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (773) 925-5029. Veritas † Unitas † Caritas

5

IN THE NEWS Student Receives Scholarship Founded in Honor of St. Rita Principal

M

att Goosherst, a member of the Class of 2010 at St. Rita of Cascia High School, was recently chosen as the recipient of the Sally Deenihan Mathematics Scholarship, a scholarship founded by Jason Carney '01 in May 2008. Goosherst, a graduate of St. John Fisher School, was chosen for this $1,000 tuition scholarship based on his essay about the importance of mathematics in preparation for college. Goosherst is an exceptional student, having made the Gold Honor Roll each of his first six semesters, and currently holds a 4.88 GPA. He has also been very involved in the resurgence of the St. Rita Theater Group, and has performed in A Few Good Men and Cotton Patch Gospel. Upon receiving news of the scholarship, Matt said, “I’m very happy and lucky to have been chosen as a recipient of this award. Thank you to Mrs. Deenihan and Mr. Carney.” Carney was also an exceptional student during his time at St. Rita, earning a perfect 36 on the Mathematics portion of his ACT. He benefited from Mrs. Deenihan’s tutelage in his junior and senior years, was a member of the National Honor Society, and played on the Varsity Baseball team. After graduating from St. Rita, Carney attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a degree in Finance & Economics in 2005. Carney worked for three years with Accenture Consulting as a Business Consultant, and in September 2008 he was accepted into the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the top-ranked MBA program in the country.

Carney’s success speaks to his strong roots at St. Rita, and his willingness to give back signals his fond remembrance of his time here. Mrs. Sally Deenihan, for whom this scholarship is named, is in her 25th year of service at St. Rita. She was named Principal in 2007, the first female principal of St. Rita or any Augustinian high school. Deenihan's previous roles at St. Rita include Vice President of Academic Affairs and Math and Science Division Chair. She also continues to teach the AP Calculus course. Deenihan’s husband Brian D. was a 1960 graduate, and her three sons also passed through Rita’s halls: Brian P. '88, Patrick '90, and Brendan '91. Deenihan congratulated Goosherst on his hard work and said, “It is a great honor for

me personally to have a scholarship established in my name. Jason was a pleasure to have in class, and everyone here at St. Rita is proud of his continued success. Matt is a great candidate for this scholarship, and I look forward to having him in class this year. The tradition of Ritamen giving back to their alma mater is paramount in our ability to continue to offer an excellent Catholic education to these young men.” The Sally Deenihan Mathematics Scholarship is one of many scholarship and financial aid plans offered by St. Rita High School, as each year over $900,000 is provided to students in need, to close the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating a student. Over 58% of St. Rita students receive some sort of financial support, which makes programs like this so important.

Matt Goosherst, a member of St. Rita's Class of 2010 , was recently chosen as the recipient of the Sally Deenihan Mathematics Scholarship, a scholarship fund founded by Jason Carney '01. Goosherst is congratulated by Principal Sally Deenihan and President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83.

Do you know a young man who would like to be on St. Rita’s mailing list? You are St. Rita’s best recruiters! Alumni are an invaluable part of passing on the tradition of St. Rita High School, as well as introducing new people to the excellent Augustinian education and family atmosphere we have been offering for 105 years. If you know a young man who will be looking to make his high school choice in the next few years, do him a favor and fill out this form and return it to us in the Appeal envelope. It could be a son, grandson, great-grandson, nephew, younger brother, or neighbor. Thank you for believing in our great school and the mission of Catholic education!

6

Your Name Student Name Student Address Student Phone Grammar School Grade Level

IN THE NEWS Six Students Honored for Roles in Youth Leadership

St. Rita Theater Group Presents Cotton Patch Gospel Musical

O

R

n Sunday, April 26th, six students from St. Rita of Cascia High School were honored at the 6th Annual Vicariate V Youth Leadership Awards Banquet at Lexington House in Hickory Hills. The event was presided over by Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Vicar for Vicariate V. The Youth Leadership Awards recognize a young person’s active participation in the life of the Church through Parish and Catholic High School programs. The students who represented St. Rita at the Awards Banquet were Brian Allen '09 (Palos South JHS), Kevin Handler '10 (Queen of Martyrs), Frank Herrera '09 (St. John Fisher), Daniel Moore '09 (St. John Fisher), Thomas Murphy '10 (St. Cajetan), and Benjamin Richardson '09 (St. Bernardine). Students were honored in ten categories for Youth Ministry throughout the Vicariate. Moore and Murphy received their awards for Prayer and Worship, which means they participate in the setting

of Liturgical celebrations, in roles such as Lector or Eucharistic Minister. Richardson received his award for Community Service and Social Justice, which is for teens who have shown commitment and dedication to participation in service in areas such as soup kitchens or mission trips. Handler received his award for Community Life, for building relationships rooted in Gospel values, and Allen and Herrera received their awards for Peer Ministry, for their role as leaders on the Kairos retreat. Aside from the awards presentation by Bishop Gustavo, the evening also featured introductory remarks from Maria (Cooky) Perez-Eraci, Coordinator of Youth Ministry for Vicariate V, as well as portions of Witness of Faith essays that were submitted by some recipients. Brian Allen was chosen to read a portion of his essay. The evening celebrated those youth in Vicariate V that are actively involved in promoting the service-oriented message of Christ, and make their surrounding communities better in the process.

St. Rita senior Brian Allen (Palos South JHS), receives an award in Peer Ministry from Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S at the Vicariate V Youth Leadership Awards Banquet. Also pictured is Kevin Handler '10 (Queen of Martyrs) who received an award for Community Life. Veritas † Unitas † Caritas

ecently, St. Rita of Cas- Cloonan’s precise picking on the cia High School’s Theater banjo and mandolin. Group ventured into new Creative set design allowed the territory with their performance cast to make the most of their of the musical Cotton Patch Gos- props, including benches with pel, with music and lyrics by Harry special extensions that could transChapin. form them into a church archway Cotton Patch Gospel retells the or a rowboat. Jesus narrative in modern times, The play was directed by Mr. specifically rural Georgia. John Tolley, who has many years So, clad in jeans and a flannel of experience putting on high shirt, senior Mike Kennedy’s Je- school plays. Rita faculty member sus was humble in appearance but Ms. Lauren Condon served as Asauthoritative in his performance. sistant Director, with Mrs. Krista He evoked emotion in his solitary Joyce as vocal coach. moments of anguish, and inspired St. Rita’s performance of Cotton exhilaration while leading the Patch Gospel was energetic and incompany in song. spired. The cast put their all into Narrating the show was Mat- the musical numbers, softly acthew, played by stage veteran se- centing quiet pieces like “You Are nior Dan Moore. Moore was the Still My Boy”, and then jubilantly perfect choice for lead role, as his proclaiming their faith in songs experience kept the action moving like “We Gotta Get Organized”. and the timing precise. His vocals It was a bold new step for the showed the depth and range of maturing thespian program, and someone well beyond their first sets the bar high for next year’s acmusical performance. tors. The rest of the company, led by senior Kyel White and Whitney Young senior Paxton Bahr, provided choral support and often played more than one character, ranging from a murderous mayor to faithful fisherman. The tunes were mostly upbeat bluegrass, provided by several talented student musicians who were set up on the stage itself The company sings the energetic tune “Spitball” from Harry behind a couple Chapin’s Cotton Patch Gospel. From left: Jack Howard ’10 (St. John of hay bales. Fisher), David Straple ’09 (St. Germaine), Matt Goosherst ’10 (St. Of particular John Fisher), and Colleen McGarry ’09 (Mother McAuley). Back: note was Jack Michael Kennedy ’09 (Incarnation).

7

ATHLETIC NEWS Hockey Team Wins Back-to-Back Kennedy Cup Championships

F

or the second year in a row, under the leadership of Head Coach Craig Ferguson (Hon.), St. Rita of Cascia High School's Varsity Hockey team won the prestigious Kennedy Cup Championship. The Mustangs defeated the Fenwick Friars to become St. Rita's first-ever back-to-back Kennedy Cup Champs. This season the Mustangs also made it to the Illinois Final 4 and were regular season Chicago Catholic League Champions.

Volleyball Team Captures Their First-Ever Catholic League Title

T

he Varsity Mustang Volleyball team completed a very successful season this spring as they captured St. Rita of Cascia High School's first-ever Chicago Catholic League Championship in the sport. The Mustangs defeated St. Ignatius College Prep on Saturday, May 23rd to claim the CCL Title. After upsetting tournament favorite Loyola that Friday, the fifth-seeded Mustangs dropped their first game to St. Ignatius, however rallied to eventually knock-off host team St. Ignatius. It was a excellent finish for the Mustangs who entered into the season on a strong note, as preseason they were ranked 40th on ESPN Rise's list of the top 100 teams in the nation.

8

TOLLE LEGE! Fall 2009

Summer State Title Wraps Up Successful Year for Baseball Team Continued from Page 1

As the season continued the Mustangs lived up to the high expectations. They dominated game after game and made it all the way to the State Championship, a first in St. Rita Baseball history. After defeating Sandburg High School in the IHSA Super Sectional, the Mustangs took on New Trier High School for the State Title at Silver Cross Field on June 13th. They played aggressively and left it all on the field. However, New Trier pulled off a 4-3 upset. Mark Payton '10 was named as the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year. His offensive output helped power the Mustangs to the 4A State Title game. Payton was just one of many standouts on a team chock-full of raw talent. Payton was later also named the Jack Kaiser MVP of the Summer State Championship Game. While the Mustangs came up just short of winning their first-ever regular season State Championship, they came back in the summer to defeat Sandburg once again in the Phil Lawler Classic Summer State Championship game. The Mustangs took home the title after a 9-0 victory. This is the 2nd time in St. Rita history baseball has won the Summer State Title.

Basketball Program Announces Gary DeCesare as Head Coach

S

t. Rita of Cascia High School made a big splash in the basketball world recently, when the school announced the hiring of a new Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Gary DeCesare. The announcement came on the heels of another big move at St. Rita, the naming of long-time Head Varsity Baseball Coach and Development Officer Mike Zunica (Hon.) to the position of Athletic Director. DeCesare has a long history with the sport of basketball, and a great reputation for success. He spent 16 seasons as the Head Coach of St. Raymond High School in the Bronx, New York, his hometown. Following his time at St. Raymond, DeCesare moved on to the college arena as an assistant coach for the University of Richmond. Most recently he spent four years as the Associate Head Coach of the DePaul University Blue Demons. DeCesare has also joined the St. Rita family as a full-time staff member. He will serve as the Assistant Director of Admissions.

ATHLETIC NEWS St. Rita Mustangs Kick Off the 2009 Football Season in Portage, IN

T

he 2009 Football Season officially began on August 29th with the Mustangs of St. Rita of Cascia High School taking on the Indians of Portage High School in Portage, IN. With thousands in attendance, the Mustangs took on one of the largest high schools in Indiana at their stadium known as the “warpath.” All three Mustang levels were victorious with Varsity winning 35-20. While the Portage game kicked off the regular season schedule, the Mustangs actually began their preseason preparations with an overnight team building experience. “The captains asked me if we could have an overnight in which we could take part in a number of team activities to bring the team together,” said Head Varsity Coach Todd Kuska '90. “It worked out well. All of the kids and coaches had a great time. We definitely came together as a team throughout the experience.” With a united spirit, the Mustangs have once again set out to attain several season goals. They hope to start the season off as a winning team and win the Chicago Catholic League Blue Championship, as they did last year. In addition, St. Rita hopes to get another shot at bringing home a State Championship.

“We hope we accomplish all our goals this year, but we also understand that there may be bumps in the road to a championship. It is our job to overcome those obstacles and work towards achieving our goals,” said Coach Kuska. Entering the season, the Varsity Mustangs were ranked 1st in the “Southland” by the Southtown Star and 6th in the Chicagoland area by the Chicago SunTimes. This year’s Mustangs are led by senior captains Joe Campagna, Kyle Jachim, Ronnie McNamara, and Jake O’Dea. Senior Bruce Gaston, a big-time college prospect, is returning this season and will be a key player for St. Rita on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side, a returning starter is lineman senior Tim Ladd. The leading rusher is junior Jahwon Akui, who also contributed to team’s success last season. The new season has also brought about the addition of two members to the coaching staff. Dan Cepek ’81, who had been coaching the linebackers at Driscoll Catholic High School for the past 8 years, and Tim Stratton, a 2001 graduate of Purdue University will be assisting the Mustangs with coaching this season. As the season moves ahead, Coach Kuska commented on his expectations for

the football program as he said, “For me personally and for our coaching staff, our hope is that every player has some great experiences and walks away with more than just trophies and accolades. We ultimately want to win championships, but we all realize the importance of each of our players improving as both a student and athlete.” Fans will not only be able to support the Mustangs in person, but they can also view a couple games on television. This year’s game vs. Br. Rice on September 11th will be televised on MeTV. The game vs. Mt. Carmel is slated as the “National High School Rivalry Game of the Week” and will be available on CBS College Sports October 2nd.

2009 Varsity Football Schedule Saturday

August 29

6:00 p.m.

@ Portage, IN vs. Portage High School

Friday

September 4

7:30 p.m.

@ Morris Community High School

Friday

September 11 7:30 p.m.

vs. Brother Rice (14th Ward Celebration)

Friday

September 18 7:30 p.m.

vs. Fenwick (Homecoming)

Friday

September 25 7:30 p.m.

@ Bishop McNamara

Friday

October 2

7:00 p.m.

@ Gately Stadium vs. Mount Carmel

Friday

October 9

7:30 p.m.

vs. Providence Catholic (Senior Night)

Saturday

October 17

1:00 p.m.

@ University of Chicago vs. St. Ignatius College Prep

Saturday

October 24

1:00 p.m.

@ Loyola Academy

Friday

October 30

7:00 p.m.

IHSA Playoffs

VERITAS UNITAS CARITAS

9

ADVANCEMENT Moriarity Foundation Assists Student Tuition

Dolores M. McGowan Scholarship Fund Will Provide Years of Future Assistance

R

T

ecently, St. Rita of Cascia High School was presented with a $2000 donation by The Andy Moriarity Foundation. Mike Moriarity '99, co-founder of the foundation, presented St. Rita President, Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83, with the contribution in memory of his brother Andy Moriarity, a 1998 graduate of St. Rita. Andy passed away in a car accident on March 5, 2005. Following Andy’s death, Mike along with two of Andy’s longtime friends and classmates, Keith Bernard '98 and Mike Cavanaugh '98, established The Andy Moriarity Foundation to assist families in need at St. Rita and in the Beverly neighborhood. In 2007 the foundation began hosting an annual softball benefit to support its mission. This year the 3rd Annual Andy Moriarity 16” Softball Tournament was held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Kennedy Park in Chicago. This is the second year in a row the Andy Moriarity Foundation has been able to make a contribution to St. Rita for student tuition assistance.

hankfully, for many years to come numerous students, who may not have otherwise been able to, will now receive the excellent education and experience offered at St. Rita of Casica High School. This opportunity has been made possible thanks to Mrs. Dolores M. McGowan. Following Mrs. McGowan's sudden death this past April the Dolores M. McGowan Memorial Scholarship Fund was established. All who knew Mrs. McGowan were aware of her love for St. Rita. In fact, Mrs. McGowan openly expressed her love for and loyalty to St. Rita for four decades. She was the wife of Jack (Hon.), mother of John '78, Steve '81, Mark '84, and Denise, a former St. Rita Varsity Cheerleader, and grandmother of Drew '08, Ryan '11, Steve '07, Matt '10, and Jake '13. When Mrs. McGowan passed away,

her family found it fitting to request that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to St. Rita in order to provide for student scholarship assistance. As a result of the family's request, over $18,000 was donated to St. Rita by those whose lives were touched by Mrs. McGowan. This overwhelming outpouring of generosity prompted Mrs. McGowan's immediate family to think of a way they could continue her legacy for many years to come. Thus, the McGowan family met with Mr. John Schmitt '84, Director of the Annual Appeal and a lifelong friend of Mark, to discuss how they could continuously help St. Rita students in Mrs. McGowan's memory. The McGowan family decided that in addition to immediately dispersing assistance to current students, they will commit to giving another $5000 each year to the Dolores M. McGowan Scholarship Memorial Fund.

Volleyball Program Receives Donation in Memory of Rita Alum Jack Pazier '53

E MASS CARDS & SPECIAL INTENTIONS Mass Cards and Special Intentions are available through the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel. Contact Ms. Vivian Oliva (773) 925-6600 ext. 6623

Keeping Track 10

TOLLE LEGE! FALL 2009

dward Pazier recently visited St. Rita of Cascia High School to present President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 with a $500 donation in memory of his father Jack "Gooch" Pazier '53. Jack passed away on March 25, 2009 and in lieu of flowers his family made a request that donations be made to St. Rita. A longtime resident of Marquette Park, Jack attended both grammar school and high school at St. Rita. Following high school, he went on to serve in the Korean War and later worked in various businesses.

Throughout his lifetime, Jack would gather regularly with his St. Rita classmates from the Marquette Park area. The donation made in Jack's memory will directly benefit the Mustang Volleyball Program, as Jack was a proud supporter of volleyball, especially when his son Edward played.

We want to hear from you! Do you have any news you would like to share in a future publication about a new job, a recent marriage or birth, retirement, etc? Please send us updates and pictures. St. Rita of Cascia High School Office of Institutional Advancement 7740 S. Western Ave. | Chicago, IL 60620 | [email protected]

Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A. 1955 - 2009

In Memoriam The St. Rita of Cascia High School Office of Institutional Advancement has been notified of the following deaths of Alumni, family members, and/or friends. Sympathies are expressed to the families of the following: Rev. William Murphy 1933 Frank Michaels 1936 Raymond Quinn 1936 Leonard Heinz 1938 Ed Liebner 1939 George W. Barenz 1940 Al Steffek 1940 Daniel Calandriello 1941 Robert Sapp 1942 William F. O'Connor 1943 Francis "Bud" Rebedeau 1943 John Lynch 1944 Robert Schneider 1945 George Plahm 1946 John Halinkski 1948 Ernest Tisil 1948 John Zuraff 1948 Robert Miller 1949

Dr. James Lauraitis 1950 Cousin of Tom Lauraitis '55 Ronald Patterson 1950 Joseph Fedor 1953 Brother of Charles '49 and George '50 Robert Fleckenstein 1953 Larry Murray 1953 John Pazier 1953 Thomas Baranowski 1954 James Casey 1954 Patrick Carney 1955 Roy Putlack 1955 Michael Kanka 1956 Charles Ptacek 1956 Robert Zegadlo 1956 Richard Dyczkowski 1957 John Gorecki 1959 Brother of Jim '66, father of Aaron '96, and cousin of David '67 and Zefin '70

Frank Higgins 1959 Richard Guido 1960 Michael Stawczyk 1960 Father of Mike '86 and Jason '93 Terry Murphy 1961 William Haas 1962 Jim O'Neill 1966 Father of Jim '98 Greg Ohner 1968 Joseph Burke 1971 Brother of Dan '70 and Alderman Ed Burke Henry Surma 1972 Stephen Rickard 1974 David Mernin 1975 John Knerr 1977 Michael Mernin 1979 Arturo Velasquez (Honorary) Father of Art '56, Ed '68, and grandfather of Ed '95

Elizabeth Adduci, grandmother of Frank Herrera ’09 Charlotte Alaksiewicz, mother of Jerome ’57 and the late

Patti Higgins, friend of St. Rita Assistant Principal Joe Partacz Harry and Doreen Hoffman, uncle and aunt of St. Rita Director

Deborah Alford, former St. Rita librarian Joan Atencio, aunt of former St. Rita faculty member Mike

Willie Holmes, grandfather of Jason Holmes ’11 Betty Hughes, grandmother of Mike Martin ’09 Ludivico Izzo, grandfather of St. Rita Director of Campus

Stanley ’61 Brennan

Barbara Wynn Bansley, grandmother of David Maroney ’06 Ray Bartasius, father of Andrew ’12 Annette Basso, aunt of Bill Kazlauskas ’65 and great-aunt of Bill ’98

Bruce Blair, father of John ’98 and Steve ’02 Wybrand Bostrom, grandfather of Brian ’04 Jack Callahan III, grandson of Jack ’56, great-nephew of Gene

’59, and the late Jerry ’63 Robert Creighton, husband of former St. Rita faculty member Mary Ellen Nancy Crotty, mother of David ’77, grandmother of John ’07 Loretta Czierwzycki, great-grandmother of Chris Powell ’10 Bill Deiters, father of St. Walter Deacon Jim and grandfather of Mark ’98 Pat Dilger, wife of Al Dilger ’42 Dora Dineff, grandmother of David ’04 Mary Doorhy, mother of Martin ’73 Clifton Eirspar, uncle of Brad Widdel ’11 Mary Fagan, great-grandmother of Joe Welter ’03 Santiago Favela, father of Kevin ’10 John Ferguson, father-in-law of Kevin Prunty ’95 Harlan Fisk, father of former St. Rita faculty member Justin Fisk Maureen Conroy Fitzgerald, friend of St. Rita friend Pat McCabe Dr. Robert Foley, father-in-law of Tony Colosimo ’63 Jeannette Foran, sister of Joe Liebner ’41 and the late Ed Liebner ’39

Rev. Mark Garrett, O.S.A. Donna Gergits, wife of Joe ’54 Timothy Golden, uncle of Dan ’09, Mike ’10, and Tom ’12 Rev. Gisley Azevedo Gomes, friend of former St. Rita staff member Sr. Barb Kwiatkowski, O.F. John Grahovec, brother of the late Ed Grahovec ’51 Robert Hajnacki, father of Bill ’89 Mary Ellen Harling, mother of Chuck ’84 Ruth Harrington, grandmother of Connor Taff ’10 Rose Headtke, aunt of Martin ’77 Josh Hernandez, friend of the Kennedy family

of Security Dan Hoffman and Dan ’01

Ministry Vicki Izzo Blaszak

Sr. James Jeffers, D.C. Dave Johnson, brother-in-law of St. Rita Maintenance

Engineer Pat Mitchell Jason Kazmierczak, son of Jim ’76, nephew of Ray Ulrich ’74 Mary Kelly, aunt of St. Rita President Rev. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83 and great-grandmother of Adam Hodorowich ’09 Mary Kennedy, grandmother of Conor LePrete ’11 Rose Kenny, mother of Brad ’85 Charles Kipp (Hon.), father of Bill ’66, Charles ’67, Ed ’73, Rich ’77, Mark ’79, grandfather of David ’03 and Ray ’10 Keith Knapp, grandfather of Connor Jack Kolimas, father of Paul ’86 Sue Kordas, sister-in-law of Tom '75 and Jim '91 and aunt of Kevin '08 and Marty '10 Donald Kriz, father of Mitch ’06 Bernice Krukones, mother of Dr. Michael ’62 and Dr. James ’69 Claire Kuchay, wife of Stanley '42

Sr. Gilmary Lawlor, O.S.A. Alexander Lazowski, father of John ’83 Jerry Lockie, former St. Rita teacher Ray Lucchetti, father of John ’69 John MacAskill, father of Sean ’03 and Patrick ’07, cousin

of St. Rita President Rev. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, and brother-in-law of Tom Pavletic ’66

Sr. Mary James Madigan, D.C. Eileen Maher, sister of Mike Burke ’82 & aunt of Mike Burke ’11 Edward Marks, father of Joseph ’65 and Jerrold ’70 Mary Martensen, mother of James ’66 Tom and Art McCabe, brother of St. Rita friends Don and Pat

McCabe

Dolores McGowan, wife of Jack (Hon.), mother of John ’78, Steve ’81, Mark ’84, & Denise (former SR Cheerleader), & grandmother of Drew ’08, Ryan ’11, Steve ’07, Matt ’10, & Jake ’13 John McGovern, father of Jack ’75 and Jim ’76 Michael McGrath, father of Dan ’11 Charlene McLaughlin, wife of former St. Rita Fathers’ Club President Charles, mother of Tim ’73, Mike ’75, and Dan ’85,

Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A. entered eternal life July 26, 2009, after a four-year health struggle. He professed solemn vows with the Augustinians December 31, 1982. Fr. Schweifler is remembered by many for his time as a St. Rita High School teacher from 1980-81. He went on to spend many more years in education. Eventually he became the Associate Pastor of St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, IL in 2001, where he remained until his death.

and grandmother of Dan ’09 Peter Melone, father of Timio ’90 and Edward ’93 Rev. Ed Meurder, uncle of St. Rita faculty member Todd Kuska ’90 Tom Monahan, grandfather of Mike Diana ’11

Rev. George Morgan, O.S.A. Bill Moroney, grandfather of Sean Moroney ’10 Philip Nowicki, father of Ben ’01 Mary O’Gorman, mother of Kevin ’85 Rony Oliva, brother of St. Rita Admin. Assistant Vivian Oliva Eleanor O’Toole, wife of Jim ’41 Joseph Qualter, uncle of Rich ’09 and Tom ’10 Margaret Pawlowski, mother of Charles ’73 Kenneth Pederson, grandfather of Bob Gallagher ’11 Joseph Petkus, father of Joe ’67 Mary Phillips, aunt of Dan Schergen ’10 LaVerne Plichta, mother-in-law of former St. Rita faculty

member Lisa (O’Connor) Plichta Mary Prendergast, grandmother of John ’02 Miriam Reagan, grandmother of Hank Pender ’11 Joseph Ritacco, father of Joe ’72 Jim Rubbennolt, cousin of Midwest Augustinian Vocations Office Manager Sr. Ardis Cloutier, O.S.F. Dorothy Rypel, grandmother of Eric Campbell ’09 Wayne Sagotz, father of Brandon ’96 Thomas Schmidt, father of John ’82, Bill ’85, Jim ’87 & Joe ’90 Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A., former St. Rita faculty member Marge Signorelli, mother of Joe ’81, Mike ’83 and Frank ’84 Rose Smikoski, mother of Frank ’56, Norbert ’58, Thomas ’61, grandmother of Thomas ’83 Patrick John Strelow, friend of the Insley family Veronica Sweeney, great-grandmother of Adam Vargas ’09, and Quinn Sweeney ’11 Mario Szczesny, Sr., father of Mario, Jr. ’96 Carol Tabak, mother of Carol Ingersoll Virginia Tague, mother of Bernard ’74, Bob ’84, and Tom ’81 Nancy Tulcholski, wife of Dean ’70, sister of Mahoney brothers Jim ’73, Mike ’76. Rick ’79 and John ’84 Alan Vaisnoras, son of Anthony ‘60 Ed Walsh, grandfather of Mark Walsh ’11, John Murphy ’12, Charlie Murphy ’13 Madeline Walters, mother-in-law of Martin Plecki ’66 Florence Werkmeister, great aunt of Nick Dachota ’12 Ed Wissman, friend of the Bokoski family Clinton Yaster, grandfather of Jonathon Koleno ’11

All attempts at accuracy are made prior to publication. If there is an error with a listing or an omission, please contact: Office of Institutional Advancement | (773) 925-5029 | [email protected]

11

St. Rita of Cascia High School 7740 S. Western Avenue Chicago IL 60620

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Organization US POSTAGE

PAID

Tel: 773.925.5029 | www.stritahs.com

SAVE THE DATE!

St. Rita of Cascia High School

Homecoming 2009

St. Rita Mustangs vs. Fenwick Friars Pat Cronin Field at Doyle Stadium Friday, September 18th Sophomore Game | 5:00 p.m. Varsity Game | 7:30 p.m. Special Alumni Homecoming Event:

Italian Sausage Dinner

Friday, September 18th | 4:30 p.m.

Alumni are invited to enjoy a special complementary Italian Sausage Dinner before this year's homecoming football game in the St. Rita Dining Hall located in the Athletic Wing.