march 2010 alumnews

M A R C H 2 0 1 0A L U M N E W S O F X A V I E R H I G H S C H O O L

16th Street SpotlightGraduates in the Performing Arts

In this Issue

March 2010 Vol. 13 No. 1

XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL

John R. RaslowskyPresident

Michael LiVigniHeadmaster

Office of Advancementand Alumni RelationsJoseph F. GorskiVice President for Advancementand Alumni Relations

Mark A.Mongelluzzo, Esq.Director of Annual and Planned Giving

Michael L. Benigno ’00Managing Editor of AlumnewsDirector of Communications

Shane Lavin ’03Director of Alumni Relations

Helene StrongParents’ Association Coordinator

Barbara CiullaAdvancement Office Manager

Norma PiecykAdministrative Assistantto the President and to theVP for Advancement

Contributing WritersTom O’Hara ‘69Mark A.Mongelluzzo, Esq.Shane Lavin ’03

PhotographyMichael L. Benigno ’00

Alumnews, the Xavier High Schoolmagazine, is published three timesa year by Xavier High School.

Correspondence and addresschanges should be mailed to:AlumnewsManaging EditorXavier High School30West 16th StreetNew York, NY 10011-6302

Or by email [email protected]

8 Men For All SeasonsTom O’Hara ’69 is at it again! We pulled the famous Xavier sportsaficionado away from his computer long enough for him to sharea few pages on the exciting 2009 football season, capped off witha thrilling overtime Turkey Bowl victory against rival Fordham Prep!

21 Coming of Age on the Silver ScreenSteven Strait ’04 has had an exciting entrance into show business!The star of 10,000 B.C. (2008) can be seen in the newly releasedfilm City Island (2009), and Steven recently told Alumnews thathe continues to bring with him the lessons he learned at Xavier.

24 Film…the Evolution!VladWolynetz ’88, head of production at AMC, joins Mr.VincentVargas, longtime Xavier faculty member, in a discussion on thehistory of film studies at Xavier. New changes to curriculumbrought film study back into the classroom!

DEPAR TMENTS

1 President’s Message2 From theAdvancement Office

3 News from the Quad

15 New Faces at Xavier30 Class Notes36 Mileposts

3

30

8

Xavier grads in the performing arts(top to bottom),TomDeGrezia ’00,Jayce Bartok ’90,Steven Strait ’04

with mother, Jean,Ray Lustig ’90and VladWolynetz ’88.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

Turkey Bowl Champions!

The CFX Acoustic Coffeehouse

6JROTC Fall Awards Ceremony

mailto:[email protected]

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=38














1MARCH 2010 — ALUMNEWS

PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT’’SS MMEESSSSAAGGEE

Sharing the Xavier Story

Dear Sons and Friends of Xavier:

Greetings from 16th Street where Xavier continues to be abuzz with activity. The St. Patrick’sDay Parade, the Military Ball, the start of the rugby season (and the limps, gashes and bruisesthat accompany that start), mass and dinner commissioning our Holy Week CFX service tripto Alabama, Lenten penance services and the sacrament of reconciliation, the winter sportsbanquet and tonight’s band concert all provide reminders of the talents and gifts of ourcommunity and the many ways our students and faculty share these gifts with great gen-erosity. St Irenaeus, the 2nd century bishop of Lyons, wrote “the glory of God is man fullyalive.” Xavier is blessed with over 1000 men and women—students, faculty and staff—fullyalive and engaged in this world. They live lives that indeed give glory to God. The same istrue of our alumni. We are happy to once again share their stories.

You are reading on your computer the first electronic edition of Xavier’s Alumnews, thenewest part of Xavier’s outreach to our alumni, parents and friends. Through the years ourcommunication with the Xavier community has grown and evolved in a number of ways tomeet emerging needs and take advantage of new technologies. From the letters of Fr. JoeLatella, S.J. through newsletters and magazines and most recently via the weekly E-news,Xavier continues to tell her story. The decision was made last spring to move from three printeditions of Alumnews to two print and one electronic edition. The decision was motivatedby a variety of concerns. Publishing Alumnews electronically saves paper and substantiallyreduces our costs. Each print edition from design through production and mailing is a $20,000expense. In addition to the cost savings, the electronic Alumnews allows for the developmentand presentation of stories in a variety of formats including the use of audio and video. Weare excited about the possibilities.

In the future, we anticipate publishing two print and one electronic edition each year,in addition to the annual report. The electronic Alumnews nicely compliments the XavierE-news which is published each week classes are in session and periodically in the summer.The E-news is sent to all alumni, parents and friends, usually on Fridays. We are happy tohave the opportunity to share that story with you in new and exciting ways. We welcomeyour feedback on this issue, our publication plans and all our communication with you.Feedback can be address to Mr. Michael Benigno ’00, our director of communications, [email protected] or 212-924-7900 x.1435. Please feel free as well to contact me [email protected] or 212-337-7538 about our publications or any other Xavier issue.

As I write, our Lenten journey is drawing to a close. Palm Sunday is near and will be followed by the Easter Triduum. It is a week commemorating the great mysteries of our faithleading to the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a week when we are remindedof Jesus’s humanity in His triumph on Palm Sunday, His meal with friends on Holy Thursdayand His loneliness, betrayal, suffering and desperation on Good Friday. While we may at timesbe challenged connecting to God, this week powerfully reminds us that God came to us—incarnate in our world—to connect to us: to know loneliness, to suffer and to confront sin.Loneliness, suffering and sin are experiences we all share. They are experiences the Churchnow bears in all her humanity.

Yet the suffering and even the death are not the end of the story. Resurrection dawns,joy is real and Alleluia is heard once again. As it is true for Christ, so it is for us. This is thegreatest of stories we share at Xavier.

Be assured of my prayers for you, your families, the Society of Jesus and the Church duringthese holy days. Please remember all of us at Xavier in yours.

God’s blessings,

John R. RaslowskyPresident



As I write this column, it is the lastweek in January and I am at 38,000 feet,on my way to Arizona and SouthernCalifornia for three alumni receptions.When you read it, it will be March andspring will just be getting its start in New York.

The theme of this spring Alumnewsis focused on the Performing Arts andseveral of our alumni who work in thefield of acting, film production and screen-play writing. Hopefully you will find theirstories compelling and the informationabout the latest comings and goings at the school, as well as milestones andchanges in the lives of our graduates,interesting and worthwhile. Perhaps, however, a more important aspect of thisissue demonstrates how the AdvancementOffice at Xavier continues its journey towardgreater technological productivity andtoward a greener and more paperlessoperation. Although our previous issues of this magazine are available on line, thisis the first issue to be designed, publishedand distributed as electronic media only.

For the past decade, we have attemptedto upgrade our publications, increasingthe breadth and depth of their content, as well as the number of pages in eachissue, and we have gone from a magazineprimarily black and white to a full-color,glossy magazine. We have generally published and mailed three issues a year(plus an annual report), but as you arewell-aware, the costs of paper, designing,publishing and mailing have been on therise. At the same time, technologicaladvances in electronic media have givenorganizations (both for-profit and non-profit) the challenge and opportunity to stay in contact with its constituents in a less expensive way.

Xavier has made some forays into the use of electronic media. We began by introducing an online community inthe fall of 2002. We wanted our communi-cation to be more interactive and theinformation in our online alumni directoryto be more up to date. As a result, people

could visit our website, read about hap-penings at Xavier, learn about, register and pay for events on line, donate onlineas well as have extended discussion withother alumni. We have had some successin the past, but we are now dedicatingourselves to improving our presenceonline and in other social media such as Facebook and perhaps even Twitter.

To that end, we have restructured theAdvancement office to take advantage of these technological advances. MikeBenigno ’00, who has been responsible for the Alumnews since the summer of2005, has been relieved of his alumni relations responsibilities and, as directorof communications, is now dedicated toimproving Xavier’s presence in all media,electronic and print. In his new position,he will be responsible for press releases,the editing, design and publication ofAlumnews, as well as the Annual Reportand our weekly E-newsletter which hasbeen redesigned over the last four months.All of this activity is to better communicatewith each of our constituents, alumni, parents and friends and to save paper and reduce expenses.

To ensure our success in these effortshowever, we need your help. We cannotprovide proper communication betweenXavier and you without your email address.We are currently working hard to obtainemail addresses for all our graduates,graduate parents and current parents andfriends. Our database has a total of 15,000constituents from the above groups, butright now we only have about 6,000 activeemail addresses. I urge you to visit our online community at www.xavierhsalumni.organd register your email address and yourother contact information.

It is a new century and a new decade.Enjoy this issue of our magazine and let’swork together to improve communicationbetween us through embracing the tech-nology available to us. Thank you for yourcooperation and all that each of you do insupport of Xavier.

JOE GORSKI

Vice President for Advancement

2 ALUMNEWS — MARCH 2010

From the Advancement Office

Xavier Takes On New Media!

Xavier welcomed its 33rd president, Mr. John Raslowsky!

Class chair program isrevamped! Help us out!

The XBC highlights Xavier’sService to the Nation…

The Francis X. Leahy ’41 AlumniService Award will recognizeoutstanding alumni…

JROTC Fall Awards recognizethe achievements of cadets…

A Xavier freshman reflects on his first Maroon and Blue Day…

Justice Antonin Scalia ’53,Philip Lacovara, Esq. ’60 and Dave Anderson ’47 speak at two New YorkHistorical Society events…

Xavier Italian students are set to travel abroad…

Thanksgiving food drive shatters records!

Beefsteak, Glover Fundraiser…and more!

QuadNews from the QuadNews from the

I N B R I E F :

The Mass of the Holy Spirit, September 11, 2009.

V. Rev. David Ciancimino, S.J. ’77 with Mr. Raslowsky

Mr. Raslowsky with his family, (l.-r.) Sarah,Rebecca, Rachel, Christian, and John


On a day steeped in Xavier tradition, Mr. JohnRaslowsky, the 33rd president of Xavier High School,was installed with a grand ceremony that took placeon the occasion of the Mass of the Holy Spirit, cele-brated on September 11, 2009.

V. Rev. David Ciancimino, S.J. ’77, provincial ofthe New York Province of the Society of Jesus,presided over the Mass along with a special extend-ed delegation of Jesuits from the New York Province,and Mr. Raslowsky was presented with the College ofSt. Francis Xavier Presidential Chain of Office, a gift ofthe Class of 2009. The chain, engraved with thenames of each prior Xavier president, is symbolic ofthe continuous line of fine leaders that have guidedXavier since its first president, Fr. John Larkin, S.J.,held office beginning in 1847.

As chair of Xavier’s board of trustees, Richard Nolan, Jr., Esq. ’83 publicly acknowledgedMr. Raslowsky’s presidency and bestowed up on himthe authority and responsibility of office, granted bythe board.

Mr. Nolan spoke highly of Mr. Raslowsky’s qualifications before the congregation, and in a previous letter to alumni and supporters, wrote,“We firmly believe that Jack is the leader Xavierneeds to achieve even higher levels of performanceand success as it seeks to prepare the young men of today and tomorrow for service to our country, our city, and our Catholic faith.”

Welcoming Xavier’s 33rd President


News from the Quad

Fr. Ciancimino said, “Mr. Raslowsky’sassuming the presidency at Xavierbrings us to a new and exciting time in Xavier’s history, a time marked byboth continuity with Xavier’s rich tradi-tion and at the same time one markedby exciting new opportunities. Jackbrings to his role as Xavier’s president a profound experience of Jesuit schoolsand Ignatian leadership, based on hisyears of involvement in the schools of the New York Province as a student,faculty member, and administrator.”

Fr. Ciancimino went on to expresshis gratitude for the laypeople that servethe Jesuit mission, and commented thattheir presence is mutually beneficial: theiropenness to Ignatian spirituality andthe Jesuit mission allows that mission a much wider scope than it would haveotherwise had, while the Society andthe lives of individual Jesuits have beenbroadened and enriched by their duties.

Prior to his presidency, Mr. Raslowskyserved as superintendent of schools, inHoboken, New Jersey. He has an estab-

lished, 25-year record of involvement in Jesuit education, having previouslyserved as a teacher, coach, and principalat St. Peter’s Prep, and also as assistantfor secondary and pre-secondary edu-cation, and assistant for lay faith forma-tion, both in the New York Province.

Because of major renovation worktaking place in the Church of St. FrancisXavier, the Mass was held at St. Paul theApostle Church on Manhattan’s West

Side. The beautiful cathedral proved anexcellent host for the Xavier congregation,and many invited guests returned to Xavier afterward for a lunch that welcomed Mr. Raslowsky.

Attendees also included past andpresent board members, Mr. Raslowsky’swife, Sarah, and their four children,John, Christian, Rebecca, and Rachel.

Mr. Raslowsky addressing the Xavier community following his installation as president

Welcoming Xavier’s 33rd Presidentcontinued from pg. 3

Support in all formsClass Chair Program is Revamped

In an effort to increase communica-tion between alumni and the school, theadvancement team has been workingto revamp and reenergize the Class Chairprogram. With renewed commitment to the effort, we hope to enable our ClassChairmen to coordinate a two-way flowof information between alumni and theschool. It is our hope that Class Chairmenwill not only serve as messengers of theschool but that they also invite andencourage their classmates to sharenews, attend events and keep connectedwith one another and with the wholeXavier community.

Over the past few months we havebeen evaluating the effectiveness ofthe position as it exists today and havebegun to take the necessary steps tomake it more of a constructive sourceof frequent dialogue between alumniand Xavier. We have been reaching out to identify new Chairmen for thoseclasses in need of one or more, and are enthusiastic as we look forward to a better and more efficient effort inthe coming year. We have already foundnew Chairmen for several classes but wewill continue our pursuit until we havefound Chairmen for all of our classes!

If you’re interested in becoming a Class Chair please contact Shane Lavin ’03 at [email protected].

By Shane Lavin ’03


5ALUMNEWS — MARCH 2010

News from the Quad

XBC focuses on Service to the Nation

The Xavier Business Council held its fall networking and educationalevent on Oct. 15th, focusing on Xavier’s Service to the Nation as fourdistinguished Xavier alumni who served the country in the armedforces spoke before a gathered crowd in the Meditz Family Library/Learning Center.

Lt. Col. Roy Campbell, Xavier’s senior army instructor, moderatedthe event, which featured Rear Admiral Thomas Steffens US Navy(Ret.) ’65, Col. Ray Lustig USAF (Ret.) ’64, Major Ed McGoldrick USArmy Reserve ’91, and Major Vance Kuhner US Army Reserve ’90.

Together, in addition to stories about their Xavier experiences anddeployments, the graduates spoke about modern developments inwarfare, particularly in relation to extended media coverage in the ageof the 24-hour news cycle.

The next XBC event will feature graduates in journalism, including Mike Sheehan ’66 and Michael Gargiulo ’77, and is set for April 21st Questions? Email [email protected].

On Thursday evening October 8, 2009,at the President’s Council dinner at theUnion League Club, Xavier announcedthe establishment of the Francis X.Leahy ’41 Alumni Service Award tohonor one of its most dedicated Sons.The announcement was met withenthusiastic applause and gratitude to Mr. Frank Leahy ’41. The award willbe presented every year at the annualReunion Gala to a Xavier alumnus celebrating a reunion year, whose voluntary service to Xavier epitomizesthe dedication and enthusiasm of Mr. Leahy.

Frank Leahy’s dedication the pastfew years to Xavier’s fundraising effortshas been truly extraordinary. Not onlydoes Frank attend all 11 evenings ofthe alumni Phonathon in February andMarch each year, but, since fiscal 2007,he has also voluntarily dedicated anadditional two to three full-time weeksin the Advancement Office in the spring,calling members of the Xavier family to encourage them to contribute to the Annual Fund or to remind them to fulfill an outstanding pledge. Frank has

made well over 6,000 phone calls overthe course of this time: his melodious,friendly voice beckoning all to comethrough for the Maroon and Blue. Hisefforts have paid off—fiscal 2007, 2008and 2009 were the three most successfulyears for the Annual Fund.

Frank grew up in the Yorkville sectionof Manhattan, where he was a parishionerof St. Ignatius Loyola parish. He enteredXavier in the fall of 1937 and remainsgrateful for the Jesuit education hereceived here. As Frank has noted onmore than one occasion, “The Jesuits weretough, but they cared a lot about us.”

After graduating with the June classof 1941, Frank worked for a short timebefore entering the United States Armyin early 1943. After the war, he was ableto take advantage of the G.I. Bill, receivinga business degree from Fordham in 1951;then followed a long, successful careerin textiles. Of course, as a true “Man for Others” Frank has contributed to the Annual Fund every year since itsinception in fiscal 1983 and, in the past three years, as a member of thePresident’s Council.

At the dinner, Frank accepted thishonor with his usual grace and charmand expressed gratitude for being recognized. He spoke briefly about his time as a student on 16th Streetand what Xavier has always meant to him. Indeed, for all of Frank’s hardwork and diligence, this was a well-deserved honor.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the inaugural recipient(s) of the Francis X. Leahy ’41 Alumni Service Award in the next issue of Alumnews.

XBC panel, October 15, 2009

Mr. Raslowsky and Rich Nolan, Jr, Esq. ’83 with Mr. Leahy at the President’s Council dinner

Alumni Service Award will Honor a Dedicated Alumnus



News from the Quad

Xavier’s academic and extracurricularambitions surpass the resources providedthrough tuition revenue and endowmentincome. Currently, a gap of $2,500 perstudent exists between tuition and feescharged and the actual cost of education.The success of the Annual Fund allowsXavier to fill this gap and to continue itstradition of excellence by offering ourstudents endless possibilities.

Over 2,400 people have generouslydonated $1,325,000 in cash and pledgesto the 2010 Xavier Annual Fund—thegoal is $1,950,000. Every gift counts and makes a difference in the lives of our current students.

If you have not already done so, contribute to the Annual Fund today by visiting www.xavierhsalumni.org/annualfund. Or, call the Advancement office at (212) 924-7900, ext. 1581.

T H E 2010 A NNUA L F U ND

The annual fall awards ceremony forthe Xavier JROTC regiment took place onDecember 6th, recognizing cadets thatwere receiving promotions and honor-ing those who achieved outstandingleadership and academic distinctions.

The entire regiment, as well as familymembers and guests, gathered in theXavier gymnasium, hearing remarks frombothMr. Michael LiVigni, headmaster,and Mr. John Raslowsky, president,before being addressed by Lt. Col. RoyCampbell, senior army instructor, and Cdt. Col. Kevin Taub ’09

The Xavier Regiment is enjoying itshighest enrollment since the militaryprogram went optional in 1972, duelargely to a revitalized freshman orien-tation program that allows all new cadetsto experience a wider breadth of militarylife at Xavier. Speaking to the freshmencadets gathered, Cdt. Col. Taub said,“You are what makes this ceremonyvery special. If the officers are the brains,the non-commissioned officers are themuscle; you are the backbone of theRegiment. In the few short months you

have been here at Xavier, you havetrumped all expectations. The motivationand initiative shown by the Class of 2013reassures me that the future of theRegiment is bright.”

Cdt. Col. Taub went on to encourageyoung cadets to get involved in life at Xavier to the fullest extent possible,whether as part of any of the regimentalsub-groups or in other facets of theXavier experience.

Lt. Col. Campbell recalled a numberof different images from the past fewmonths that summed up some of thebest accomplishments of regimentalparticipants, spanning the range of yearsfrom freshman to senior.

“The Regiment is growing disciplinedleaders of character who take theirvirtues garnered from JROTC and infusesports, clubs, and Campus Ministry withthese values,” Lt. Col. Campbell said.“Cadets are clearly not one-dimensionalstudents. We could tell a story aboutleadership growth for every cadet inthe Regiment, their courage, sharedsacrifice, and selflessness.”

Fall Awards Highlight the Regiment’s Best

Cadets being promoted to CDT/PVT or CDT/PFC

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=www.xavierhsalumni.org/annualfund

Freshman Malik Horton ’13 reflects on the excitement of Maroon and Blue Day.

On Friday September 25, 2009, Xavier students came prepared for the highlight of the year: Maroonand Blue Day. Students from the junior and freshmanclasses represented the blue team and squared offagainst the seniors and sophomores, who proudly represented maroon. Despite maroon’s first victory ever(I was on the blue team!), it was quite an enjoyable dayfor all who participated.

From early in the morning, each side was quite determined to capture glory. From the loudness competitions, to rooting their teams on in tug-of-war,the teams showed their Xavier pride throughout the day. The maroon team was determined to go home with their first victory in three years, anddespite their victory in the end, the highlightof the day came at the end of the festivities,when junior Adam Salazar absolutely stole theshow with his amazing rendition of Journey’s“Don’t Stop Believin’” in the karaoke contest.He performed well enough to cause thejudges to stand up and wave their handsbehind him as he continued to sing, hittingevery note with perfect pitch.

Overall, as an incoming freshman, I hadheard a great deal about Maroon and Blue Day,and true to my expectations, it was an incrediblyexciting event. I think I can speak for all of Xavierwhen I say that this will definitely be one of thehighlights of the 2009-2010 school year.


News from the Quad

Maroon and Blue DayThe highlight of the school year!

A Michael Jackson tribute during the Xavier-Idol contest

Mr. Raslowskygetting dunked in the dunk-tank!

Mr. Ben Surowith Mrs. Margaret Gonzalez

hen head coach ChrisStevens ’83 addressed his Xavier Football family

at their annual awards breakfast thisJanuary, he told the players and theirparents about a trip he and his longtimeline coach Brian McMahonmade toChicago three years ago to learn thesecrets of high school coach Mike Rude,nationally-recognized wizard of thevenerable Single Wing.

During one break from their lessons,said Coach Stevens, the three discussedtheir chosen profession. “Coach Rudemade the point that some years youmay go 10-1, and other years you maygo 3-8, but what people don’t realize isthat sometimes you do the best coach-ing you’ve ever done in those 3-8 yearsand end up winning three games thatyou probably should not have won.”

When Coach Stevens gathered histroops at their pre-season mini-camp in Red Hook last June, the task facing

If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too….

If you can meet with triumph and disasterAnd treat those two imposters just the same….Or watch the things you gave your life to brokenAnd stoop and build ‘em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there’s nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

….If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,And—which is more—you’ll be a Man my son!

—IF, by Rudyard Kipling


News from the Quad

MenFor All Seasons

By Tom O’Hara ’[email protected]

Captain Pat Coleman leads the way against Hayes

W


News from the Quad

him seemed daunting. His 2008 Knightshad finished 8-3 and won the regular-season Catholic High School FootballLeague AA-Division title but had droppedtheir last two games: a 42-38 thriller toAAA-Division Holy Trinity in the playoffsemi-finals and a televised 41-28 loss to AAA-Division Fordham Prep atCoffey Field on Thanksgiving Day.

Famous Seamus Kelly ’09, thegreatest running back in the 127-yearhistory of Xavier Football and the heartof Coach Stevens’s record-shatteringsingle-wing blitzkrieg, was bound forBerkeley and 24-time national collegiaterugby champion University of California.Departing 16th Street with The FamousOne were nearly all of the battle-hard-ened linemen who had convoyed himthrough opposing defenses like somany panzers.

On defense, the Knights had justthree starters returning from a unit thathad given up an average of 26 pointsand 311 yards per game—295 pointsand 3,423 yards total—and which ranked16th in the 21-team Catholic High SchoolFootball League. Opposing coaches couldnot stop the Amazing Fantastic GridironWayback Machine in 2008, but theycould outscore it. Xavier’s D-Men—aggressive, hard-hitting but inconsis-tent—had allowed 40-plus points in

four games, including all three losses.Coach Stevens and his staff would

have to build a new team for 2009 andthey were going to have to do it quickly,because the Knights’ first four gameswere against the four toughest teamson their schedule.

Perhaps it was divine intervention.Maybe the Almighty is a Xavier fan. Godknows, the Single Wing is nearly as oldas Creation itself. In what could only be called a case of deus ex WaybackMachina, one piece of the puzzle fellunexpectedly into place when Queensrival Christ the King decided to cut costsby laying off junior faculty, including itswell-regarded head football coach. Wordreached Coach Stevens and by the endof June, Coach Kevin Kelly had found anew home on 16th Street.

With one move, Chris had securedone of the CHSFL’s best defensive minds.Xavier’s own longtime defensive sageBill Pazske was hobbled with severelyarthritic knees and Coach Kelly’s arrivalwould allow him to assume a moresedentary role—sort of a football Don Zimmer to Chris Stevens’ Joe Torre.

When the team reconvened in mid-August, there was a hard week of dailyfive-hour practices on the hot, dustyplains of Red Hook, followed by a week-long training camp in the Pennsylvania

wilderness. The Knights returned to 16thStreet late on a Friday afternoon, andby early Saturday morning they wereback on the road to Westchester, wherethey scrimmaged three high schools,one after the other.

Sunday was a day of rest—the only one of the entire pre-season. OnMonday—Labor Day—Coach Stevenssummoned his players and coachesback to work. Four days later, onSeptember 11th, The Team FormerlyKnown as the Kaydets… and then theBruins… opened their 2009 campaignbefore the home crowd at Aviator Field.

Despite all their hard work, the seasondid not start well for the 16th Street Kids.Chris Stevens could have gone outsidethe CHSFL and scheduled St. Patsy ofthe Tomato Cans for the sure openingnight win, as many of his fellow coacheschose to do. He decided instead that hisyoung team would have their baptismof fire sooner rather than later andscheduled Xaverian, an AAA-Divisionplayoff semi-finalist in 2008. The NewYork Post, taking note of their size and speed and their multiple offensiveweapons, including two consensusDivision I college prospects, ranked theClippers No. 7 in its preseason poll of all New York City high schools. The fivesportswriters handicapping the game for

Chris Mattina faces a tough Xaverian Defense Jonny Clark fights for yards against Cardinal Hayes

The Post and The New York Daily Newswere unanimous: Xaverian would triumph.

The final score was 28-6 Xaverian butit was even worse than that. Captainand two-time Xavier Athlete of the YearSean Carley ’10 had gone down with a knee injury early in the second half.He had been able to hobble off the fieldunder his own steam, so his coaches andteammates were stunned when theylearned that the three-sport athlete(football, basketball and rugby) was finished for the season. Sean, who hadplayed a key role in the Knights’ 2008championship run at tight end, was alsoanchoring one end of the defensiveline. Xavier’s few veteran linemen hadbecome even fewer.

Inexperience, inconsistency andpenalties on offense continued to plagueXavier at Aviator Field the followingFriday night when Stevens’ men fell to Archbishop Stepinac 22-7. This losswas especially hard to take because the Knights entered the fourth quartertrailing just 3-0 before the roof fell in.

Xavier had been 13-1 in their JamaicaBay stronghold over the past three sea-sons, and now they had dropped twoin a row. Including their season-ending

defeats at the hands of Holy Trinity andFordham Prep in 2008, the Knights weremired in their longest winless streaksince losing five games at the end ofthe 2005 season and the start of the2006 campaign.

Their backs to the wall, the 16thStreet Kids rallied to shut out St. Johnthe Baptist 26-0 in week three. The victory—Xavier’s first regular-seasonwin over its longtime nemesis in years—was especially satisfying because it cameat Cougar Field in West Islip, Long Island,before a raucous Baptist crowd eggedon by the most obnoxious P.A. announcerthe Knights had heard since their epicplayoff victory against AAA-DivisionMonsignor Farrell on Staten Island the previous year.

The elation of Xavier and its fanswas short-lived, however. The followingFriday night found the 16th Street RoadWarriors up in the Bronx at New YorkMaritime College. The opponent wasCardinal Hayes and the lads from RegisPhilbin’s alma mater were looking forrevenge after their record-breaking 86-42 loss to the Knights in 2008. TheCardinals had retooled and reloaded,with a new spread passing offense

designed to make full use of theDivision I college prospects on theirroster, and a large and quick defense to whom the Single Wing was not theenigma it had been the previous year.

To ensure maximum fan support,Hayes made this game their Homecoming,and the Cardinal supporters turned outin force. Xavier stumbled out of the gate,recovered and battled back, but thelethal Cardinal offense, which seemedable to score at anytime from anywhereon the field, was too much for theKnights. Hayes 26, Xavier 13.

With half the regular season gone,the Knights were struggling at 1-3 and the Xavier Gridironmen and theircoaches had arrived at the proverbialmoment of truth. The defense seemedlittle changed from 2008: hard-hitting,aggressive, intermittently brilliant, too often inconsistent.

On offense, the Amazing, FantasticGridiron Wayback Machine was sputter-ing. Had the Single Wing’s better dayscome and gone from 16th Street alongwith Famous Seamus, the last of Stevens’Four Horsemen? It was a question thatmany outside the football program wereasking out loud, and one that the coaches


News from the Quad

Coach Kevin Kelly rallying the troops The Knights in wild celebration at the Turkey Bowl!

“Perhaps it was divine intervention. Maybe the Almighty is a Xavier fan.


and players must, in their darkestmoments, have secretly asked themselves.

As fans and alumni well know, the127-year history of Xavier Football hasnot been a chronicle of unbroken success.Far from it. And if these Knights weregoing to unravel under the unrelentinggrind of daily commutes, demandingacademics and late practices on distantBrooklyn fields punctuated by defeateach weekend, now was the time.

Well, they didn’t unravel. The 16thStreet Kids had been blooded but notbroken. The experience they gained fromtheir defeats was hard earned, but it wasexperience nonetheless, and as thephilosopher said, that which does not killyou makes you stronger. This was themoment for the seniors to step up andlead, and now they showed why theywon more football games in their fouryears at Xavier than any class beforethem. Above all, the players and coachesnever lost faith in themselves.

The Amazing, Fantastic GridironWayback Machine roared back to life as Coach Stevens reconstituted the Four(More) Horsemen and returned to therushing-by-committee running attackthat had served the Knights so well

in 2007. Coach Kelly’s defense quietlybecame the best in the entire CHSFL.And Coach McMahon rebuilt the offen-sive and defensive lines. Over the nextfour weeks, Xavier outscored St. Peter’s(Staten Island), Bishop Ford, CardinalSpellman and Christ the King 150-25 to finish 5-3 (5-2 within the division)and reach the AA-Division playoffs for a second straight year.

After losing 21-14 in the playoffquarter-finals to traditional AAA-Divisionpower Mount St. Michael, a game thatwas televised on MSG Varsity network,the Knights bounced back to defeatAA-A Division champion Stepinac in theCHSFL Bowl Game. That contest featuredyet another thrilling Xavier comebackas the 16th Street Kids rallied in the mudand the blood to score two touchdownsin the final two minutes and win 14-6.

On Thanksgiving Day, the 2009Knights closed out the season at AviatorField. There would be no title bannersthis year, but this team secured their ownspecial place in Xavier football legendwhen they defeated AAA-Division playoffteam and archrival Fordham Prep 35-27in a thrilling overtime win that had thelarge crowd of Xavier faithful on their

feet from the opening kickoff to thefinal whistle.

Tallying up the victories from thisyear’s season, having now won sevengames three seasons in a row broughtabout a milestone for Coach Stevens andcompany—this is the winningest threeyears in Xavier football history, with a record of 25-8. Also, Xavier has wonseven-plus games only seven times in127 years. We’ve now done that threeyears in a row!

Regretfully, there is not enoughspace here to record all the memorablemoments and players from the 2009season. You are heartily encouraged togo to the Xavier Football section of theXavier website, where you will find allthe scores and game statistics, numerousarticles from the New York media, terrificaction photos, and even some randomscribblings from something called TheXavier Football and Rugby Alumni News.

Here’s to the 2009 Xavier FootballKnights. Thanks for the memories, men!

News from the Quad

11 ALUMNEWS —MARCH 2009

If you would like to receive thatlast publication via e-mail—it’sfree!—please e-mail Tom O’Hara ’69at [email protected].

The Knights in wild celebration at the Turkey Bowl! Captain John Gearity wins Turkey Bowl MVP honors

God knows, the Single Wing is nearly as old as Creation itself. ”


Delegations from Xavier recently attended two exciting events that broughtprominent Xavier grads before audiences at the New York Historical Society.

On Feb. 4th, Justice Antonin Scalia ’53 and Philip Lacovara, Esq. ’60 participatedin the NYHS’s reenactment of Ex parte Milligan, part of the historical society’s year-long focus on Lincoln in New York. In 1864 Lambdin Milligan was arrested for hisalleged involvement in a conspiracy to free Confederate soldiers from Union prisoncamps. Sentenced to death for treason by a military commission, Milligan subsequentlychallenged the commission’s jurisdiction in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Justice Scalia, associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, presided at the reenactment, while Lacovara, currently senior counsel at Mayer Brown JSM,argued on behalf of the government that Milligan’s arrest and trial before the militarytribunal was legal, justifiable and the correct course of action.

The presentations and commentary from the bench were always learned andoften humorous and insightful. The assembled audience enjoyed seeing history in action and clearly appreciated the work of counsel and the court.

One week later, on Feb. 9th, in an evening of humor, conversation and camaraderie,Dave Anderson ’47, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and author,joined football great Frank Gifford, Tony Morante, of the New York Yankees organi-zation, and boxing writer Bert Sugar in a panel discussion to share and comparetheir memories of the classic game dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

The 1958 football championship game between the Giants and the Colts markedthe first time a championship game had ever been broadcasted on a national level.

“Whether you think it was a good game or not, it was probably the most impor-tant,” Mr. Anderson said. In the end, the nation watched with rapt attention, and the“DE-fense” chant, new as of only a few years before, was thrown into the spotlightfor the first time. As a direct result of the game that day, Mr. Anderson pointed out,the American Football League was founded a year later and the sport never lookedback. As Bert Sugar stated, “It added a sport, is what it added. What it took awaywas your Sunday afternoon, which your wife had before!”


News from the Quad

Philip Lacovara, Esq. ’60 with Xavier guests The Xavier delegation poses with Dave Anderson ’47

Justice Antonin Scalia ’53, Dave Anderson ’47, Philip Lacovara, Esq. ’60

Speak at the New York Historical Society

The Supreme Court Justice,

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer,

and lawyer spoke at two

recent events.


The Xavier community participatedin a massive food drive this pastNovember, pooling together itsresources to make a substantial impact on local hunger.

For Xavier, the annual food drive is more than just charity during theholiday season; it is also a way to raiseawareness among our community of the injustice of hunger in our city,country, and world.

“We collected 5,484 items of food, reaching 91% of our goal,” saidMr. Joseph Petriello, director of IgnatianService Programs. “Our dress down day brought in an additional $1,741. As a community of faith called to be in solidarity with the poor and hungry, we serve others with a deep awarenessof our Jesuit mission and Ignatian iden-tity. In the words of St. Ignatius Loyola’s

Prayer for Generosity, we hope ‘to giveand not to count the cost.’”

The Xavier food brings in more foodto the Church of St. Francis Xavier foodpantry than any other event throughoutthe entire year.

ThanksgivingFood Drive Breaks all previous records

News from the Quad

Food collected in previous years:

2007 3,694 items

2008 5,441 items

2009 5,484 items

The food drive in the Xavier Commons

Exchange students from the IstitutoLeone XIII school in Milan, Italy, spentten days with Xavier juniors and seniorsset to travel abroad in April. The tenexchange students arrived with twofaculty moderators on November 27th,kicking off what would be ten days of class shadowing, as well as culturalexcursions in New York and the NewEngland area.

The Istituto Leone XIII is a Jesuitschool founded in 1893, and the programis a shining example of the intercon-nectivity of Jesuit institutions even acrossinternational boundaries. The guestswere hosted by ten Xavier students currently studying Italian, and the tenyoung men, plus chaperones, will travelto Milan in April to stay with the studentsthey hosted here in New York.

Excursions included walking toursof Greenwich Village and the LowerEast Side, as well as trips to Ellis Island,the United Nations and Central Park. Inaddition, the group traveled to colonialMassachusetts to visit the NormanRockwell Museum, in Stockbridge.

“I think the students really enjoyedtheir visit, and it was a good opportunityfor them to learn about some of the differences between the American schoolsystem and the Italian school system,”said Mrs. Enrica Klarberg, Xavier foreignlanguage teacher and organizer of theprogram. “Our guys are really lookingforward to their trip in April.”

In October 2008, a group of studentsfrom the Kongholm Gymnasium, inDenmark, visited Xavier to study theAmerican electoral process. Xavier students in an A.P. government classfollowed with a trip to Denmark thispast spring.

Italian Exchange ProgramJesuit Students from Around the World

Ice skating in Central Park

Xavier students with exchange participants.

Watch the “Xavier Food Drive.”

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=tiny.cc/kx6o7


News from the Quad

Were You There? This Season’s Alumni Events…

San DiegoJan. 27, 2010

(kneeling l.–r.) Ken Poggenburg ’52 and Lou Cumming ’56

(standing l.–r.)Cathy Spatuzzi, Mike Saptuzzi’73, Dave Harrison ’76, SheilaPoggenburg, Pete Gaskin ’62,Jack Raslowsky, ElisabethJensen, Bernard Jensen ’37, Jack McDermott ’56, and Frank Tirelli ’70.

Xavier alumni and supporters gathered at three West Coast alumni receptions in January, offering grads and guests

the chance to meet President Jack Raslowsky. Thanks to all those who helped make the winter receptions special!

PhoenixJan. 26, 2010

(l.-r.) Bob Hubbard ’69, Dante Manzi ’55, Kathy Hubbard, EddieCullen ’05, Santiago Armstrong ’73,Kevin Pickles ’59, Bob Fitzpatrick ’56,Charlie Cuccinello ’70, JackRaslowsky, Ed Daily ’80, MaryFitzpatrick, Bob Traica ’71, and Joe Gorski.

Los Angeles Jan. 28, 2010

(l.-r.) Joe Gorski, Ken Zask ’53,Michael Cobian ’98, JimO’Byrne ’83, Shelly O’Byrne,Hank Miller ’53, AndreasAndrea ’99, and JackRaslowsky.

Bernard Jensen ’37 and Frank Tirelli ’70 at the San Diego reception


News from the Quad

Young Alumni ReceptionYoung grads gathered for lunch in the Commons before attendingthe Turkey Bowl football rally, Nov. 25, 2009.

Cadets at the Turkey Bowl! Mr. McKinney was at hand to greet some of the hundreds of alumni gathered at Aviator Field

Lt. Col. Roy Campbell withMaj. Paul Castells US Army ’77

Mr. Raslowsky with alumni on his first D.C. Reception!

Turkey Bowl Football Game

D.C.December 2, 2009


News from the Quad

Xavier was packed to therafters with supporters at twomajor events in just a singleJanuary weekend thatbrought in literally hundredsof alumni and guests whogathered for causes near anddear to their hearts.On Fri., Jan. 22nd, a record-

setting crowd attended the annualBeefsteak Dinner, a fun, all-you-can-eatevent that has been a Xavier tradition—and a New York tradition—for many years.

“This year’s Beefsteak dinner wasanother great success,” said Mr. ShaneLavin ’03, director of alumni relations.“We had 347 alumni and friends fromthe classes of 1946 through 2006 joiningus for fun, fellowship and, of course, beef.We had a number of great raffle prizesand our big winner of the night wasJoe Hutton ’98, who walked away withthe $2,240 prize from the 50/50 raffle. It was a great opportunity for alums to reconnect with each other as well as some of their former teachers and administrators.”

“It’s a great way to reconnect withalumni,” Ryan Woerner ’06 said at theevent. “It’s good because everybody’sso busy with their daily schedules—it’s a good way to get back, to meet up and enjoy some good beefsteak.”

The next day, Xavier was transformedinto the setting for another event thathas proven to be very special to many—the 3rd Annual LCpl. Mike Glover ’97Scholarship Fundraiser that has honoredthe memory of Mike, who was tragicallykilled while on patrol with the U.S. Marinesin Fallujah, Iraq, on August 16, 2006.

The Xavier gym was filled with hundreds of people from every part of Mike’s life, from his fellow Sons ofXavier and friends from SUNY Albanyand Pace Law School, to former lifeguards from his neighborhood,Rockaway Beach.

“It seemed like all of Rockaway was there,” Adam Lynch ’97, Mike’sclassmate and co-founder of the Friendsof Mike Glover, wrote after the event. “If you had witnessed the gym full ofpeople, the food and the large bar, youmight think that it took an incredibleamount of work and time to producesuch an event. The truth is that Mikehad so many friends and left such an enduring legacy that he made it incredibly easy for us.”

Adam went on: “The events of September 11th and the deaths of his close friends, including CharlieHeeran ’96, had a profound effect on Mike and he gave up his law schoolstudies to join the Marines because hewanted to help. He volunteered to bedeployed to Iraq even though he wasnot ordered to because he did not wanthis unit to be there with out him. Whenyou have a man who gave so much toso many people, and who made suchan impression, all we had to do was put the pieces together. The willingnessthat people display to help and donate,either monetarily or with auction items,is astounding.”

The LCpl. Michael Glover ’97 scholar-ship is nearing its goal and every bit ofsupport helps. Donations can be madeonline through the Glover website andare fully tax deductible, as they are madedirectly to Xavier.

Xavier Pride Peaks In January

Visit www.friendsofmikeglover.com, where you can also purchase T-shirts,bumper stickers and bracelets for a small donation. You may also donatethrough the Xavier website at www.xavierhs.org.

The Beefsteak Dinner, Jan. 22, 2010

The Lcpl. Michael Glover Scholarship Fundraiser, Jan. 23, 2010

Artwork from a vintage Xavier promotional poster.

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=www.xavierhs.org

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=www.friendsofmikeglover.com

There are always new faces here at Xavier! Alumnews

began profiling new staff members in the February 2008

issue, and the initial piece received lots of positive

feedback—even from our current students!

The faculty and staff at Xavier have the most contact

with our students, and it is important for our alumni to be

introduced to them. Learn more about five new members

of the Xavier community.

New Faces at Xavier


Mr. Dennis Baker, S.J.History

Hometown: Niagara Falls, New York

High School you graduated from:Canisius High School

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Fordham University, BA in History; Niagara University, MS in Criminal Justice Administration;Fordham University, MA in Philosophy

Favorite TV show: SportsCenter

Favorite Book: Flowers for Algernonby Daniel Keyes

Favorite food: Seafood

What type of music do you listen to?All types. Beethoven, Biggie, Chesney,the Stones...

Something you can’t live without: God

Favorite summer activity: The beach(with 50+ SPF)

Worst job that you’ve ever had: US Postal Service Mailman (I wasn’t very good at it)

Hidden talent: I’m a decent cook

Do you collect anything? I still have all of my old baseball cards from the 80s at my parents’ house

Habit you’re trying to break: Lagging behind on emails and phone calls to family and friends

What you do the minute you get home:Since I live at Xavier, technically I workfrom home. I like the commute.

Favorite movie: The Big Lebowski

Favorite Quote: “Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.”—Yogi Berra

Kelly KullMathematics

Hometown: Middle Village, Queens

High School you graduated from: Christ the King RHS

College(s) you graduated from and degree: St. Francis College, BS in Mathematics

Favorite TV show: Numb3rs

Favorite food: Anything grilled on the BBQ

Best book you’ve ever read: Tuesdays with Morrie

Thing that annoys you most: People without manners

What type of music do you listen to?Pop, rock, hip-hop

Something you can’t live without: My son

Favorite spot in NYC: Upper East Side

Favorite summer activity: Beach volleyball

Worst job that you’ve ever had: I worked at a children’s party place and had to dress as Woody from Toy Story

Hidden talent: I love to tap dance.

Habit you’re trying to break: Biting my nails

What you do the minute you get home:Collapse on the couch!

Favorite movie: A Few Good Men

Shane Lavin ’03 Director of Alumni Relations

Hometown: Jackson Heights, Queens

High School you graduated from: Xavier

College(s) you graduated from and degree: College of the Holy Cross,AB in French & Political Science

Favorite TV show: Lost

Favorite food: Raclette (the meal, not the cheese)

Best book you’ve ever read: Tough to put a finger on the bestever—maybe Everything is Illuminatedby Jonathan Safran Foer, but the bestI’ve read in the past year or so isNetherland by Joseph O’Neill

Thing that annoys you most: Picky eating

What type of music do you listen to?Indie, alternative, post-punk, ambientelectronic, post-rock and shoegaze

Something you can’t live without: My iPhone.

Favorite spot in NYC: Gantry Plaza StatePark, in Long Island City—great view

Favorite summer activity: Traveling abroad somewhere new

Worst job that you’ve ever had:Through college as a doorman and porter at a luxury Park Avenueapartment building—it really wasn’t a bad job, but my duties often includedcleaning up after dogs, collecting trash and mopping

Do you collect anything: Refrigeratormagnets from each city I visit

Habit you’re trying to break: Drinking soda

Favorite movie: Trainspottingor The Thin Red Line


Alicia PsillosMathematics

Hometown: Plainview, New York

High School you graduated from: Our Lady of Mercy Academy

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Manhattan College, BS in Math Education

Favorite TV show: Friends

Favorite food: Pizza and anything with cheese

Thing that annoys you most: People that are rude with no manners!

What type of music do you listen to?I like any type of music

Something you can’t live without:Cheese—just kidding! My family and friends

Favorite spot in NYC: Many, but if I hadto pick, Van Cordlandt Park

Favorite summer activity: Going to the beach and traveling

Worst job that you’ve ever had: CVS when I was in high school—I quit after 2 days

Hidden talent: I love to draw and paint

Do you collect anything? Rosary beads from different countries

Habit you’re trying to break: Rushing

What you do the minute you get home:Shower and get into sweats

Favorite movie: A League of Their Own

Favorite Quote: “Behind every passion is someone with the courage to try.”

Josh StagerScience and Technology

Hometown: Boring, Oregon (for real—zip code 97330)

High School you graduated from: Sam Barlow High School

College(s) you graduated from and degree: Oregon State University, BS in Physics, Oregon State University,MS in Science Education,

Favorite TV show: Star Trek (all series)

Favorite food: Pizza

Best book you’ve ever read: A Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

What type of music do you listen to?Anything that was written before I was born

Something you can’t live without: My wife

Favorite spot in NYC: Inwood Hill Park

Favorite summer activity: Walking in the evening

Worst job that you’ve ever had: Working for a crooked house-painting company

Hidden talent: I can look good in a mullet

Do you collect anything? Not purposely

Habit you’re trying to break:Diet Coke

Favorite movie: Life is Beautiful

Favorite Quote: “It’s the perfect plan... nothing could go wrong!”


The afternoon of March 3rdmarked the beginning of the newestgeneration of Xavier students, asmore than 280 young men registeredas members of the Class of 2014.

The event was a joyous occasionfor the students and their families,and many, like Jordan Berka ’14took the opportunity to pick up someexciting Xavier clothes to wear duringthe last of his 8th grade days.

“When I came for Knight for a Day, I really liked the attitude ofeveryone here,” said Jordan. “I likedhow the teachers really helped thestudents, and I also liked all thebuildings and sights in the city, and how it’s always moving.”

After an initial look at the Class of 2014, it’s clear that Xaviercontinues to attract some of NewYork City’s brightest and hardest-working young men. Many of theincoming freshmen live in Brooklyn,Manhattan, and Queen. There alsocontinues to be a growing numberof students from Staten Island and a healthy number of students fromthe Bronx and New Jersey.

The Admissions Committee was especially selective this year, as the school has been at full enroll-ment for some time, with a recordnumber of applicants: over 1,300!“Those who chose to attend Xavierhave a great four years of intellectual,physical, and spiritual developmentin front of them” said Mr. BenjaminHamm, director of admissions.

…280 more new faces!


16th StreetSpotlight

By Michael L. Benigno ’00

(Straight) Copyright Notice: 10,000 BC © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Coming of age on the Silver Screen

Born and raised in Manhattan, Steven Strait ’04 at an early age entered the world of modeling

and made his stage debut in a musical at Village Community School—all before he ever walked

through the doors on 16th Street. He escaped a saber-toothed tiger in 10,000 B.C. (2008), was thrown

through a barn fighting a warlock in The Covenant (2006) and can be seen in a lead role with

Andy Garcia in City Island (2009).


Steven Strait’s status as the only studentwalking around the Xavier halls with flowing,curly locks of hair, may have, for a shorttime, been a point of envy for his classmates.But it didn’t take long for the word to get out: the image of this tall, baby-facedManhattan-born kid you sat next to in classcould be seen, among other places, at themall, pasted on a large wall inside theAbercrombie & Fitch store.

Strait’s classmates knew his story as just a simple matter of fact: his hair lengthwas for professional reasons and came withexpressed permission from the dean of students and the headmaster—but he wasn’t the kind of young man to boast.

In fact, in February of his freshman year,just before the start of English class, Straitslinked down low in his chair, embarrassedbut smiling, suspicious ever since he walkedinto the classroom and saw a television cartand VCR set up in Mrs. Gonzalez’s classroom.Gonzalez—still one of Strait’s favorite teachers today—pressed play on the VCRand there was Steven in his TV debut, froman episode of Third Watch that had aired the night before.

Steven and his Xavier classmateswatched as he was portrayed reenacting a character’s years-ago love affair with a friend’s sister.

“It was very embarrassing, but Mrs. Gonzalez was so sweet about it, and she was very supportive of me,” Strait recalled recently. “It was almost a love scene though!”

Strait said that his time at Xavier wasextremely positive, and that he was particu-larly grateful for the support he receivedfrom teachers and administration on the occasions he had to miss school.

“I think, more than anything, what Xavierprovided for me was the self-discipline thatyou need to be successful in the arts,” hesaid. “Acting inherently doesn’t have muchstructure. There are no rules or boundaries,and it’s all very ambiguous. Xavier taughtme to build that structure for myself and to stay focused not just on my particularjob, but also on the project itself. Xavier’sthe place that I really learned that, and it has served me incredibly well.”

Steven’s schedule was very busy,between classes at Stella Adler School for Acting, modeling and being in a bandwith a group of friends. After his Xaviergraduation, it wasn’t long before someremarkably appropriate roles seemed to gravitate toward him.

After initially moving to California andsnagging a role in the Disney film Sky High(2005), Steven’s talent as both an actor and a musician (and even his long hair) was put to good use in Undiscovered (2005),when he played a New York musician whomoves to the West Coast and struggles to liveamidst the dangers of new fame. Steveneven did his own singing for the film.

In The Covenant (2006), Steven plays lead character Caleb Danvers, a student at a prestigious New England private schoolthat, Steven said, had elements of his time

22

at Xavier—the uniforms, the camaraderieamong fellow characters. Steven and threeother young actors, including ChaceCrawford, play four teenage descendents of a secret 17th century sect of witches whoface off against a banished fifth memberwho surfaces and threatens to destroy the secrecy of the group.

Strait’s character is the Mustang-driving,popular, but responsible leader of the packand the film is filled with compelling specialeffects and dramatic fight scenes that allowedhim to dive straight into some ratherunconventional working conditions.

For a movie-ending brawl between therogue descendant, a computerized cablesystem developed by Cirque du Soleil wasused in order to allow realistic 360-degreeaction while actors defied gravity and flewinto the air after bone-shattering blows. Amonth-and-a-half before those scenes wereset to be filmed, the mechanism was set upinside a warehouse near Montreal while theactors became acquainted with the systemand learned to control their bodies whilebeing harnessed and hoisted off the ground.

“Three guys controlled the rig, and it tooka long time to get used to it because oncethey started it, it was already programmed,so you were along for the ride if somethingwent wrong,” Strait said. “We went througha lot of flexibility training to control themovement of our bodies while we werebeing moved around.”

Steven enjoyed the other-worldiness of the plotline, and the action was a uniqueopportunity, but he couldn’t even see whatwas coming next.

In the prehistoric epic tale 10,000 B.C.(2008) Steven spent over a year living andfilming in New Zealand, South Africa andNamibia. Directed by Roland Emerick, whoalso wrote and directed big-budget filmssuch as Independence Day (1996) and TheDay After Tomorrow (2004), B.C. is centeredupon Steven’s character, D’Leh, as he leads a group of warriors to rescue the love of his life, Evolet, played by Camilla Belle.

B.C. was yet another extremely physicalrole for Steven, and he said he does notknow exactly why he is drawn to suchactive parts, but he suspects that it mayhave something to do with the fact that his mother, Jean, had been a karate teacherduring his youth. In one recognizable scenefrom B.C., Steven comes face to face with a saber-toothed tiger that, he said, wasn’tquite as scary in real life.

During filming, Steven, in full D’Leh costume, had to recite lines in a simulatedenvironment, and oftentimes animals likethe tiger were really just represented by afew yard sticks and tennis balls that providedfocal points before digital effects wereadded to compose the actual animal. It was a different kind of acting, and onethat stretched his skills to a new level.

“It was definitely an adjustment to

ALUMNEWS — MARCH 2010

Steven Strait with his mother, Jean, at the premier of City Island A younger Steven with Xavier classmates

work with such a high amount of computer generated imagery,” he said. “I really had to learn to use my imagination in a specificway to make all of those things real to me.You have to react like your life is in danger,and initially it was a major challenge. Butonce you get used to it—it’s a strange frameof mind to be in, really—then anything ispossible because you’re projecting whatyour mindset needs to be in that moment. It definitely allowed me to grow as an actor.”

As Steven continues his acting career, he is excited about what kind of new,adventurous experiences will come his way. But, he said, he hasn’t taken any part of his successful start for granted.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate, there’s no question about it. I feel extremelyblessed that I’ve been able to fulfill thatpiece of who I am through my work, and,really, I don’t define success as a number, or in terms of money or fame. I think thathas nothing to do with what success is for me. Being able to do what you love is being pretty successful in my mind.”

Look for Steven in City Island, which wonthe Tribeca Film Festival’s Audience Award.City Island opened March 19th in theaters.

Steven Strait lives in Los Angeles with his wife,actress Lynn Collins.


PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

10,000 B.C. (2008)A prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter on a dangerous quest to secure the future of his tribe.

City Island (2009)A funny and smart family tale about the secrets of the past catchingup with the lies of a modern-day mystery family.

The Covenant (2006)Four young men with supernaturalancestry battle it out with a long-lostjealous fifth power that was thoughtto have died off.

Getting a (rare) haircut!

Film… the Evolution!Mr. Vincent Vargas, Xavier’s own veteran Spanish teacher and long-time Film Club moderator

and his former student, AMC Head of Production Vlad Wolynetz ’88who oversees the award-

winning shows Mad Men and Breaking Bad, get together for dinner and conversation about

all things film as Xavier High School unveils a new film course senior elective.


P R E - P R A N D I A L

Mr. Vincent Vargas: I’m sure you’ll remember that when you entered Xavier as a freshman, there was a film course availableto upperclassmen, but by the time you wereready to take it that film course was history.

Vlad Wolynetz:My impression of thecourse was that they screened films up inroom 5L6. There was an old three-lens videoprojector unit hooked to a very primitive3/4 inch U-matic recorder. Now and thensome of our teachers, mostly our Englishteachers, took the class up there to show us a movie. I remember seeing Julius Caesarthere. The colors were never right, and one lens was always out of focus.

Vargas : Technology was not that friendly toward films in those days.

Wolynetz: Xavier was filled with a numberof now long-lost cultural artifacts. We hadfilm strip projectors, which along with theiraudio cassette and LP companions wouldBEEP you into the next slide. And on specialoccasions the 16mm projectors wouldcome out and somebody would run anactual motion picture.

Vargas: Xavier owned a 16mm reduction of A Man for all Seasons.

Wolynetz: I remember that vividly: it was a condensed version of an instructional film called Selected Excerpts of Paul Scofield. It was a beaten up old print from the 1970s.

I would say that a couple of times a yearsomebody would show something on filmand inevitably the film would break. The science department was big on showing16mm documentaries of how the egg is fertilized, and that sort of thing.

Vargas:Well, one of the reasons why I’mresurrecting these old memories is that theclass that suddenly disappeared when youcame in as a freshman is very much back at Xavier. This year I am teaching a coursecalled “Elements of Cinema” and one of the things that it is doing is reviving the tradition of film study that was here in thisschool when you came in. I would say itpicks up where the old course left off over twenty years ago.

Wolynetz: I think it’s a very smart additionto the curriculum.

Vargas: The wonderful thing about it is thatwith today’s technology showing a film in a classroom setting is a very rewarding andstress-free experience for the teacher. Duringyour student days, showing any type of filmwas always treacherous for any instructor.Technology, or the lack thereof, alwaysseemed to get the better of us. These daystechnology is very much on the side of theteachers and not against us.


P R O J E C T S P OT L I G H T

A P P E T I Z E R

Vargas: The founding of the Film Club backin the late 1980s was an important event in the lives of many Xavier students whohave gone on to work in show business.Many alumni have told me, over the years,that it was their first exposure to a world of film that they did not know existed.

Wolynetz: It was back in 1986. Film Club started just as the Xavier film course disappeared.

Vargas: Even though everybody was showing 16mm films in those days, as youmentioned earlier, I remember that we werereally adventurous and initially showed allthe films we studied in the then-new VHSformat that was rapidly catching on.

Wolynetz: Yes, and since my family hadbeen early adopters of the technology I wound up providing many of the tapesthat were played in the first sessions of Film Club.

Vargas: Yes, in versions that now nobodywould dare show. These were not the bestquality. Some of the silent movies weshowed did not even have soundtracks.

Wolynetz: Some of the silent films weshowed sometimes barely had pictures!

Vargas: But honestly, the soundtracks wereso bad sometimes that I remember I oftenturned the volume down and I made youguys watch the films completely silent.

Wolynetz: It was the burgeoning era ofVHS, and I was really happy that Film Clubcame along when it did. I was thrilled tohave been at one of the initial meetings and to have stayed with it for my last twoyears at Xavier. The school was filled withthese 22-inch TV sets and VCRs on carts. The picture was very small and often theVCRs had “tracking” issues, if anyone even remembers what that is.

Vargas: The funny thing was that after making great strides in showing films on VHS we ended up going back and showing films on rented 16mm film.

Wolynetz:Watching films on a little television set on a cart obviously had its limitations.

Mad Men The Emmy and Golden Globe-winningseries set in the 1960s at a New Yorkad agency, focusing on the mysteriousbut talented executive, Don Draper.

Season three encores air Sundays at midnight/11 central on AMC; season four airs later in the year.

Breaking BadA drama about a high school chemistry teacher who suffers from a terrible mid-life crisis andeventually turns to a life of crime.

Sundays 10p.m./9 central on AMC.


M A I N CO U R S E

Vargas: So, getting back to the present,we’ve done a complete circle. Now that I am teaching a film course we are back projecting movies once more, but this time using the latest technology available,including Blu-Ray DVDs. The technologythat’s around now is perfect for running this kind of film study course.

Wolynetz:What must be fun about teach-ing a class like “Elements of Cinema” is thatit is a combination of a history course, anarcheology course, a philosophy course, a technical grammar course, a literaturecourse, and an art course. And underneath it all, you have psychology, you have theology,you have whole worlds that are brought upfrom the context of the films themselves.

Vargas:And don’t forget the languageaspect. My point of departure for this coursefrom its original inception and planning to the everyday classroom teaching of it is language. Which makes sense because I am primarily a language teacher, and I aminterested in how we communicate. Whenpreparing this course I made a point ofunderlining the fact that today’s youngaudiences do not like, enjoy, or understandold classic films not because they are old,but because they lack the basic tools tounderstand the language in which the film was written.

Wolynetz:And you don’t just mean the world language of the country in which the film was produced.

Vargas: I mean the visual language thatgives the film its unique look and structure:a visual language that is on a very differentplane from the language used in films today.Ultimately, I feel that the aim of the courseis to train the students to become good“readers” of film so that, in the end, they can all become film literate.

Wolynetz:Well, look, I can vividly rememberfeeling that when the film course disappearedfrom Xavier. As a student, it totally left a hugevoid in the school’s curriculum. Media mat-tered back then and, if anything, its studytoday has become far more imperative inthe 21st century.

Vargas:Well, it’s back now! And I have totell you: the whole idea of a film course is apretty rare commodity in high schools thesedays. Film courses just don’t appear in everyhigh school curriculum. Therefore it is soimportant for Xavier to have this discipline,and it puts us way ahead of the game ofother high schools. Look, every waking hourwe are bombarded by the media with filmand cinematic technique. It is important to understand how, why and with what we are being bombarded.

Wolynetz: I think it is an essential course of study for young people. You’re quite right:at a minimum you are being marketed toevery minute of every day. You can’t walkdown the street or a hallway inside of abuilding without being “sold” to. The basisof that kind of artistic manipulation is foundin cinema because that’s where it all started.You are cued to be moved or intrigued orrepelled or angered or emboldened by thatgrammar and technique, whether in a filmor in an ad. In order to make sense of it allyou really have to be able to read it, to inter-pret it, and think about it critically which is what we were taught to do at Xavier. Theexploitation of wish fulfillment is somethingwe delve into all the time on Mad Men, soI’ve grown very familiar with many of thetechniques used to sell things to people. I do think that a course that teaches you the discipline to dissect those things in your mind and to separate what’s hyperbolefrom reality is absolutely essential at a schoollike ours and is a necessary component to a complete 21st century education.

“I think [film]

is an essential

course of

study for

young people.”

Vlad Wolynetz ’88


See the faces of Xavier in the Arts

Meet with Tom Degrezia ’00, Jayce Bartok ’90 and Ray Lustig ’90

Current Work:Two commissions for chamber orchestrapieces—one that incorporates the existingfragments of a lost cantata from J.S. Bach.Also, an opera-theater work based on thestory of one of medical history’s greatestheroes, Ignaz Semmelweis. Finally, film scorework on a short film by animator, brother, John Lustig ’00.

Previously: Ray’s orchestral composition, “UNSTUCK,”inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s SlaughterhouseFive and memories of his grandparents’struggles with dementia, won ASCAP’s top prize for orchestral works, was premiered by the Juilliard Symphony in Lincoln Center’sAlice Tully Hall.

Lustig’s composition, Images from a Sunken City, inspired by time spent in post-Katrina New Orleans, also premiered at Alice Tully Hall.

Commissions from the New York City Ballet’sChoreographic Institute, Yass HakoshimaMovement Theater, and other dance groups.

Challenges:“Trying to avoid being categorized too nar-rowly. At Xavier I learned to avoid simplisticcategorizations, to keep an open and activemind, to explore. As a composer, I’m interestedin the spaces between styles and genres. Mymusic has elements of symphonic classic

music, minimalism, pop, electronica, jazz,folk, cabaret, etc. And I never know wheremy next inspiration will come from, so I tryguard against being labeled too restrictively.This is a challenge, but it’s also where theexcitement comes from.”

Look For:• Performances of his new work with theMetropolis Ensemble and American Opera Projects

• A collaboration with composer Joe Carrano on a score for the A.D. Calvo indie film The Melancholy Fantastic

• “Unstuck” will be released this year onAlbany Records with the Bowling GreenPhilharmonia

Ray’s Advice:“As an artist, one of the biggest challenges is in learning to accept rejection and keepmoving on. Artists tend to be sensitive people, so even one rejection can be crippling. But even the most successfulartists get rejections all the time. Stay positive and your successes will soon grow and proliferate.”

Little-known fact:“Before going to graduate school in composition, I worked in molecular biology at Columbia University and MassachusettsHospital, where I published papers on cell division.”

R AY LU S T I G ’ 9 0


Current Work:In the upcoming film Coming Up Roses, Jayce plays a drug dealer in 1980’s NewHampshire. “It’s a sweet indie film about a mom and her teenage daughter tryingto make a go of it.”

Prior Work:

• F ILMSuburbia, Spiderman, The Station Agent, and Cop Out

• T VLaw and Order, OZ, numerous TV movies.

• THEATERMade In Poland at 59E59

• WRITERThe Cake Eaters, dir. Mary Stuart Masterson, starring Kristen Stewart

• DIRECTORAltered By Elvis (doc.)

Biggest challenge:“Writing, acting, and co-producing The Cake Eaters.It was the hardest thing I’ve done, a big risk, but onethat pushed me forward as an actor, writer, andfilmmaker. I was extremely nervous going into theprocess, being that it was the first screenplay I hadwritten. In general, the biggest obstacles in the artsarrive everyday, but I can’t think of an occupationmore rewarding.”

Look for:Jayce’s new screenplay, Red River, a true crimedrama about a normal family in the Midwest thatshockingly appear to be connected to the deathof a young college student in the Mississippi River.

Jayce’s advice:“These days, you can’t just be an actor, you have to diversify—do commercials, voice-overs, write,act, direct, develop projects for yourself and yourfriends for the web....really be a visionary in termsof getting noticed and creating opportunities.”

Little-known fact:Jayce Bartok is the voice of the Sundance Channel.

J AYC E ( W I LC H U S K Y ) B A R TO K ’ 9 0

Current Work:Tom can’t release too much info on his newestproject, but it’s a political, horror, thriller film. “The coolest detail I can give you is that it will be shot in 3D.” He is also working on a science fiction novel that spans the course of 20 years and four books called The Legend of Jimmy Hoax.

Prior Work:“A script doctor,” Tom says. “Script work and editing. I have worked on some scripts that I’ve gone into production with and others that I have done revisions on.”

His most recent film, Xtacy, won three awardsat the New York Independent Film Festival, BestActor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture.

Biggest challenge:“I’d like to believe that I have no shortage of goodideas, however, the two biggest challenges I faceas a filmmaker are completing a screenplay that I feel passionate enough about to move forwardwith, and then raising the money. The fundraisingis no walk in the park, and due to the state thatour country is in at the moment, low budget indiefilms are the first to suffer outside of Hollywood.”

Look for:Look for Sympathy for the Devil to hopefully be released.

Tom’s advice:“Make sure this is what you truly want in your life.You have to not only love this field, but you alsohave to crave it with every ounce of you soul. I’mnot talking about fame, because if that’s whatyou want, I don’t really recommend diving headfirst into this line of work. There are heartbreakand tough years that come along with makingthe choice to be in the arts. However, if you loveit and you work hard, you can find very reward-ing years ahead of you. You’ll get hundreds of“no’s” before you get a “yes.” The “no’s” hurt, butthey only make the “yes” that much sweeter.”

TO M D E G R E Z I A ’ 0 0

(Winner need not be present; you will be notified by Xavier)

www.xavierhsalumni.org/golfraffle10

$50per ticket

The Xavier High School

26th Annual Golf Outing

Name: __________________________________________ Class of: ___________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________ Email: __________________________

�� Enclosed is my check made payable to Xavier High School for $_____________

�� Please charge my credit card. �� Mastercard Card # ___________________________�� Visa

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Please return Joe Gorski, Vice President for Advancementthis form to: Xavier High School 30 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011-6302

O R L A N D O VA C AT I O N R A F F L EA 3-day vacation getaway for two people with deluxe accommodations at the Ginn Reunion Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida, or Hammock Beach Resort in Palm, Coast, Florida.

PackagesMaroon Package - $1,700 Includes 1 Foursome, 1 Tee Sponsorship, and an acknowledgement in our Annual Report

Golf - $350 Includes 1 golfer, Brunch, Gifts, Snacks & Beverages on the course, Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and Dinner.

Sponsorship OpportunitiesEvent Sponsor - $5,000 Includes a Foursome, recognition signs naming the tournament(The Your Business Name 25th Annual Xavier Golf Outing), a Jesuit Sponsorship, and an acknowledgement in ourTournament Program and Annual Report.

Dinner Sponsor - $3,000 Includes 2 golfers, a recognition sign at the tournament and anacknowledgement in our Tournament Program and Annual Report.

Brunch Sponsor - $2,500Includes 2 golfers, a sign at the tournament and an acknowledgement in our Tournament Program and Annual Report.

Cart Sponsor- $2,000 Includes 1 golfer and an acknowledgement in our Tournament Program and Annual Report.

Sponsor a Jesuit - $350 Adds a Jesuit golfer to the outing and includes an acknowledgement in our Tournament Program and Annual Report.

Golf Shirt Sponsor - $3,000 Talk about advertisement, your Company Logo will be printedon all the Golf Shirts, a recognition sign will be posted, and anacknowledgement will appear in our Tournament Program &Annual Report. Foursome also included.

Hole/Tee Sponsor - $400 Includes 1 tee sign and an acknowledgement in our Annual Report.

Your participation and support in the auctions, raffles, and sponsor-ships greatly contributes to the growth of financial assistance programs so that we can continue to serve a diverse student body!

Westchester Hills Golf Club May 18, 2010

9:30 a.m. Registration10:30 a.m. Brunch Buffet/Driving Range12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start4:30 p.m. Putting Contest Finals4:50 p.m. JBC Final Round for $50,0005:15 p.m. Cocktail Reception and hors d’oeuvres6:15 p.m. Dinner/ Awards/ Raffles

Register online:www.xavierhsalumni.org/golf10

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=www.xavierhsalumni.org/golfraffle10

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=www.xavierhsalumni.org/golf10


ACO U S T I C CO F F E E H O U S ESince 2004, the Xavier Acoustic Coffeehousehas been a venue to highlight student andfaculty bands and musicians, bringing the Xaviercommunity together for good music, goodcoffee, and good times. On Friday, December4th, more than 200 students, family membersand guests watched a great line-up of studentbands as they performed in the Commonsgymnasium, raising $5,500 to benefit theupcoming round of Companions of St. FrancisXavier service trips. The second AcousticCoffeehouse took place March 13, 2010.

X AV I E R D R A M AT I C SEach year, it is tradition for the Xavier DramaticsSociety to put on a winter drama and a springmusical production. This year, productionsincluded “Epic Proportions” and “Grease.” Inaddition, the XDS presents a student-directedfreshman production.

Check out “Grease” at Xavier April, 16th.

C H O R U SA choral group gives students and facultyalike the opportunity to perform regularly at school Masses and special events.

B A N DSeveral student musical groups, including a jazzensemble and a marching band use Xavier’sever-improving band room. In the past schoolyear, students have been able to use the digitalrecording room to monitor their progress overtime and improve their skills.

F E S T I VA L O F T H E A R T SSet for May 21st, a colorful night celebrating thearts at Xavier, hosted by Fine Arts departmentchair Mrs. Denise Iacovone, showcasing studentartwork, poetry readings, dramatic and choralperformances; senior student artwork auction.

1 CFX Coffeehouse, Dec. 4, 20092 “Epic Proportions”3 Mass of the Holy Spirit4 The Xavier Blue Night band performs

at Colgate-Palmolive headquarters.

CO U R S E G U I D E

Foundations of Acting 101A theater course designed to provide students with thebuilding blocks for truthful, creative, and spontaneous—‘moment to moment’ acting.

Film Acting TechniqueFilm and theatre terminology(intention, motivation, relation-ship, obstacles) is introducedthrough various individual andgroup exercises. Parts of scenesand monolouges are video-tapedwith playback critiques anessential part of class time.

Moviemaking and Editing with Final Cut ProBasics of pre-production, production, and post-production.Students are prepared to takethe Apple Level One FCP6 Procertification test. Students willplan, produce, edit, and screentheir own short films at the end of the year.

The Elements of CinemaStudents watch and discuss thegreatest movies of all time andlearn the various componentsthat make up the language offilm. Over the course of the year,working industry professionalssuch as writers, producers, anddirectors will visit the class toguest lecture.

A.P. Studio ArtA college-level course focusedon building students’ personalartistic voice and personaltheme, based on stringentCollege Board guidelines.

The Performing Arts at Xavier Today

1

2

3

4

Watch “Scenes from the AcousticCoffeehouse” shot on Dec. 4th in the Xavier Commons.

http://issuu.com/action/openurl?url=tiny.cc/d3xjw


Rev. Vincent L. Biagi, S.J. ’67Assistant for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education and LayFormation; former Xavier teacherand Regis High School principal.

Arthur D. Cashin, Jr. ’59 Director of Floor Operations for UBSat the New York Stock Exchangeand regular commentator on CNBC.

Thomas A. Conniff, Esq. ’52 Xavier Board of Trustees multipleterms, Chairman 2005-2208; counselor to educational institutionsincluding Fordham University, St. Francis College, College of New Rochelle.

Hon. John R. Countryman ’50 Served at various posts in the MiddleEast, lastly as the Ambassador tothe Sultanate of Oman. He is anactive participant at Xavier’s CareerDay for juniors.

Rev. Robert Lauder ’52 Ordained in 1960 as a priest, he is currently teaching philosophyat St. John’s University. Has writtenfor The Tablet for forty years andcontributes to America Magazine.

Msgr. Arthur J. Scanlan 1900Member of the faculty at Dunwoodie,then Rector from 1931 to1940. In1940, established St. Helena’s parish,then a grammar school, academicand commercial high schools.

John W. Spollen, Esq. ’62 Former member of the XavierBoard of Trustees and AdvancementCommittee Chair; dedicated anddevoted service to many institutions,the NY Province, and his parish.

Xavier High School

HALL OF FAME DINNER

Thomas A. Conniff, Esq. ’52 Arthur D. Cashin, Jr. ’59 Hon. John R. Countryman ’50 Rev. Vincent L. Biagi, S.J. ’67

Rev. Robert Lauder ’52 Msgr. Arthur J. Scanlan 1900 John W. Spollen, Esq. ’62

Friday, November 5, 2010

S AV E T H E D AT E !

PlacePIER SIXTY at Chelsea PiersNew York, NY 10011

TimeRECEPTION6:00 - 7:00 pm

DINNER7:00 pm


1940Come to your70th

CLASS REUNIONon May 1, 2010!

1941Bob Walsh ’41 sent us a photo wearing the Xavier sweatshirt hepicked up while attending Xavier’sWestchester Reception on Nov. 5th!

1942Donald Dawkins was awarded the Legion of Merit by the President of France for his service to the countryin 1944. John Maloney was ordained a permanent deacon and was selected toreceive communion from Pope Benedictin May 2009 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.



Samuel Falvo reports that he scored a hole-in-one at the Eglin Airbase golfcourse and that he had dinner with classmate, Jack McGoldrick.

1946James J. O’Connor enjoys traveling, fishing and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildrenin his retirement.

1947Francis Galdi and wife Lee joined classmate Harold Brauner and wife Betty for Christmas dinner.

1948The family of Len Abbot writes: “please pray for Len. His love of Xavier was always on his mind.” Daniel Fitzgerald recently published a novel entitled Donovan’s Dilemma.Tom Kennedy writes that he is enjoying his retirement years square-dancing and fishing in Idaho.

1949John Hauss has published a book ofcollected memoirs, Taking the Conn andNicking the Con, about his experiencesas a naval officer during the Korean Warand his long career as an FBI agent.John O’Neill is the proud father of five and grandfather of 17.



Richard Byrnes teaches art at the Studio Ceraveux in France.

1951Charles Cavanagh, Gerard Lawrence,and Chester Klimuszko ’50 vacationedtogether with their wives at the SomersetResort in the Turks and Cancion Islands.Michael Fitzgerald was recognized as Catholic Doctor of the Year and was recently presented with the WorldDifference Award by the Mission DoctorsAssociation. In addition to running hisgastroenterology practice, Michael servesas a volunteer physician at a clinic forthe uninsured on Syracuse’s north side,and has trained Haitian doctors to combat the country’s poverty.

1952William McCaughney and wife Arlinecelebrated their 50th wedding anniver-sary in November. Francis Notaro andwife Marie celebrated their 10th year asvolunteers for the Habitat for Humanityin Newburgh, NY. Francis would love to hear from old timers from the class of ’52 at 845-565-7345.

1953Mark Delaney was sworn in as Commissioner of Comal County (Texas)where he will supervise the fire depart-ment and emergency services. John A.Spizziri is eagerly awaiting the birth of his third great-grandson, AnthonyXavier Quinn.

Class Notes



Eugene Bozzo celebrated his 70thbirthday with family in Italy. JohnGallagher was named “Director of the Year” by the Board of PoliceReserves of Suffolk County. Ron Lofaroco-authored a paper on aviation psy-chology and presented the paper atthe 2009 International Symposium onAviation Psychology. After workingsince the age of 16, Frank Speraretired in April 2009 at the age of 71.

1956Kevin Donohue attended Jerry Faye’s70th birthday party this past summer.Members of the class of 1956 gatheredfor their 5th Annual Christmas Party.Attendee Nelson Deusebio writes: “It’s a rather doubtful that any otherclass in Xavier’s long and proud historycan make this exclusive claim.” FrankPerroni ’56 recently wrote to Xavier toshare the good news about his company,Independent Energy, LLC, which haspatented and will commercialize a novellectromagnetic Generator/Motor, the“Power 6 Generator” for clean electricalpower in homes, vehicles, offices, andmedical facilities. To learn more, visitwww.independentenergyllc.com.

1958Thomas Hoar has authored two textbooks about taxation and business:Tax Aspects of Business Transactions—a First Course Test Item File (1999) and Test Book to Accompany CollegeAccounting (1991). Thomas Maloneretired after a career in corporate ITand proprietorship of Sea Cliff Paint & Hardware.

1959Albert Rosa co-authored the sixth edition of a textbook about circuits and published a chapter in theHandbook of Engineering Fundamentals.Greg Scotten was elected DistrictCommander of the 3200-memberDistrict 22 of the United States PowerSquadrons. Charles Vega is the proudgrandfather of five!


CLASS REUNIONon April 30-May 1, 2010!

John Cavallaro retired from his position as CEO of HELP/PSI, a healthorganization for HIV/AIDS substanceabuse patients. John will soon beordained a full-time deacon in Florida.

1962William Grubb recently entertainedclassmates Tom Callahan and GeorgeDean. Rocco Iacovone’s latest CDrelease of original jazz made it to #18nationally on the college charts. Youcan hear samples of his music on hiswebsite roccojohnmusic.com.


Class Notes

Dr. Greg Scotten ’59was recently elected District Commander of the 3200-member District 22 of the United States Power Squadrons. The districtis home to the 18 Florida Gulf Coast squadrons. Attending the induction ceremony were Past District Commander Fred Adame ’56 and Past SquadronCommander George Martin ’50. Pictured above (l.-r.): Greg Scotten ’59, Fred Adame ’56, and George Martin ’50


1963Ernest Dewald was appointed to the dental assistant National Board TestConstruction to formulate a nationwideexamination for expanded functiondental assistants. Thomas Lyndonis practicing law in Washington D.C. and keeps in touch with classmatesFrank Herrmann, William Porter, and John Mahon (Thomas and Johnare brothers-in-law). John Mahonwas ordained permanent deacon for the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT.

1964Jack Marotta attended the Christening of Richard Monahan’sthird grandchild.



Robert Abbene was named toComputerworld’s Premier 100 ITLeaders for 2010. Recently retired, Glen McCombmarried Marry AnneHartman in October 2009.

1966Alfred Ashford was appointed Senior Associate Dean for the ColumbiaUniversity Medical Center Affiliation atHarlem Hospital Center. Ed DeSimoneis in his 20th year on the PharmacyFaculty in Creighton University and was designated Fellow of the AmericanPharmacists Association in March 2008.Conrad Tridente keeps busy in hisretirement by umpiring and refereeingover 200 baseball and basketball gamesper year.

1967Robert Kresofsky recently celebratedhis 60th birthday with his wife and someclassmates. Robert Loffredo is a proudgrandfather! Bill Strasserwas appointedDirector of the Saddle River Valley Bankbased in Saddle River, NJ.

1968Frank D’Elia is a managing partner ofAssociates in Urology (PA). John Walshcreated Walsh Management, whichassists organizations by providing support services and training classes.

1969Thomas Murphy lives in Wellesley, MA,is married and has two boys. DanielSczepanski rejoices at the XavierThanksgiving Day victory over Fordham.



1971Robert Hynes is working with theFederal Housing Finance Agency on the housing crisis in the D.C. area.



John Muller is an attending anesthesiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and the proud parent of three.

1976Mike Butler, the superintendent of Corporate Human Resources at Cablevision, recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with wife Ginny. Colonel T.J. Farrellis on his second tour of combat in Kuwait as the Division Chief for the Third Army G-36 Directorate.

1977Reid Muller is a cardiologist at SJHCardiology in Liverpool, NY. AnthonySarro is the president of a medicalbilling services and systems firm called Medical Practice Innovations.

1978Fr. David Berolotti serves at the combined parish of All Saints/Our Ladyof Montserrate and at Woodhull Hospitalin Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.



Michael Corso works for the QuagliaInstitute for Student Aspirations, a non-profit dedicated to improving thelearning environment for all students.

1983James M. Karpowich earned hisDoctorate of Education from Seton Hall University in August 2009. Jim McEleney was promoted to CEO of Bank of New York Mellon(India) and has relocated to Pune, India.Vincente Murrell works as an attorneyfor the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp,

1984James Curley works for Wachovia/Wells Fargo in Charlotte, NC.



Jesse Mojica serves as Director ofEducational Policy under the BronxBorough President.

1986Robert Suarez graduated from theThomas Cooley Law School in January2010 and received a letter of recom-mendation from Gen. David Petraeusfor a position as General Counsel forthe Department of Homeland Security.

1987Bart Daudelin took a position as business representative for backstageworkers on Broadway and other livetheater shows with the I.A.T.S.E. Local 764.Joseph Sheehanmarried in August2008 with classmate, ChristopherTimpone serving as groomsman and brother, John ’83, serving at best man.


1988Frank J. Luongo has been recalled to the Navy and will be deployed to Mexico City.



Francis Creighton returned to CapitolHill as Chief of Staff for CongressmanChris Murphy of Connecticut. JayceBartok’s screenwriting film debut, The Cake Eaters is now available onDVD. Raymond Lustig III, doctoral candidate at the Juliard School,received the prestigious AmericanAcademy of Arts and Letters’ CharlesIves Fellowship.

1991Joseph Degliuomini returned from a 12-month deployment to Iraq andwill be moving to Tampa this summerfor an assignment to Special OperationsCommand for a Joint Assignment. John C. Giordano returned from ayear’s deployment in Kuwait and hasrelocated to Fort Meade in Maryland.



1998Charles Petz is married with a one-year-old daughter.

1999Robert McGee works for theDepartment of Defense and coachesfootball for a local high school.



Jared Marinos is a captain with theU.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division and isstationed in Afghanistan for 13 months.

2003Timothy Callahan is teaching Englishand studying Mandarin in Shanghai.David del Cuadro graduated fromranger training in the summer of 2009,and is now stationed in the aviationunit at Fort Flood. Peter Fahertyis a law clerk in the Employment LawDepartment of Tully Rincky PLLC.

2005Come to your5th

CLASS REUNIONon April 30th, 2010!

William Lembo is proudly serving his country in Afghanistan with the82nd Airborne Division. R.J Petersongraduated from the Catholic Universityof America in 2009 and is teachinghigh school in Long Branch, NJ.

2007Nick Hendra played in two NCAABasketball tournaments in 2008 and 2009 for American University.Maxime Sinal recently traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, to work withEsperanza International through Long Island University: C.W. Post. Max spent a week working with 11other volunteers to restore hope byhelping build a foundation for onehome and a roof for another.

2009Peter Kouretsos is a freshman at Loyola University of Maryland.

On the weekend of Jan. 15th, Giancarlo Rindone ’09 and Stephen Chiaia met with Mrs. GraceLamour, her son Hank Lamour ’82, and Eric Klein ’87 to watch Klein’s son perform at a gymnasticscompetition at West Point. Giancarlo and Stephen joined Mrs. Lamour for a tour and dinner. “We had a delightful evening and I was very proud of our Xavier men,” Mrs. Lamour wrote.

C o r r e c t i o nA Classnote published in the July/August 2009 issue of Alumnewsmisspelledthe name of a 2005 graduate. The note should have read: Carl Muracograduated from Saint Joseph’s University.


Mileposts

DEATHSAlumniJames Fitzpatrick ’34,

May 11, 2009

Peter P. Lucchio ’35, February 24, 2009

Rev. Charles R. Malle ’36, August 30, 2009

John J. Paret ’36, August 29, 2006

Louis Adimando ’38, December 27, 2009

Rev. James F. Coleman ’39, May 31, 2003

John R. Smith ’39, September 16, 2006

John M. Morio ’40, May 21, 2009

William P. Joyce ’41, May 8, 2008

Harry C. de Venoge ’42, November 12, 2009

Xavier Riccobono ’42, July 21, 2004

Felix R. Suarez ’42, September 10, 2009

Rev. Thomas LaVelle ’43, July 17, 2009

Thomas J. McCormack ’44, September 23, 2006

Rev. Joseph A. Novak, S.J. ’44 , January 10, 2010

Maurice R. Roche, Jr. ’44, January 19, 2009

Edward B. Andrews ’45, June 8, 2009

Charles G. Herrmann ’45, September 26, 2008

James Mallin ’45, August 19, 2008

William S. Nutley ’45, December 29, 2009

Edward M. Lenard ’48, January 3, 2009

William Bolger ’49, October 8, 2009

Lucky Linton ’49, June 15, 2009

Eugene J. Brennan ’49, October 8, 2009

John W. Halloran ’51, December 24, 2008

Louis Anthony Perrone ’51, June 17, 2009

Eric C. Zoller ’51, December 5, 2009

William H. Casey ’52, August 28, 2008

John A. Lawler ’52, September 16, 2009

Richard T. Myers ’52, June 24, 2008

Victor J. Palace ’53, June 2, 2009

Anthony B. Bini ’55, April 27, 2007

Alfred Bianco ’57, June 5, 2009

Martin J. Callaghan, Jr. ’57, June 28, 2009

James C. Foley ’57, January 25, 2010

Anthony Tardio ’57, February 1, 2010

Francis J. Morison, Esq. ’58, February 15, 2010

Edward W. Gotti ’59, August 25, 2009

Daniel T. Brigham ’61, April 17, 2009

Joseph M. Coyle ’61, September 13, 2009

William C. Christman ’62, September 18, 2008

Michael J. Vitale ’66, December 18, 2009

Joseph Francis Hourigan ’68, November 9, 2009

Jay Politi ’68, January 17, 2010

Carlos M. Alvarez ’79, December 16, 2009

Alan Beckermeister ’88, November 26, 2009

IINN MMEEMMOORRIIAAMM Rev. Thomas Lavelle ’43, a Maryknoll

priest, died July 17, 2009. The middle child

of nine, Fr. Lavelle once told the Alumnews

that he insisted on entering the Maryknoll

seminary because he knew there was more

of a guarantee that he would be assigned

to foreign missionary work. After a brief stint

in the U.S. Army at the close of World War II,

he began work in Tihosuco, Mexico, serving

a ten-year-old parish of about 10,000 people

for the next ten years, working as pastor

for three.

Fr. Lavelle eventually learned to speak

the local Mayan dialect, and in interviews with

Maryknoll staff members, he often reflected

the joys he found in immersing himself in

the colorful native culture. On weekly trips

to the outskirts of the Yucatan Peninsula, he

mentored parishioners that had been baptized

but did not practice religion regularly. He also

conducted catechism classes and organized

nightly prayer meetings.

In all, Fr. Lavelle would continue his work

in Mexico at Dzidzantun, near the northern

tip of the peninsula, supervising a high school

and middle school. In 1992, he was appointed

the Superior of Maryknoll’s missions in Mexico.

In all, he spent 50 years of service in Mexico

and, though he said he would have chosen

to live out the rest of his life living where he

served, in illness he lived in St. Theresa’s Hall,

in Ossining, New York, in the company and care

of fellow Maryknollers, just down the road

from the seminary where his journey began.


MilepostsDEATHSFamilyGeorge J. Brecht,

father of Gregory ’83, October 27, 2009

Joseph P. Cristiano, father of Robert ’96, February 23, 2009

Diane Farinacci-Murray, wife of Kip Murray ’73, September 19, 2009

Theresa Furey, mother of Matthew ’07, September 24, 2009

Florence Galligan, mother of Christopher ’81 and James ’84,November 6, 2009

Roland Gunther, father of John ’94, December 2, 2009

Mary Joan Keegan, mother of Edward ’79 February 22, 2010

Barbara LoMenzo, wife of Roger ’60, December 26, 2009

Ricardo Lopez, son of Louis ’49, October 21, 2009

Ann T. McGrorey, wife of John ’36, September 26, 2008

John McShane, son of Owen ’29, January 6, 2010

Mary Manning Naimoli, wife of John ’36, October 26, 2008

Helen Pellino, mother of Glenn ’67 and Barry ’68,December 12, 2009

Roseann Lyons Piekarz, daughter of Thomas Lyons ’51,September 8, 2008

Anthony Polito, father of Anthony ’88, January 6, 2008

Helen M. Sullivan, mother-in-law of Michael Ford ’63,December 27, 2009

Olive F. Swensen, wife of Christopher ’39, May 18, 2008

Susan Toohill, sister-in-law of Daniel Denihan ’65,February 3, 2010

Mary Catherine Williamson, mother of Paul ’57, August 28, 2009

Fredric Wolff III, son of Fredric ’56, August 14, 2009

Charles W. Wood, father of Vincent ’00, July 21, 2009

Celeste A. Yacovone, wife of Joseph ’71, July 1, 2009

John J. Young, father of John ’77, Christopher ’79 and Peter ’83, August 31, 2008

Helen Zic, mother of Walter ’81, March 21, 2008

FriendsDaisy Atherton,

mother of SFC Wayne Atherton,December 24, 2009

Janet Conway, mother-in-law of Denise Conway,Xavier staff, January 29, 2010

William Crist, father-in-law of Gerard Walker, Xavier faculty, October 20, 2009

Ceil Hoebermann, mother-in-law of Dcn. VincentLaurato, former Xavier faculty, June 30, 2009

Rev. Robert G. Lynch, S.J., former Xavier faculty, October 20, 2009

Alice McNally, mother of Kitty, former Xavier faculty, October 19, 2009

Rev. John Scully, S.J., former Xavier faculty, August 18, 2009

BIRTHSLuke Anthony Angerame,

August 21, 2009

Lisa and Paul Angerame ’78

Caitlin Grace Brennan, October 5, 2009

Katie and George C. Brennan ’89

Olivia Creighton, June 29, 2009

Julia and John Creighton ’96

Alexi and Justin Hammel, December 4, 2008Valerie Dube and William Hammel ’88

Connor Mullen, June 14, 2009

Jeanne Holly and Greg Mullen ’88

Justin John Polito, September 12, 2006

Patricia and Anthony Polito ’88

WEDDINGSDeborah Ellis and Douglas LeVien ’90,

August 8, 2009

Patricia Stell and Joseph W. Fleck ’52, September 5, 2009


Want to stay plugged into the latest from 16th street?

Make Xavier’s exciting E-newsletter part of your week!

School news,

event invitations,

web video

and more.

WE HEAR YOU!Since Xavier launched its weekly E-newsletter in December 2009, the school has been bombardedwith great feedback from alumniand friends who have let us knowthey’ve made the E-news partof their weekly routine! The E-news is published every

Friday during the school year, andincludes all the latest highlightsfrom 16th Street—academic news,JROTC highlights, sports accomplish-ments, service work and more! Also, plenty of news from the widenetwork of Xavier graduates andphotos from alumni events.

If you don’t get the E-news already, send your email to [email protected], and come along for the ride beginning this week.


Explore your legacy. What’s New for 2010?It's an extraordinarily uncertain time—tax wise, that is. Thisis the first year in decades that American tax law repealedthe federal estate tax. As of Jan. 1, 2010, federal estate taxesare repealed for any deaths that occur during this calendaryear, regardless of the size of that person’s estate. While thatsounds like a good thing for everyone, it could actually bea double-edged sword.

New for 2010: Convert Your IRAThe year 2010 offers a great opportunity if you have an IRA. Any amount you withdraw from an IRA is typically taxableincome to you, so being able to have a Roth IRA that youcan access tax-free is a great advantage to you. A Roth IRAallows you to take funds from the plan income tax–free if you meet certain conditions, and you never have to take mandatory withdrawals during your lifetime. Whenconverting, you'll have to pay income tax on the IRA amountyou convert, but you can pay half the taxes in 2011 and halfin 2012. If your IRA is currently worth less than what it usedto be, perhaps due to a market decline, it may be an oppor-tune time to convert to a Roth. If it is worth less when youconvert it, you'll pay tax on a smaller amount. Take thisopportunity to expand your philanthropic desires by makinga tax-deductible gift to Xavier High School to help offsetthe taxes generated by the Roth conversion.

Ways You Can Make a Lasting Difference You may have noticed that many of the truly good thingsin this world are a result of people opening their hearts.This generosity is often a thank you for assistance receivedin the past, an expression of compassion for a mission thattouched someone’s heart or the result of witnessing theinspiring story of someone in need.

Your options for giving are almost as abundant as your reasons for giving—and we appreciate any support you have to offer.

Explore your legacy.

To read these articles, please go to:

www.xavierhsalumni.orgThen click on “Planned Giving Advice”

For more information please contact us:

Joseph Gorski 212.924.7900 ext. 1539 or [email protected]

Mark A. Mongelluzzo, Esq. 212.924.7900 ext. 1436 or [email protected]



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Alumni Hockey GameMarch 27, 2010

D.C. Club EventMarch 30, 2010

Scholarship ReceptionApril 13, 2010

BostonAlumni ReceptionApril 15, 2010

XBC Spring EventApril 21, 2010

Class-chair CocktailsApril 27, 2010

Reunion WeekendClasses ending in 0 & 5!April 30 - May 1, 2010

Golf OutingMay 18, 2010

30West 16th Street New York, NY 10011-6302

Alumnews Calendar

march 2010 alumnews

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