Our 2018 Honorees FATHER GORDON DOFFING 2018 OPUS SANCTI THOMAE AWARD
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FALL / ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SABER FEATURE Our 2018 Honorees FATHER GORDON DOFFING 2018 OPUS SANCTI THOMAE AWARD THOMAS CLEMENTS ’73 2018 EDWARD G. HAMES ALUMNI HONORS AWARD FROM THE HEADMASTER Each fall as we welcome students back to school, I find myself reminiscing about my time as a Saint Thomas Academy cadet. I recognize the students’ looks of apprehension because I was equally as disoriented the first day of my freshman year. I had just recently relocated from New York City and faced a new school, a new home, a new community and the prospect of new friends. While my father and uncle were alumni, and my grandfather a long-time history teacher, Saint Thomas Academy was still a bit intimidating. Thankfully, in second hour on my first day at the Academy, I metMatt Dudley ’90. We became fast friends, and today represent the lifelong brotherhood that is so strong among cadets. Many others provided their special memories of the traditions and this brotherhood that we’re pleased to share in this issue of Saber. I’m also drawn to reminisce when I visit with alums who return to campus for Alumni Reunion Weekend. It’s the highlight of the year for many, as we renew old friendships and celebrate the ways in which Saint Thomas Academy shaped our lives forever. Matthew C. Mohs ’90 In that context, I was struck by what Thomas Clements ’73, our 2018 Hames Alumni Award recipient, said of Saint Thomas Academy (on page 6), “They were forming leaders. They weren’t forming guys who just sit in the back.” That was true when Tom was a student, when I was a student and it’s still true today. Tom has certainly lived life as a leader — both in business and in service to others. After a successful business career culminating in the sale of his company, Tom put his new-found prosperity to work for others through the founding of the first Catholic college in Georgia, and later, extensive mission work in Ghana, most notably the establishment of St. Joseph Catholic School, one of the top high schools in Western Ghana. One of the faculty members during Tom’s school years, Fr. Gordon Doffing, had a profound impact on many cadets in our history. The esteemed Opus Sancti Thomae honoree for 2018 (profiled on page ),2 Fr. Doffing served the Academy for 20 years from 1966 to 1986. As Middle School Director in its early years, he laid the foundation MISSION for what has become a vital element of Saint Thomas Academy — a distinct program for boys entering adolescence, rooted in the Academy’s rich traditions and history. Our mission — to develop boys into His leadership and influence on generations of boys cannot be understated. men of character — is our promise to our students, our families, our community These two men demonstrate the ripple effect that Saint Thomas Academy, and our and the world. generous community, has had globally through the years. Extraordinary gifts of time, talents and resources from our alumni, parents, friends and donors allow us to fulfill our We accomplish this through the mission to develop boys into men of character, prepared to lead in college and beyond. transformative power of an educational On behalf of everyone at Saint Thomas Academy, we are deeply honored. Thank you. and life experience deeply rooted in Catholic faith and traditions, academic excellence, military leadership, and an all-male environment. Matthew C. Mohs ‘90 Headmaster CADETS.COM SABER CONTENTS Fall / Annual Report 2018 Saber is published by Saint Thomas Academy 949 Mendota Heights Road Mendota Heights, MN 55120 651-454-4570 cadets.com Your comments, story ideas and suggestions are welcome. Please call editor Deborah Edwards, Director of Admissions and Marketing, at 651-683-1532 or email [email protected]. Feature and Articles Writer: David Jacobson Designer: Renee Dubs Ellena Printing: Dolan Printing 2 | 6 Photo Credits: Andy King Photography John Geroux Michael Murray Photography Saint Thomas Academy Alumni Saint Thomas Academy Family & Friends The Photographers Guild BOARD OF DIRECTORS 10 20 LEADERSHIP Chief Officer The Most Reverend Bernard Hebda Chairman FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE Mr. Kelly Rowe '79 Vice Chairman 2 2018 Opus Sancti Thomae Award 13 Academy News Mr. Daniel Kubes ’87 Recipient 18 Meet the Faculty Past Chairman 2018 Edward G. Hames Alumni 6 Advancement News Mr. James Kolar ’80 Honors Award Recipient 24 48 Alumni News Vice President 10 Tracing Tradition The Most Reverend Class Notes Andrew Cozzens 20 The Mother of All Clubs 50 In Memoriam Secretary 2017-18 Annual Report 52 22 Mr. Matthew Mohs ’90 53 Calendar of Events Founding Partner Mr. Michael Ciresi ’64 CADETS.COM SABER Fall / Annual Report 2018 | 1 2 | SABER Fall / Annual Report 2018 CADETS.COM FEATURE 2018 OPUS SANCTI THOMAE AWARD Humility and Humor: The Father Gordon Doffing Story BY DAVID JACOBSON ou don’t go long without laughter when you talk toY Father Gordon Doffing, recipient of this year’s Opus Sancti Thomae Award. “I was flabbergasted when Dave Hottinger ’85 (Saint Thomas Academy’s Director of Institutional Advancement) called me about the award,” Father Doffing said. “I told him he must have got the wrong number. With archbishops, and statesmen and successful businessmen on the list of recipients, I feel like I’m in very good company, but I don’t know if I deserve it.” He does. And statements that reveal his humility only confirm that fact. He is not only a standard-bearer for Saint Thomas Academy, but also a stalwart of St. Paul as a whole. He has lived almost all of his 85 years in the area, starting with his childhood in West Side, where his interactions with the Church put him on the path to priesthood. “In St. James parish, the priests did so much in our neighborhood and also in our schools,” he said. “They Through all his years at Saint Thomas were such good examples.” Father Doffing particularly Academy, the memories that stand out admired the late Father Patrick Hessian, who helped lead were coaching the Academy’s High St. James and went on to serve as a major general in the Army and retire as its Chief Chaplain. School Bowl quiz team to a Twin Cities championship and the annual group trips — Continued on page 4 to Germany he would lead. CADETS.COM SABER Fall / Annual Report 2018 | 3 FEATURE | Father Gordon Doffing RIGHT Father Doffing speaking to the Middle School on a recent visit. BELOW Father Doffing instructing cadets during his days as a faculty member. Father Doffing graduated from St. Agnes in 1951 and attended what was then the College of St. Thomas. A major influence while studying clarinet there was Dr. Francis Mayer, head of the music department and the band director, who, Doffing recalls with a laugh, used to encourage him by saying, “If doctors and scientists can make penicillin out of moldy bread, then we ought to be able to make something out of you.” His first stop out of college was St. Joseph’s in West St. Paul. Six years later, Monsignor Roach invited him to join the faculty of Saint Thomas Academy, where he stayed from 1966-1986. His roles included music teacher and guidance counselor until Headmaster Pat Casey persuaded him to become head of the middle school. ABOVE Father Doffing presiding over a mass. RIGHT Activities and Athletic Director Bob Slater ’77 laughing and reminiscing with Father Doffing. 4 | SABER Fall / Annual Report 2018 CADETS.COM Father Gordon Doffing | FEATURE Pictured below from left to right: Father Doffing, Michael Byrne ’63, Michael Fleischhacker, and current Middle School Director Jamie Jurkovich. OPUS SANCTI THOMAE AWARD The Opus Sancti Thomae Award was established in 1992 to honor friends and affiliates of Saint Thomas Academy. This award recognizes both men and women who have made outstanding contributions to business, civic, church, educational and professional communities. We honor their respective characters and achievements with this medal, designed by the Reverend Thomas Kolar, deceased faculty member. Its centerpiece is an encircled Jerusalem cross. Embedded sapphires grace each bar of the cross and representations of the two Academy logos denote its place of origin. In 1986, Archbishop Roach asked Father Doffing to take over the Previous Recipients of the Opus Sancti parish at Church of the Holy Childhood, where he stayed until his Thomae Award: retirement in 2000. He has since lived in Mesa, Ariz., because he 1992 – Frank C. Mullaney ’39 “fell in love with the climate, compared to St. Paul’s.” 1993 – Clara Glenn The climate in Mesa is conducive to his pursuit of the hobby he calls 1994 – Most Reverend John R. Roach, D.D. “nocturnal hydrotherapy” (late-night swims). He occasionally leads 1995 – Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst mass, conducts funerals and makes hospital calls. 1996 – J. Peter ’51 and Mary Ritten 1997 – Alan K. (Bud) Ruvelson ’32 Despite the time and distance away from his days at Saint Thomas 1998 – Sylvester G. Turbes Academy, Father Doffing likes what he sees there. “They’re doing 1999 – Lawrence M. O’Shaughnessy ’39 so much outreach in the community, especially in West St. Paul. 2000 – Reverend Thomas F. Kolar Joe Seidel is such a great guy, and the stuff he’s doing — taking the 2001 – Walter G. Kurtz students to go spend time with people in need — that kind of 2002 – Reverend Michael J. O’Connell ’59 personal contact shows up in the lives of the students. Joe really 2003 – Gerald ’48 and Maurna Donovan has a handle on that. He’s been doing it so well for so long.