A Brotherhood of Extraordinary Gentlemen
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Summer 2016 A Brotherhood of Extraordinary Gentlemen LIC THO HI A GH C L S A C H R T O O N E L INSIDE: The unique bond that makes us all C P P i ro Deo et Patria a Men of Faith, Men of Scholarship, Men of Service t i ts n bu lva rgh, Pennsy John A. Staley IV, ’61 Rudolph “Rudy” F. Zupancic, ’50 Inside the Quadrangle Cover Story – A Message from the Principal Page 16 Central Catholic High School Administration Dear Friends of Central Catholic, Brother Robert Schaefer, FSC, Principal Vincent Ciaramella, ’71, Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs Recently, a task force from an all-boys Catholic high school in Houston visited Central Andrew Macurak, Assistant Principal for Student Affairs C. Devin Crummie, ’97, Assistant Principal for Faculty and Catholic as part of their project to identify “best practices” among other all-boys Curriculum Development Catholic schools that had been identified as “schools of excellence.” The first question Steven S. Bezila, ’99, Dean of Students the visiting team asked me, “What are you most proud of at Central Catholic?” I was Board of Directors able to answer quickly and most sincerely. It is our fidelity to our founding mission. John A. Staley, V, ’84, Chair For almost nine decades, I told them, Central Catholic has never strayed from the James J. Leeper, ’70, Vice Chair Gary C. Doyle, ’80, Treasurer Athletics – Page 9 inspirational vision of Saint John Baptist de La Salle that those pioneering 14 Christian Dana E. Hanna, Secretary Brothers brought with them to Pittsburgh back in 1927. Brother Robert Schaefer, FSC Kevin B. Acklin, ’94 Principal Ronald T. Bowes, Ph.D. We know that it was Saint La Salle and his young Band of Brothers who pioneered Jay T. Carson, ’74 Michael P. DeVanney, ’97 simultaneous instruction, teaching children in the vernacular, and who introduced modern languages, arts, sciences, and Janet O. Donahue vocational subjects into the traditional curriculum that was dominated by reading and writing. That spirit of educational Father John F. Donahue, ’91 innovation to meet modern needs continues to be operational at Central Catholic. Evan S. Frazier, Sr. Richard S. Hamilton, ’63 Paul A. Iurlano But what I believe to be the most significant founding principle of De La Salle, the one that has taken the deepest Brother Joseph Juliano, FSC Robert M. Luffy root at Central Catholic over the generations, is that he founded schools as Christian communities modeled on the Kevin M. McGonigle, ’82 communities of Brothers. In the history of the foundation of the Brothers, the most significant event occurred when William W. Rielly, Jr., ’79 Charena R. Swann, Ph.D. the group of teachers helping De La Salle in the schools made the decision to move into community together and adopt the title Brother. The schools of Father De La Salle, they decided, were to be marked by a strong brotherhood and the Admissions community of Brothers was to model that. It was, some historians say, miraculous because those early schools were able Brian Miller, Director of Admissions The Class of 2019 – Page 2 412.208.3492 • [email protected] to create this unique spirit of brotherhood in the midst of a very stratified society where the poor and working class were looked down upon and ignored. But in the Brothers’ schools, those divisions soon passed and all would come to see one Office of Advancement Patricia Joan Maurer, another as Brothers. This was a practical, realistic implementation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Executive Director for Institutional Advancement 412.208.3401 • [email protected] This gift (or charism) of the Holy Spirit that comes to us through De La Salle is tangibly alive at Central Catholic. It is, Mark Burnett, ’00, Auction Coordinator 412.208.3443 • [email protected] indeed, a Brotherhood of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Our Patron Saint must look down from heaven with satisfaction Jeff Folino, ’75, Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations at Central Catholic where still today boys from all sorts of neighborhoods and socio-economic backgrounds grow 412.208.3488 • [email protected] up together strengthened by the bonds of a brotherhood that inspires them to be and do their best – to love God Lisa Rogers, Advancement Services Manager 412.622.6172 • [email protected] and neighbor. And it doesn’t end at graduation. Class reunions, weddings, baptisms, birthdays, and funerals, not to Eric Starkowicz, ’95, Director of Marketing and Communications mention job searches, moving to a new city, and business partnerships are all times and occasions where this Central 412.622.6173 • [email protected] Catholic Brotherhood is evident. Secular-minded people might try and describe this as a network but as a Catholic faith Claudia Steffey, Director of Annual Giving 412.622.6171 • [email protected] community all of us who have experienced it know that it is way more than a network! It’s family. Editor / Design & Layout Editing Eric Starkowicz, ’95 Patricia Maurer, Lisa Rogers, The Christmas season reminds us of the importance of family. We recall the humble birth of the Son of God and with Brother Robert Schaefer, FSC, Central Catholic Wrestling: The Early Years – Page 12 His birth the arrival of the Kingdom of God and our salvation. Each day at Central Catholic, we find our inspiration in and Claudia Steffey this principle mystery of our Faith and your support is essential in our fulfilling this Mission. Contributors Photography Callen Adomitis, ’17 CCHS Archives For all your support in allowing this Brotherhood to continue for future generations, I am most sincerely grateful. Jeff Folino, ’75 Duquesne University Table of Contents Luke Giannetta, ’17 Roy Engelbrecht Bobby Kiernan, ’16 Matt Freed / Post-Gazette Merry Christmas! Adam Kronebusch Br. Eric Henderson, FSC A Message from the Principal 1 Faculty 28 Patricia Maurer Hill’s Studio The Class of 2019 2 Advancement 32 Brother Robert Schaefer, FSC Patricia Maurer STEM Building “Topped Off” 3 Alumni Relations 36 Kevin Shields, ’79 Barry Myers Student Spotlight 4 2015 Reunions 37 Eric Starkowicz, ’95 Christian Romano, ’17 Athletics 9 Lettermen’s Club 40 Brother Robert Schaefer, FSC Claudia Steffey Eric Starkowicz, ’95 Lasallian Ministry 14 News from the Viking Nation 42 Matthew Sudnik, ’01 Claudia Steffey A Brotherhood of In Memoriam 44 Principal Bob Unetich, ’64 Fr. Mark Thomas Extraordinary Gentlemen 16 Spring Varsity Sports 45 1 The Class of 2019 STEM Building “Topped Off ” For the 88th time, the doors of Central Catholic were opened to the next generation of Vikings. Just over 860 In building construction, topping off (sometimes referred to as topping out) is a builders’ rite traditionally held students, including more than 200 freshmen (pictured below), will call 4720 Fifth Avenue home this year. when the last beam is placed atop a structure. On October 8, the final beam was put into place on the STEM building. The entire student body was invited to sign the beam that morning. The beam carried the traditional fir tree and American flag, along with a crucifix that the Christian Brothers added from their residence, and an icon of their founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. Construction continues at a steady pace. The concrete floors have been poured and crews are working to close up the building before winter arrives. The project is on schedule and will open in August 2016. Then and Now Watch the STEM building’s progress on Central’s live webcam at: Brother Eugene Edwin’s homeroom, 1927 Brother Charles Huber’s homeroom, 2015 www.centralcatholichs.com/webcam 2 3 Student Spotlight Colin recently competed in the Schmidt Dreams of Opera Stardom Youth Vocal Competition at the National Colin Aikins, ’18, taught. Spacagna has performed in some of the most Opera Center in New York City. He sings many genres prestigious opera houses in the world, including the won the award for “Most Promising of music, but the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the Sophomore” and went on to take first 15-year-old from Dallas Opera, Deutsche Opera, and Teatro la Scala. place in the contest, which is known Vandergrift prefers as “The Nation’s Premier Youth Vocal Opera. Two years ago, This summer, Colin attended an opera camp hosted by Competition.” As a result, he was offered he asked to take vocal the prestigious Julliard School in New York City and a scholarship to attend the Julliard Pre- lessons. His parents Voice Experience in Savannah, Georgia. College Program. His mother, Maria, were skeptical, as no said, “Unfortunately, the program is one from his family Colin performed solos of Ideale and Mattinata, both by during the school year and Colin loves even knew that he Francesco Paolo Tosti at the Voice Experience concerts. being a regular high school kid at could sing. He was also chosen to sing the solo in “Funiculi, Central!” Julliard will have to wait. Funicula” (Neopolitan Song) by Luigi Denza and “I didn’t really know Peppino Turco. I could sing. I’d sing in my room so no one could hear me. When my voice These experiences led Colin to be selected by opera changed when I was 13 or 14, I sang for my parents, great, Sherrill Milnes to have a master class and be Student Technology Startup they were pretty shocked.” coached by the 50 year Robert Mitchell, ’16, is one of three teenage school guidance counselors, education development Metropolitan Opera entrepreneurs collaborating on a technology startup professionals, and employers who were willing to Colin showed his parents baritone. called emrj, which helps high school students and entertain the idea of bringing in students for job that he could sing and sing businesses connect for job shadowing.