The 2019-20 Annual Report of Gifts and Honor Roll of Donors WWW.DEMATHA.ORG RED & BLUE REVIEW FALL 2020 WWW.DEMATHA.ORG | SPRING 2019 REVIEW A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, & FRIENDS OF DEMATHA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW WWW.DEMATHA.ORG | SPRING 2019 REVIEW Built On A Promise That Challenges ‘Never’! DM_R&B_Fall_2020.indd 1 11/10/20 10:29 AM A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS, & FRIENDS OF DE MATHA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Contents Fall 2020 FEATURES 18 The St. John de Matha Medal: A Seamless Thread Through DeMatha History 19 Fr. Josh Ordained As A Priest After 14-Year Journey PAGE 18 20 Dr. George Westerman ’80: Using DeMatha Work Ethic Towards Success In Technology 21 Charles Wiley ’95: Marching For Unity and Making An Impact 22 Stories From The Express PAGE 19 DEPARTMENTS 3 From The President’s Offic 4 From The Chair of The Board of Directors 5 Annual Report 2019-20 6 2019-2020 Honor Roll of Donors 24 Alma Matters 31 In Memoriam PAGE 22 PAGE 24 ON THE COVER Through the support of the entire school community, DeMatha has continued to thrive in providing the best education possible to its students, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a line from our alma mater, DeMatha is Built On A Promise That Challenges ‘Never’. DM_R&B_Fall_2020.indd 2 11/10/20 10:29 AM DeMatha Catholic High School WWW.DEMATHA.ORG Red & Blue Review VOLUME 18, NUMBER 3, FALL 2020 From the President’s Office Fr. James R. Day, O.SS.T. PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends of DeMatha, Dr. Daniel J. McMahon ’76 PRINCIPAL e live in interesting times. With all of the restless- Th Red & Blue Review is produced by the Advancement ness permeating our lives daily, anyone attempting Office f DeMatha Catholic High School. to write a letter, an essay, convey a thought or ob- Any comments about this servation must weigh almost every word to be sure publication should be directed to W that the intention of the author is stated in such a way that no one Mr. Connor Glowacki ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF can misinterpret the idea and come away with a completely op- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS posite view. Such is the challenge facing many of us today. DeMatha Catholic High School 4313 Madison Street I believe I have been able to choose a topic that will resonate Hyattsville, Maryland 20781 with all people who are interested in supporting the mission of (240) 764-2120 [email protected] DeMatha Catholic High School. During the past several months our daily lives have been inter- CONTRIBUTORS rupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, with the government mandated ceasing of in-person learn- Mr. Th mas Ponton ’78 ing and the cancellation of many of the rituals that all high schools implement at the end of a high EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT school career, and with social unrest. (240) 764-2222 However, during all of this and more, I believe the one common thread which has been ad- Mr. Brendan Shea ’00 DIRECTOR OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT vanced by all within the DeMatha community is the virtue of resiliency. Faculty and staff, families (240) 305-7542 and students, alumni and friends never lost a beat, as we shifted into virtual learning. We cele- Mrs. Teresa Farrell brated in acceptable ways the achievements of education, and we received the fi ancial support of ADVANCEMENT SERVICES MANAGER (240) 764-2223 many alumni and friends who are included in this publication. We look at many of the landmarks Ms. Maureen McCart which describe success: enrollment numbers, retention numbers, donations, faculty stability and ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES, GRANTS, AND STEWARDSHIP the morale on campus, leading our students to understand the systemic social problems challeng- (240) 764-2221 ing everyone, and I believe we can say that DeMatha has been resilient in the face of it all. Mr. Ben Fleri ’11 I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is reading this, because our faculty, staff nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEMATHA CATHOLIC FUND administrators could not continue to advance the mission of the school without your prayers AND ALUMNI RELATIONS (240) 764-2212 and personal support, and I believe we are blessed because of your belief in us. We continue to monitor our progress and we look forward to embracing new and different modes of learning 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS when possible, but the learning has not stopped, and our connection with you has remained Mr. David DiLuigi ’88, Chairperson strong and constant. Mr. Jeffrey Hathaway ’77 Secretary Mr. Richard Harrington ’84, Treasurer Blessings to you and those whom you love for your continued belief that DeMatha’s mission Mr. Timothy O’Brien ’77, Past Chair is worthy of respect and support: shaping Faith-Filled Gentlemen and Scholars. Mr. David Aldridge ’83 Ms. Karen Cook Fr. Shawn Foggo ’95 Ms. Grovetta Gardineer Mr. Timothy Hill ’95 Fr. James R. Day, O.SS.T. Mr. Tom Hoff PRESIDENT Mr. Michael Johnson ’80 Mr. Thomas Kane ’86 Mr. Charles Kenny ’68 Mr. Kenneth Mellett Mr. Frank Persico Mr. Brian Sheahan ’80 Dr. Lisa Slade Ms. Penelope Thornton Talley Deacon Curtis Turner ’86 Mr. Brendan Wootten ’88 Fr. James R. Day, O.SS.T., President, Ex Officio ember DeMathaRed Catholic & Blue High Review School | Fall | Fall 20202020 33 DM_R&B_Fall_2020.indd 3 11/10/20 10:29 AM The St. John de Matha Medal: A Seamless Thread Through DeMatha History any high schools throughout the country annually give out special awards to its fi ancial supporters. The St. John de Matha Medal stands out since it is awarded Mto only alums who continue to support DeMatha Catholic High School, many years after they have graduated. “We decided that we’d honor a graduate to help show our kids that DeMatha can take you to all of these great places and you could stand up on that stage years from now, inspiring a new generation of DeMatha students,” Principal Dr. Daniel McMahon ’76 said. With the idea in place, a plan was set into mo- tion in 2002. Bill Krawczewicz ’84, brother of faculty member Tom ’81 and an influential graphic artist who helped design the US $20 bill, Here is the 2019 St. John de Matha Medal recipient designed the St. John de Matha Medal. Quad- Vic Roy ‘85, pictured with Fr. Damian, Fr. James and rants were created on the medal to showcase Dr. McMahon. several symbols of the Trinitarians, including the Red and Blue Cross, the broken chains Medal recipient Mr. Vic Roy ’85 delivered that from St. John de Matha freeing captives in the kind of inspirational advice to the student E 13th century, and the celebrated Stag. Faculty ST. JOHN D MATHA body. member Mr. Rick Reeves also provided a Latin MEDAL RECIPIENTS “The only limits are the ones that you put (Presented to a DeMatha Alumnus For inscription to go on the medal. Distinguished Service and Ongoing on yourselves,” Mr. Roy said. “And we all In addition to being a proud alum who Devotion to the School and its Mission.) receive the same messages from DeMatha. donates to the school, the St. John de Matha 2003: Walt Coughlin ‘52 They are right in front of you, but you have Medal recipient must also be the Faith-Filled 2004: Al Edwards ‘54 to embrace it. So remember this: Dream Big. 2005: Kim Duncan ‘83 Gentlemen and Scholar in his community that Start Small. Be ridiculously faithful. Focus on 2006: Roy Kilby ‘65 he was taught to be on the DeMatha campus. 2007: Joe Kennedy ‘64 what you can control and take as many shots “You have to had represented what the 2008: Robert Lawrence ‘70 as you can. And know that Vic Roy will be school holds as its ideal,” Dr. McMahon said. 2009: Kevin Hanley ‘68 cheering for you every step of the way.” “There’s defin tely a character component, as 2010: Paul Cinquegrana ’59 The awarding of the St. John de Matha (posthumously) well, to this medal.” Medal makes one of the most anticipated days 2011: Scott Marchakitus ‘88 For almost 20 years now, the St. John de 2012: Michael Mulhern ’72 and of the school calendar year at DeMatha even Matha Medal is handed out to its recipient on Michael Johnson ‘80 more celebratory. And with almost 20 years St. John de Matha Day (Dec. 17), which has 2013: Brian Sheahan ‘80 of the Medal now in existence, the continued 2014: Jim Villella ‘75 become a school-wide day of celebration for tradition of this award will only strengthen its 2015: Stephen Welker ‘01 DeMatha. The opportunity allows the re- 2016: Matt Krimm ‘88 importance as time moves forward. cipient, with his family in attendance, to pass 2017: Danny Ferry ‘85 “It’s important that we have traditions,” Dr. down wisdom on how their time at DeMatha 2018: Richard Harrington ‘84 McMahon said. “Th s one takes the idea and provided the foundation for their success after 2019: Victor Roy ‘85 practice of our Mission and creates a seamless leaving campus. Last year’s St. John de Matha thread across DeMatha history.” 18 Red & Blue Review | Fall 2020 DM_R&B_Fall_2020.indd 18 11/10/20 10:29 AM Fr. Josh Ordained As A Priest After 14-Year Journey n September 12th at St. better service to people in need and see Lawrence Martyr Catholic the world from a different perspective.” Church in Hanover, MD, Fr. Josh will continue to serve in the ODeMatha Campus Minister Bro. Joshua DeMatha Campus Ministry Offi . For Warshak O.SS.T., was ordained as a most priests, they typically serve at a priest in The Order of the Most Holy parish.