Odysseyspring 2014
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DE SMET JESUIT Spring 2014 Odyssey Open House 2013 In this issue: Alumni Charity Trevor Bonat Odyssey Under the Spotlights: The Half Named New DSJ Sea Gala & Auction Fund and Robots for Principal Has Record Year Humanity THE ODYSSEY Spring 2014 | 1 A Letter From The President uring a recent span of a De Smet Jesuit will see many couple of weeks, faculty changes in the fall. Trevor Bonat, Dmember Jim Saali and formerly principal of Bishop his wife Sallye welcomed their Brady High School in Concord, first child, a baby boy, into the New Hampshire, will become world; as a school community our new principal in July. Over we said goodbye to eight a dozen of our faculty and staff faculty and staff members who have retired, accepted positions retired from De Smet Jesuit, elsewhere or are simply moving among them long-time coaches on. As you know, next academic Hawkey, Cerneka and Vitello; year will be my last at De Smet and we lost Robin Davis, a co- Jesuit and a nationwide search is worker and friend, who died underway for my replacement. As after suffering a massive stroke. we experience the excitement and The question often asked, pain that comes with change, God especially when it comes to a is with us and is opening us up to sudden and unexpected death, the possibility of greater growth. that allows him to type with is: Where is God in all of this? God is also found in places his head. I, probably like you, find it we don’t always expect, like in The path of spiritual easy to find God in moments aspects of our work (p. 6), on the growth laid out by St. like the birth of a baby, the athletic field or arena (pp. 16 - 17) Ignatius challenges us to graduation of another senior or during a vacation period discern God’s presence class and the ordination of like Spring Break (p. 18). God in both the good and the a brother Jesuit, like Chris can be found in these ordinary bad, the ordinary and the Schroeder ’00, as a priest. activities of daily living, not unexpected events of our In moments like these the just in “churchy” moments but everyday lives – to find God presence of God is abundantly in the commonplace events literally in all things. We evident. But our faith teaches and humdrum activities of our then are called to respond us that God is not distant. God everyday lives. to God’s presence not only is present in every human Henry Evans ’80 and his by becoming more reverent experience – the good and the nephew, Henry Clever ’90, know and thankful but also by bad. firsthand how even a personal becoming more selfless and Finding God in all things is tragedy can lead to an experience serving. Please enjoy the at the center of the spirituality of God’s care and result in a stories and updates found that St. Ignatius blessed us with. greater concern for others. At in this edition of the Odyssey His worldview instills in us age 40, Henry Evans suffered magazine. I hope they help an awareness that we can find a stroke-like attack caused by you reflect on where God is God in every person, in every a hidden birth defect that left present in your own life. place and in every thing. God is him paralyzed and mute. What May you and your family present and active in our world. may have reduced many of us to have an enjoyable and safe As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, despair has provided Evans an summer. S.J. wrote: “God is not remote opportunity to help others. As from us. He is at the point of my he writes in his story on pages pen, my pick, my paintbrush, 10-11, “The ‘Man for Others’ my needle — and my heart and mantra makes you see yourself my thoughts.” When we are as a part of a larger whole; a Fr. Wally Sidney, S.J. able to discern God’s presence whole that you can and should in our daily lives, we become positively influence.” By the way, more devoted, more thankful he wrote his responses for the and more deeply in love. entire interview with a device 2 | THE ODYSSEY Spring 2014 The ODYSSEY In This Issue: 4 New DSJ Principal Named Trevor Bonat, current principal of Bishop Brady High School in Concord, NH, will move to St. Louis and serve as De Smet Jesuit’s new principal for the 2014 - 15 school year. 8 Dan Duffy, an Accidental Activist Mission Statement 4 8 Alumnus Dan Duffy ‘90 reflects on surviving De Smet Jesuit High School is cancer, starting his own charitable foundation, and a Catholic, college preparatory his experiences at De Smet Jesuit High School. community whose members work together to build a challenging, academic environment set in the 12 Odyssey Auction Has context of the life and spirit of Jesus Christ. While members are Record Year constantly encouraged to develop The Odyssey Under the Sea Gala & Auction, held strong personal values and con- Mar. 29, raised more than $500,000 this year. victions, they achieve success by realizing their leadership potential through impacting the lives of those 20 Current Students Cheer, around them. They also learn to live 12 Volunteer, and Compete the values of St. Ignatius by being intellectually competent, open to The fall of the 2013-14 school year was a busy time growth, religious, loving, and com- at De Smet Jesuit High School. mitted to doing justice in generous service to the people of God. 20 On the Cover: 2014 Open House Student Volunteers Features: In Every Issue: Photo by Kala O’Connor New Principal Named .......................................... 4 A Letter from the President ................. 2 Published Semi-Annually By: Bobby & Suzanne Keppel - “At Bat for Men” ... 6 Game Time ...................................... 14-17 De Smet Jesuit High School Scott Phillips Promoted to Head of Kitchen...... 7 Around the Halls ............................ 18-21 Office of Institutional Advancement Dan Duffy, The “Accidental Activist” ................ 8 Alumni Connections ...................... 22-25 233 North New Ballas Road St. Louis, MO 63141 Henry Evans, Robotics Pioneer ......................... 10 In Memoriam .................................. 26-27 Phone: (314) 567-3500 Odyssey Under the Sea Gala & Auction .....12-13 Class Notes ...................................... 30-31 Fax: (314) 567-1519 Andy Bauer Commits to Mizzou ...................... 17 Email: [email protected] 2014 Tradition Golf Tournament ..................28-29 THE ODYSSEY Spring 2014 | 3 Search Committee Selects New Principal ev. Wally Sidney, S.J., announced in March University. He previously that Trevor Bonat, currently principal of taught religion and RBishop Brady High School in Concord, New theology before moving Hampshire, will serve as the new principal of De into leadership positions at Smet Jesuit High School, beginning July 1, 2014. Catholic high schools. “We are excited to welcome Mr. Bonat to De Smet “I am eager to return Jesuit High School,” said Father Sidney. “He brings to my Jesuit roots at De with him a long association with Jesuit apostolates, Smet Jesuit,” said Bonat. and a rich experience in leadership within a diocesan “St. Louis has a deep and high school. We look forward to his fresh perspective rich tradition of excellent as we continue our mission of offering a quality, Catholic education, and Catholic, accessible education to young men in the St. I’m excited to be a part Louis area.” of it.” Bonat earned a B.A. in Classics and Religious Dr. Ron Rebore, Jr., Studies at College of the Holy Cross, an M.A. in acting principal at De Smet Religion and Religious Education from Catholic Jesuit High School, will continue to serve De Smet University of America, and an M.S. Ed. in Secondary Jesuit as Assistant Principal for Staff Development. School Administration from Johns Hopkins Longtime Teacher, Coach to Retire after 46 Years reg Vitello, biology and physical education and day out, played their teacher and varsity soccer and baseball coach, sport as hard as their Gannounced his retirement, effective at the end of ability let them,” said this school year. Vitello. “I am so grateful for my time at De Smet Jesuit,” Father Wally Sidney, Vitello said. “Ever since I decided to coach, I wanted to S.J., President, wrote in an challenge every young man I encountered to love the email to faculty: “Greg is sport he chose. More importantly, I wanted to help the one of the true pioneers young men grow into good friends, good parents, and of our school. He began good citizens.” his teaching career here Coach Vitello is a member of the inaugural class the very first year after of the Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches De Smet Jesuit opened its Association Hall of Fame, the St. Louis Amateur doors. While the public Baseball Hall of Fame, the Missouri High School knows Greg as a coach Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and the St. Benedictine and respects him for his (now Benedict) College Hall of Fame. accomplishments on the field, we are blessed to know Over his 46 years at De Smet Jesuit, Vitello coached him as a friend and colleague and have been inspired swimming, football, and track and field, in addition to by his sharing his faith with students on retreat, baseball and soccer. He coached two MLB players, Bob building the Marian grotto outside the cafeteria for the Keppel and 2003 AL batting champion Bill Mueller, mother of one of our cafeteria workers, visiting injured and five players who played on United States National players in the hospital after a game, and helping out Soccer Teams (Bill McKeon, Matt McKeon, Chris Klein, in selfless and generous ways, such as with the soccer Pat Noonan, and Will Bruin).