Bishop McDevitt High School The Loyalist Fall 2015 Volume 28 The 2015 Annual Report from the Alumni Association President Dear Alumni and Friends, One of the hardest things to accept is change. There is a comfort in things remaining constant. It grounds us. It allows us to function in the space of familiarity. And, in some cases, gives us the false sense of security that we are not changing! I go back to Royal Avenue quite often and feel that sense of comfort. Some teachers from my years at McDevitt still remain. Burnie still sweeps the floors. The tan lockers line the halls – with those top lockers STILL remaining ajar! But, like anything, there is also change. Class size is smaller – nowhere close to the 370+ students that were in my graduating class of 1985. There is a “school within a school” with the addition of Our Lady of Confidence several years ago. Distance learning labs now occupy classrooms. The student body is a model of diversity – with all interacting in a spirit of cooperation. What hasn’t changed is the quality of graduate that McDevitt is producing. This year the graduating class of 2015 was awarded over $11 million in scholarships and grants to colleges and universities. The McDevitt Robotics team advanced to the National Championships in St. Louis. Robert Zigmund ’16 advanced to the Forensics World Championships in Florida. Our Royal Lancers continue to shine! For the Alumni Association, the 2014-2015 year was also one of change and growth. For the first Contents time, our revenue surpassed $50,000. This allowed us to commit more support to McDevitt students and programs. We added new events to the calendar such as Designer Bag Bingo and Legends of McDevitt 3 upgraded our golf outing to the McDevitt Alumni Golf Classic at Manufacturer’s Golf and Country Reunions & Events 4 Club. And, through the generosity of alumni and friends, we initiated an online fundraising Class Notes 4 challenge that raised over $4,300 for the Robotics team’s expenses at the National Championship. In Loving Memory 5 Alumni Association 5 Look for continued changes coming for 2015-16 – both in new events and changes to existing Student Accomplishments 6 McDevitt Gets “SMART” events. What won’t change is our commitment to Bishop McDevitt and its students. They will 7 Partnership with Healey 7 continue to be the focus of our efforts. Robotics 8 2015 Annual Report 9 All of us recognize the value of the education received at McDevitt. As I said to the Graduating Class of 2015 in my speech welcoming them to the Alumni Association – that little building on Royal Avenue produces some very special people. It is the reason we are called ROYAL Lancers. Come join us and ensure that this legacy of excellence, of royalty, continues. Maria impende juvamen. Beth A. Armbruster ‘85 President – Bishop McDevitt Alumni Association 2 Bishop McDevitt will host its first Legends of McDevitt event on October 15, 2015 at Flourtown Country Club. The awards will honor men and women, both past and present, who have had a profound impact on the McDevitt community and served as a McDevitt representative in their own communities. Generous with their time and talents, these men and women bring light and life to many incredible charitable and community endeavors. The compassion they show to the people they serve is an inspiration to us all, and their work does not go unnoticed! October 15, 2015 Flourtown Country Club Cocktails, Dinner & Awards Contents Donna Purnell Akridge ‘82* Mercy Associate, Sisters of Mercy Mary Beth Driscoll ‘80* Former President of the Alumni Association Mr. David T. Horn Former Faculty Member, Forensics and World Affairs Moderator Father Francis Sabatini Former Royal Masque Director Msgr. Richard Skelly Former Athletic Director and Faculty Member * 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees Sponsorship Tribute Book Cocktail Sponsor $5,000 Inside Front Cover $250 One table of 10; Full Page (Inside Front Cover) in Inside Back Cover $250 Tribute Book; Cocktail napkins and signage Full Page $150 Half Page $100 Dessert Sponsor $4,000 3 line Tribute $50 One table of 10; Full Page (Inside Front Cover) in Name Listing $25 Tribute Book; Dessert napkins and signage Please submit tribute ads no later than September 4, 2015. Award Sponsor $3,000 Please provide a digital “press quality” greyscale PDF by One table of 10; Full Page (Inside Back Cover) in email to [email protected]. Tribute Book; signage Centerpiece Sponsor $2,500 Tickets One table of 10; Full Page (Inside Back Cover) in Tribute Book Table of Ten $750 Patron $150 Table Sponsor $1,500 One ticket; 3 line in tribute book One table of 10; Full Page in Tribute Book one Ticket $75 All are invited to attend! For sponsorship and ticket information, visit the McDevitt website at www.mcdevitths.org or contact the Advancement Office at 215-887-5575 x256 . 3 Reunions & Upcoming Events Class of 1965 Alumni Association General Meetings 50th Reunion September 9, 2015 - 6:30pm March 9, 2016 - 6:30pm November 11, 2015 - 6:30pm May 3, 2016 - 6:30pm (Elections) STILL THE BIG THRILL! January 13, 2016 - 6:30pm October 2-4, 2015 Main Event: Saturday, October 3, 2015 Alumni Memorial Mass The Marriot on Juniper Street, Juniper Ballroom Sunday, November 1, 2015 21 N. Juniper Street, Phila., PA 19107 All are welcome to attend to honor our deceased alumni. $125 per person/cash bar (Checks made payable to “McDevitt Class of 65 Reunion”) Designer Bag Bingo P.O. Box 74, Ambler, PA 19002 Friday, November 6, 2015 bishopmcdevitt65.com Bishop McDevitt Gymnasium Committee: Jim Doyle, Elena Mathews Giannasio, Liz Scutti Guidi, Fran Hammond, Laura Lee Sherretta Justin, Carol Fall Open House DiFrancesco Opdyke, Dan Opdyke Sunday, October 4, 2015 - 12pm to 2pm Class of 2000 8th Grade Scholarship Exam 15th Reunion Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 9am Saturday, November 21, 2015 Contact Admissions to register at 215-887-5575 x 257 MaGerk’s Pub and Grill Fort Washington, PA Homecoming Football Game Contact: Mia Clark 215-901-2830 Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 7pm McDevitt vs. Lansdale Catholic at Cheltenham High School For classes ending in 6’s and 1’s, it is your Reunion year! If you are planning a Reunion, please let us help you publicize it! For ticket and Spring Fling Feat. Jerry Blavat contact information for each of these events, please visit the McDevitt Saturday, April 2, 2015 website. www.mcdevitths.org Alumni and Friends > Reunions Ticket information available in January 2016. Class Notes Susan Jordan Mauro ’65 is looking forward Eileen McCann Araco ’77 is in private to seeing everyone at her 50th Reunion in practice in Willow Grove, PA as a Licensed October. Professional Counselor (LPC). Patricia Botz Weidman ’65 is retired and Robert Gibson ’80 is the Chief Division living in South Carolina. Counsel for the Newark, New Jersey Office of Joseph McCann ‘67 is President of both the FBI. McCann Realty (Est. 1975) and McCann Tim Lawn ‘80 is a civil trial attorney with Builders (Est. 1971). He also rows four miles the Philadelphia firm Raynes McCarty. He per night in the back bays. has again been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America Drew Gordon ‘68 has been named the and Pennsylvania Congratulations to the 2015 Football Hall of Super Lawyers offensive coordinator of the McDevitt in which he has repeatedly Fame Inductees pictured above with Coach Football team. been voted one of the top 100 lawyers in Manzi! From left to right: Drew Seigfried Pennsylvania. ‘10, Stephen Yaun ‘08, Chris Kittredge ‘97 Michael Blaine ’72 earned his MBA from James Ayscue ’82 Virginia Tech in 2005. He coordinates recently accepted a security efforts at four Marine Corps position at PHH Mortgage in Southern NJ as a Mortgage Mitigation Specialist helping Carolyn Imsick Caonstable ’62 has installations. He is starting his 9th season families avoid home foreclosure. published her first book, Who Learns, Will coaching JV Men’s Lacrosse at Bishop Ireton Love, The Story of Peace Valley Nature Center. High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He and In January 2015, Andre C McCoy ‘85 The book is available at P.U.V.C (Chapman his wife, Beth, just celebrated their 39th completed a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro Road, Doylestown, PA). She attributes her wedding anniversary. to raise awareness for Veterans’ Issues. It is writing skills to Sister Mary Bernard, IHM. James Davis ’72 has been living in Plymouth, the highest mountain in Africa and the 4th highest in the world. Thomas Duffy ’63 is retired and now is a Minnesota for the past 15 years with his wife hospital volunteer. He has four grandsons. Dale and son Paul. Bill Evans ‘04 married Isabella Ezri in April He was Knighted into the Equestrian Order Bob and Peggy Lord Hensler ‘76 have been 2014. He is also celebrating five years in of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of married for 32 years with three children, ages business with Liberty Fox Technology, LLC. Jerusalem, attaining rank of Knight/Grand 26, 24, and 22. Peggy is an Associate Director Cross, knighted by Archbishop Hughes. Share your news with former classmates! Submit in the Family Life Office of the Diocese of an item for inclusion in the “Class Notes” section of Michael Matt ’64 is retired and living in Trenton. Bob is an attorney with an office in the next Loyalist by emailing kkeane@mcdevitths. Avalon, New Jersey. Collingswood, New Jersey. They have great org with your updated professional and educational Bishop McDevitt memories! information, achievements or awards, marriages, births, and any other news! 4 Alumni Association By Beth Armbruster ‘85 The 2014-15 year was one of growth for the Alumni Association.