“Unity happens when we walk together.” POPE FRANCIS VOLUME 24, NUMBER 2 Spring 2018 The Ready Report The Semi-Annual Newsletter for Alumni, Family, and Friends of Bishop Ready High School A MESSAGE FROM THE Principal... Dear Friends, As we went to press, some sports outcomes were still in progress. But I can tell you with a certain pluribus unum (out of many, one) pride that our boys’ basketball team, ably coached by along with In God We Trust serve as Dan DeCrane who also heads our Outreach Program Ethe two mottos of the United States to our partner schools, was ranked No. 1 in the and also can serve to describe life here at state in our division by the AP. I will only say that Ready: we celebrate our diversity in our a heart-stopping win in overtime over rival Hartley unity and we trust daily in God! As you can encapsulated the season (and sent blood pressures see from our cover, both mottos have a central place rising throughout the gym). at our school. Since our founding, we have fostered a In this issue we also welcome our newest members curriculum that looks beyond the immediate into the of the Alumni/ae Hall of Fame: Michael E. Ducey greater world community and the future. Throughout ’65, Dan Weisenbach ’80 (posthumous), and Julie Ready’s history, we have always accepted “foreign” Laipply Carrier ’95, and our newest recipients of the exchange students, some of whom came for a Silver Knight Service Awards, Brenda Ball and Mike semester or a year, others who stayed to graduate Hall. Remember, there is a form in this issue and and remain in the United States. These students have online that you may use to nominate a fellow alum to come from South and Central America, Puerto Rico, our Hall of Fame. The criteria for consideration are the Scandinavian countries, Europe, Belarus, and included with the form. China. All have been welcomed at Ready and they As we look forward to warmer weather, I want have enriched the high school experience and whetted to reiterate that you are most welcome to attend the appetite of others to travel into the larger world. the events at Ready and those that benefit Ready. In this issue, you will read some stories about Whether it’s the spring musical (Children of Eden, that travel further into the world. We have learned April 27-29), the much-anticipated and great fun that our alums are nothing if not intrepid travelers! Knight at the Races VII (May 4, Our Lady of They travel for fun and for education, but mostly Victory Parish Center), or Ready sports or liturgies, they travel to help others. You will also read A Tale you are most welcome to join us! Be sure to check of Two Taylors, two friends and football players our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook for more who have gone on to play on the college level and information about up-coming events. who “remember” how Ready helped to shape their Finally, a heart-felt “thank you” to all who so futures. generously give to our annual fund. We have many In our last issue, we teased out the newest outstanding students who rely on financial assistance renovations to the physical plant: the expanded and your donations are helping to educate another Guidance Center and the new Communication future teacher, social worker, lawyer, doctor, first Center. Both are now in use and the story of how responder, caregiver, and business owner. All of us at they came to be and how they are being used can be Ready thank you for that! found inside this issue. Enjoy this issue and know that you remain in our Be sure to read the story and look at the pictures prayers. for a small glimpse of the fun and success that was Sincerely, generated by the second annual Knight for the Future event. The idea originated with alums Hank Martensen and Don Bradley, both Class of ’65, and they continue to serve as leaders for this event. Celene A. Seamen Monies raised here help us to continue to renovate Principal classrooms and ensure that we provide the finest in materials and venue for our students. | 2 | The Ready Report | SPRING 2018 | www.brhs.org New Inductees: hree illustrious alums were inducted into the Bishop Ready Alumni/ae Hall of Fame on October 13, 2017. Joining the distinguished list in the Hall are Michael E. Ducey ’66, TDan Weisenbach ’80 (posthumously), and Julie Laipply Carrier ’95. Each exemplifies the high standards of service, dedication, and concern for others that is the true hallmark of the Ready graduate. Michael Ducey “Whatever I have achieved is a result of building on the earned a Bachelor life tools provided by the teachers and administrators at of Arts degree in Bishop Ready who took an interest in me. They gave me Economics from hope for a better future. There is no greater power than Otterbein College and hope. It can change one’s life and the lives of others. But an MBA from the hope alone is not enough for success. Have a plan and stick University of Dayton. to it. Don’t get sidetracked by adversities and excuses. Have He spent 30 years at a mind set that you can fight your way through it and reach Borden Chemical in your goals, whatever they may be. Columbus, holding “I came from a working class family,” Michael continued, many positions in “and was the first to graduate from college. Just like many of management, sales, your parents, my parents made a sacrifice and an investment marketing, planning to send me to Bishop Ready. That decision was made in the and commercial hope that I would have a better life than they had. It was the development, American dream, which I have been lucky enough to have Michael Ducey ‘66 culminating in lived. My parents both passed away some time ago. But I President, CEO, and have faith that they are looking down with smiles on their Director. In April of 2002, Michael joined Compass Minerals faces at the honor which today has been bestowed upon me!” as an operating partner. He retired as President, CEO, and Director of the company, the second largest salt producer in North America. Dan Weisenbach ’80 left a positive mark on every life that He has served on the boards of UAP Holding Corp. he touched. He was the youngest (Greeley, CO), Verso Paper Corp., TPC Group, Inc. child in a family of eight, seven (Houston, TX), HaloSource, Inc. (Seattle, WA), and Fenner of whom are Ready alums. He PLC (a United Kingdom company), among others. He has exemplified the Ready spirit and also served on the Board of Otterbein University and was the Ready concept of family. awarded the Otterbein alumni Special Achievement Award. As the son of Ready boosters, “While I was learning reading, writing, and arithmetic, he continued in that tradition. I didn’t always conduct myself within the school rules,” His concern for others and the Michael said. “In other words, I was considered a bit of a environment led him to establish, ‘problem child.’ I cannot remember the number of times with his parents, Weisenbach that I failed to make the honor roll because I had less than Recycled Products in 1981. The a B in conduct. By the time I got through Bishop Ready, the company was an innovative light bulb turned on. The message is ‘Don’t get discouraged, Dan Weisenbach ’80 leader in environmental it is possible to learn from your mistakes and change your awareness and recycled products. behavior.’ The school sent me off with a solid education, for He was generous with his time and was a board member of which I will always be grateful. Also, it gave me a foundation Keep Ohio Beautiful, ODNR Division of Recycling and Litter of core values to build my life upon. Prevention, Green Columbus, and the mayor’s Green Team. The Ready Report | SPRING 2018 | www.brhs.org | 3 | “I believe that Dan’s education at Ready helped him focus on God and how God would want him to live his life. So, remember to take every opportunity to have a positive impact on those whose path in life crosses yours. “I leave you with the Weisenbach Family motto: Enjoy life, this is not a dress rehearsal. “And Dan’s six word memoir…I smile, you smile, mission accomplished. “Thank you and God bless.” The Ready Family is honored to include Dan as a distinguished member of the Alumni/ae Hall of Fame. He passed away on November 27, 2015, at the age of 53. Julie Laipply Carrier ’95 Members of the Weisenbach family attended the Hall of Fame is is a published author and assembly when Dan ’80 was inducted posthumously. motivational speaker who Left to right: Janet Weisenbach Schirtzinger ’72, Jean specializes particularly in Weisenbach ’70, Beth Weisenbach Feeney ’76, daughter Jillian, empowering young women son Paul, and wife Katrina. to grow in confidence and develop their talents to the best of their abilities. She He was an active member of Charity Newsies, Leukemia was unable to join us for the Lymphoma Society Team in Training, Pelotonia, as well as induction ceremony as she other community organizations. His memory resonates with was on tour for International his passion for “giving,” following in his parents’ footsteps. Day of the Girl, but she did He personified the concept of “giving back.” send a video, which can be Dan’s wife, Katrina, spoke at the induction ceremony: viewed here: “Dan had to earn half of his tuition to Ready by working Julie Laipply Carrier ’95 https://www.dropbox.com/s/ in the summers prior to the school year.