Alumni Connecti N - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
Alumni Connecti N - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Alumni Connecti N - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
The Fr. Thomas F. Mahar Outstanding Alumni Award honors living graduates of St. Mary, St. Vincent, and St. Vincent-St. Mary High Schools who exemplify the spirit and values of Catholic secondary education in one or more of five related areas: ministry, service to youth, service to school, service to community, and professional achievement. Since its inception in 1979, this award has been presented to 93 outstanding alumni of our school. 2008 Father Thomas F. Mahar Outstanding Alumni Award Jack Fitzpatrick V44 Jack Fitzpatrick was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He attended St. Paul Grade School before moving on to St. Vincent High School. Among many happy memories of those high school years was the coaching of Eddie Wentz. Jack considered him a role model instilling in his teams all the important values of discipline, dedication, team work and fair play. Jack was proud to be a St. Vincent High School student named to the 1943-1944 Akron All-City basketball team. Jack’s mother, Anne, a 3-time champion club champion at the Firestone Country Club, encouraged her son’s interest in golf early on. Jack, a natural athlete, excelled in that sport as well. Most notably, he was the Akron District Junior Golf Champion in 1941, 1942 and 1943. After graduation from St. Vincent, Jack entered Notre Dame University. Along with some academic studies, he still managed to play competitive golf. He was the #1 player on a four man Notre Dame team, winning the 1944 national Collegiate Amateur Athletics Championship in Golf at 27
Inverness Country Club in Toledo, Ohio. In 1945, Jack was inducted in the U.S. Army and soon sent to the Pacific theatre. He served with the 158th Regimental Combat team on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They were practicing maneuvers for an eventual landing in Japan when President Truman authorized the historic bombing run for the Enola Gay. Jack often thought of how many American men were alive because of President Truman’s courage and convictions. Jack eventually did get to Japan, however, as part of the army of occupation. It was not such onerous duty for him however, for he again found himself on golf courses. He managed to win the “Occupation Open” golf championship at the Kavana Hotel in 1946. After his war service was concluded, Jack returned to Notre Dame to continue his studies. Still playing competitive golf, he won several more tournaments in 1947, among them the Indiana Intercollegiate Championship and the Akron District Amateur Championship. Jack turned professional in 1949, serving as assistant pro at the Firestone Country Club. In 1950, Jack qualified and played in the U.S. Open at Merion Cricket Club in Pennsylvania where he was paired with Tommy Bolt, who went on to win the U.S. Open in 1958. It was now time for Jack to think about marriage and earning a decent living. In 1951, he married Rosemary Aikey. They shared 55 wonderful years together. In 1952 he was hired by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company as a quality control inspector in the International Division. This led, over a thirty year period, to interesting assignments in different countries of the world where Firestone had plants in operation. With ever increasing responsibility, he was put in charge of production, marketing and the overall viability of those factories in foreign lands. He and Rosemary enjoyed living in so many different countries and almost all of his career was spent overseas – Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica and Australia. The last five years before retirement, Jack, now a vice president, was posted to London in charge of Firestone’s European and African operations. Upon retirement, Rosemary and Jack moved to Vero Beach to a condo unit on the 8th hole of a golf course. What else?! It was Jack’s intention to golf all year in this benign climate and he did just that for quite a few years. The hurricanes in Florida in 2004 did much damage to their home. After moving about a bit, they settled in Regency Park, a “senior resort community.” Jack was so glad to have Rosemary in such a caring supportive community for the final year of her life. She had been declining in health for several years and passed away June 2007. Jack has continued to live at Regency Park where the living really is easier. Although he has spent little time in Akron during his adult life, he has maintained an abiding interest in the welfare of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Jack has made an unrestricted bequest to STVM; confident the bequest will be used wisely to further the goals of this superior educational community. Jack has never forgotten those formative years at St. Vincent High School when he was a student and knows STVM today is such a special school, and hopes it will continue to instruct and inspire many more students in the days and years to come. Thomas Norman Jesser V53 Thomas Norman Jesser was born in Akron, Ohio and has remained a life long resident of Akron. Tom attended St. Vincent Elementary School and St. Vincent Catholic High School, graduating in 1953. Tom was very active during his years at St. Vincent High School. He was a member of the baseball team, was awarded the Chrysler Award his senior year and was the Co-Editor of the school newspaper “The Vincentian.” While Tom was co-editor of the school paper it was awarded “Best Publication” among Summit County Schools. Tom was also awarded other various awards while at St. V. Tom has so many cherished memories of his time at St. Vincent High School. His most affectionate memory is of his English teacher, Sister Benita. She was a great influence in Tom’s life and she really motivated Tom to excel. After graduation, Tom immediately joined The United States Army. Tom served with great pride during the Korean conflict. During his time in the Army, Tom was stationed in New Jersey. He decided to make a trip to New York City to visit with Cardinal Spellman who was the appointed chaplain of The United States Military Forces and the Cardinal for New York City. During his visit, Tom was given a holy medal that was blessed by the Chaplain. Tom decided to send his medal to one of his favorite St. Vincent High School teachers who played such an important role in his life, his English teacher, Sister Benita. Tom wrote a letter to her explaining where he had been and the meaning behind the blessed medal that he was given. He sent the medal to her and thanked her for the important lessons that she taught him during his time at St. Vincent. Sister Benita was very touched and wrote Tom a letter telling him how thankful she was and let him know that it would be worn every day on her rosary chain. She also made sure that since she was an English teacher that she sent back the original letter that Tom wrote to her with all of the grammatical corrections that she found in his letter! After Tom’s term in the Army was completed and he was discharged as a Staff Sergeant, he attended The University of Akron. He was a member of The Lone Star Fraternity, a member of the Lacrosse team and began dating again his life-long sweetheart, Yvonne Berbari. When Tom said “lifelong” he means it, because he fell in love with Yvonne in the fourth grade! They soon were married on October 19, 1957 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007. CONTINUED ON PG. 29 28
- Page 1 and 2: Connecti Alumni n St. Vincent-St. M
- Page 3 and 4: Irish Greeting Dear Alumni Please J
- Page 5 and 6: Alumni News Don M56 and Darlene Utr
- Page 7 and 8: Alumni Accomplishments Former Stude
- Page 9 and 10: Alumni Accomplishments Bill Henkel
- Page 11 and 12: Class Reunions St. Vincent Class of
- Page 13 and 14: Class Reunions St. Vincent-St. Mary
- Page 15 and 16: Class Reunions 45TH REUNION - LAS V
- Page 17 and 18: Alumni Alley Happy 90th Birthday Ma
- Page 19 and 20: They are in Our Prayers Thomas A. K
- Page 21 and 22: Memorial and Honor Gifts St. Vincen
- Page 23 and 24: Development News Raymond R. & Marth
- Page 25 and 26: Development News The LeBron James 2
- Page 27: Development News We Remember Teri L
- Page 31 and 32: Pat then changed his career orienta
- Page 33 and 34: At The University of Akron Kevin wo
- Page 35 and 36: Harold Jenkins. When asked, what al
- Page 37 and 38: asketball season. Hank is thankful
- Page 39 and 40: School News Michael David Kovarik V
- Page 41 and 42: Athletic News “Red” Fassnacht A
- Page 43 and 44: Athletic News STVM Bookstore News S
The Fr. Thomas F. Mahar Outstanding <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Award honors living graduates of <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Mary</strong>,<br />
<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Vincent</strong>, and <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Vincent</strong>-<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Mary</strong> <strong>High</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong>s who exemplify the spirit and values of<br />
Catholic secondary education in one or more<br />
of five related areas: ministry, service to youth,<br />
service to school, service to community, and<br />
professional achievement. Since its inception<br />
in 1979, this award has been presented to 93<br />
outstanding alumni of our school.<br />
2008 Father Thomas F. Mahar<br />
Outstanding <strong>Alumni</strong> Award<br />
Jack Fitzpatrick V44<br />
Jack Fitzpatrick was born and raised in<br />
Akron, Ohio. He attended <strong>St</strong>. Paul Grade<br />
<strong>School</strong> before moving on to <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Vincent</strong><br />
<strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Among many happy memories of<br />
those high school years was the coaching of<br />
Eddie Wentz. Jack considered him a role<br />
model instilling in his teams all the<br />
important values of discipline, dedication,<br />
team work and fair play. Jack was proud to<br />
be a <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Vincent</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> student<br />
named to the 1943-1944 Akron All-City<br />
basketball team.<br />
Jack’s mother, Anne, a 3-time<br />
champion club champion at the Firestone<br />
Country Club, encouraged her son’s<br />
interest in golf early on. Jack, a natural<br />
athlete, excelled in that sport as well. Most<br />
notably, he was the Akron District Junior<br />
Golf Champion in 1941, 1942 and 1943.<br />
After graduation from <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Vincent</strong>, Jack<br />
entered Notre Dame University. Along<br />
with some academic studies, he still<br />
managed to play competitive golf. He was<br />
the #1 player on a four man Notre Dame<br />
team, winning the 1944 national Collegiate<br />
Amateur Athletics Championship in Golf at<br />
27
Change language