Winter 2013 - Father Ryan High School

The 2012 National Merit Scholars are shown with Principal Paul Davis ‘81 First row: Douglas Arney, Elizabeth Haynes, Cole Pickney,and Erin Ferguson. Second row: Luke LeFeve, Daniel Huetter, and Tyler Stuessi. Back row: Joseph Connor, Ransom Patterson, andGriffin Connolly.National Merit Honors Record Number of Father Ryan StudentsThe National Merit Scholarship Corporation announcedthat 10 members of the Father Ryan Class of 2013 have beenrecognized this year, seven of them as Semi-Finalists, thehighest number in one year in the school’s history.Listed are the students, their elementary schools and parishes:Douglas Arney, Overbrook (Christ the King)Joseph Connor, St. HenryGriffin Connolly, Overbrook (Christ the King)Erin Ferguson, University School of NashvilleElizabeth Haynes, Holy Rosary AcademyDaniel Huetter, Christ the KingLuke LeFeve, St. MatthewRansom Patterson, Holy Rosary AcademyCole Pickney, Holy Rosary AcademyTyler Stuessi, Brentwood AcademyLeFeve and Stuessi were selected as Commended Scholars,Ferguson was named a National Achievement Semi-Finalistand the other seven were named National Merit Semi-Finalists. Only three schools in Nashville had more Semi-Finalists this year, and no other Catholic school in the statehad as many as Father Ryan.All 10 students are involved in a broad group of activitiesat Father Ryan. In addition to active roles that each playsin a variety of service programs at the school, the studentsparticipate in the arts, sports and music.In making the announcement, Father Ryan PresidentJim McIntyre said that the success of these students is atestament to their commitment and the preparation theyreceived at both Father Ryan and their elementary schools.“This is a remarkable group of students who have excelled inall aspects of their high school education. They have showna commitment both to their academics and to their cocurricularactivities, making them outstanding membersof the entire Father Ryan community. We salute them onthis achievement,” said McIntyre.Junior Receives eagle AwardCongratulations to junior Eric Sanders who earned his EagleAward in Boy Scouts over the summer. His service projectwas with Nations Ministries Center, a not-for-profit thathelps refugees in Nashville become independent and becomeAmerican citizens. He organized a move for them into betterfacilities and then he helped renovate their new space. Eric isthe son of Melinda and Steve‘68 Sanders.3

Winter 2013Hayes Named Vice PrincipalFather Ryan promoted the school’sAcademic Dean, Sara Hayes, to the newposition of Vice Principal.In this new position Hayes will assistPrincipal Paul Davis ‘81 in the overalldaily management of the school andwill continue to serve as the school’sAcademic Dean. Hayes has been atFather Ryan since 1999.“This school continues to grow, andthe number of courses, activities andopportunities is always expanding,”Davis said. “Sara plays such animportant role in all of those aspectsas Academic Dean and is a valuedadvisor to me. Having her as VicePrincipal reaffirms the significance ofher role for our school and providesour entire community with evengreater depth on our leadership staff.I am delighted to add this to Sara’sresponsibilities, and I know it willstrengthen Father Ryan.”Hayes is in her 13 th year at Father Ryan,having begun her tenure here first as afull-time teacher and then as AcademicDean. She has taught Theology, Latin,American Literature and Spanish atFather Ryan, and is currently teachingChurch History. She holds a bachelor’sdegree from Notre Dame Collegeof Ohio and a master’s degree fromMiddle Tennessee State University. Inaddition to this, Hayes has earned over30 hours of master’s degree courseworkin curriculum design, instruction,administration and supervision. Thisis her 25 th year in education, where shehas taught grades kindergarten throughsophomore in college.4Yearbook Conference Attendees (from left to right) Back row: Christa Butler, JakeMcGowen, Charean Williams, Erin Maher, Paige Stillwell, Mary Armbruster.Front row: Dina Tate and Rebecca Crumby.YEARBOOK STAFF TRAVELS TO NATIONAL CONFERENCEYearbook sponsors Dina Tate and Paige Stillwell took the five yearbookeditors to the National High School Press Convention in San Antonio,TX in November, where they met the keynote speaker, ChareanWilliams. Williams is in her 19 th season covering the NFL, including thepast 13 for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She appears occasionally onESPN2’s “First Take” morning show and the NFL Network, and sheserved as an analyst for ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage in 2009. Williamsbecame the first female selector for the Pro Football Hall of Famein 2006.Father Ryan Welcomes Home AP FounderAs prevalent as AP courses are atFather Ryan today–25 courses as ofthis year–it’s hard to imagine a timewhen the school didn’t offer a singleAP course. But 45 years ago, in thesummer of 1968 the mention ofthe letters “A” and “P” would haveconjured up thoughts of the grocerystore across from Centennial Park.There wouldn’t have been anyoneat Father Ryan who would connectthose letters and see an academic trend beginning.But that was exactly the case. Back then one teacher—Joan Wallinghorst(Ford)—had another understanding of those letters and what they couldmean for our students. The letters became shorthand for a new collegelevel course at Father Ryan and the Advanced Placement programbegan, as she introduced AP English to the Class of 1969. Today,AP encompasses courses as varied as Chinese, statistics, science andcalculus. The program attracts over 300 students every year, with 86%of them scoring three or higher on the placement test. And it all beganwith one dedicated teacher with an idea for something new.Ford (shown above with President McIntyre and Board Chair PatNolan ‘69) returned to the campus for the first time since 1969 tocelebrate the accomplishments of our National Merit Honorees and tovisit with many of her students from that historic class. It was a pleasureto welcome her home and to thank her for bringing to Father Ryanan approach to academics that has created exceptional opportunitiesfor students.

Father Ryan Adds to StaffFather Ryan High School recently announced the additionof Neal Martin as director of technology, Bridget NolanThomas as advancement services coordinator, Debbie Chasse´as executive assistant to the president and Courtney Fedou asassociate director of admissions. Anna Beth Godfrey has alsobeen promoted to Annual Fund and special events manager.Martin comes to Father Ryan after working for the last 12years as a technology specialist andtechnology coordinator for the LaurensCounty Board of Education in Dublin,GA. He also worked as a technologyinstructor at West Laurens High School,where he was an assistant football coachand sponsor for the technologystudent association.Martin has a bachelor of science inTechnology Education and a master’s degree in educationtechnology from Georgia Southern University and aneducational specialist in educational leadership degree fromColumbus State University.Thomas had worked as the Directorof Catering at Hillwood Country Clubsince 2010, where she successfullyplanned a variety of events includingwedding receptions and meetings. Shecoordinates the school’s events andserve as the liaison for the Parent SchoolNetwork. She graduated from theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor of sciencein journalism and electronic media in December 2009.Chasse´ joins Father Ryan after servingin executive assistant roles for theArthritis Foundation and FTI Healthcarehere. A native of Michigan, she receivedher associate administrative assistantdegree from Macomb CommunityCollege in Warren, MI.Fedou joins Father Ryan after serving forfive years in Admissions for VanderbiltUniversity Owen Graduate Schoolof Management, most recently as anassociate director. A 2003 graduateof the University of Georgia, she iscurrently completing her master’sdegree in English literature at Belmont.Godfrey has been with Father Ryan since2010 and has been responsible for events,including the Legacy Gala and the ParentSchool Network. She is a 2009 graduateof the University of Mississippi. In hernew role, Godfrey will manage theAnnual Fund and special events.College, Pro Heroes CallFather Ryan HomeGiacosa Stadium in the Jim Carell Alumni AthleticComplex welcomed some big names and big teams overthe holidays. For the fourth straight year, the field wasthe official site of the ACC participant in the Music CityBowl Game. This year, we welcomed the Wolfpack of NCState for three days of practices leading up to their gameagainst Vanderbilt on December 31. The players, coachesand staff were a pleasure to host and appreciative of thewelcoming approach and the quality of the facilities.Early in January NY Jets QB and former Florida signalcallerTim Tebow stopped by the campus for someworkouts. He has visited us before to use the facilities andhappily posed for photos and chatted with Father Ryanstudents and staff.Nutritionist Tells the Secrets toPerformance EatingProfessional nutritionistLeslie J. Bonci, director ofthe University of PittsburghMedical Center’s Centerfor Sports Medicine, wasat Father Ryan in Januaryfor a presentation aboutperformance nutrition. Thepresentation is part of theongoing fitness and strengthprogram here at Father Ryan.Her presentation touchedon the importance of eatingthe right foods at the righttime (a clue–20 ounces of fluid an hour before you workout and something the size of a tennis ball 15 minutesafter that workout). More than 200 parents, coaches andathletes attended the session. The presentation can beview online at fatherryan.org/athletics.Leslie serves as a consultant for sports teams andorganizations at all levels, including the PittsburghSteelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates,Milwaukee Brewers, the University of Pittsburgh andthe Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and she has worked withOlympians Usain Bolt and Tara Lipinksi.5

AthleticsWinter 2013Girls Soccer ClaimsThird State TitleWith less than 25 minutes of game time remainingin the 2012 TSSAA Division II Girls StateChampionship game, sophomore Sarah Bossungstood at the penalty kick line with only thegoalkeeper in her path. In the spot that she andevery soccer athlete has imagined at least one timein their lives, she knew that one solid kick in theright position would net the Lady Irish their firstgoal and put them in position for their third statetitle. And just as she had always imagined it, thePK was true and the title was Father Ryan’s.Parlaying a stellar defense with timely goals, theLady Irish soccer team went on a late season run throughthe 2012 playoffs and delivered another state title to matchtheir 1998 and 2008 championships.After topping Ensworth and top-seeded St. Agnes to makethe final four, the Irish marched to Chattanooga where thegauntlet of home teams–Baylor and GPS–awaited them.They beat Baylor 1-0 and then topped GPS by the samescore on Bossung’s goal in the 66 th minute. GPS was theNo. 1 seed out of the East /Middle Region and finished15-2-2, while Father Ryan finished 12-5-5.the road to beat the top team in the west in St. Agnes in thequarterfinals, then beat two-time defending championBaylor in the semis and then beat GPS (No. 1 seed in theEast/Middle) on its field in the finals,” Dieterich said.“It’s hard to say if this is more special than the other two,but to come through the toughest draw this year and win itis special,” Coach Dieterich stated.The Irish were powered all year by a balanced lineup,including a talented group of youngsters, who were led byseniors Madeline Fox, McKenna Foster, Francesca Mancuso,Kalyn Pruett and Raia Vance.Father Ryan now has been in five state finals under the16-year tutelage of coach Robin Dieterich ‘73. “We werethe fourth seed out of the East/Middle this year, had to go onState Champions: (from top) Celebrating the title; topping JPII; the proud team.6

Up and Down Season Shows Promise for 2013No one associated with the Irish football season will try to claim success, but the signswere there for this young squad and the promise of next year revealed itself in theteam’s late season performance.After starting out the season with wins over Overton and eventual District ChampCane Ridge, the Irish saw the early season hopes dashed with a surprising loss toHillwood. A rash of turnovers crippled the offense in the 2 nd half, preventing FatherRyan from developing any rhythm in its new triple-option offense. This proved tobe a recurring story through the middle part of the season. The often outsized Irishlines were pressed to control the line of scrimmage, making it hard for senior runningbacks Jamonte Graham and Rafael Hopkins to get much running room. However,some things started to click as the season wound down, with a 17-0 shutout of BGAproviding some hope headed to the playoffs. They closed the season by playing strongagainst eventual state champion Ensworth, and then played a big and experiencedMBA squad close in the first round of the playoffs before falling 17-7.The season provided a young assemblage of talent some valuable experience. An offseasonin the Jim Carell Fitness Center and another year with the new offense shouldproduce more thrills for the Irish faithful in the 2013 season.Volleyball and Cross CountryThese two established programs saw mixed results in this year’s seasons.The Lady Irish volleyball team worked to get a consistent streak goingall season, wrapping up the year with a 14-10 record, with most of thelosses coming inside Div. II-AA. Coach Jinx Cockerham had a lot of youngplayers this year, and they got the playing time, with several showing strongpromise for the 2013 campaign.Both the boys and girls cross country teams completed strong seasons,extending their consecutive streak of winning seasons to 37. The girlshad a 92-43 won-lost record, finishing third in the Tennessee Classic andConference Championship and fourth in Metro Championship. The boysposted an overall record of 118-36, finishing in the top five teams in everymajor invitational, including a runner-up finish in the Tennessee ClassicInvitational and eighth place finish at the State. Sophomore Alex Reiterwas name to the 2 nd team All-Metro.Theatre alumni celebrate long-standing heritage.Dr. Therese Williams gets the game underway.Honoring Longevity and ImpactNo Father Ryan home football game would be complete without a special pre-gamesalute to a group of distinguished alumni and teachers. The 2012 seasonfit that bill perfectly.50 Years of Wrestling (see following story)—The Irish kicked off the seasonwith a welcome back to our wrestling alumni, and over 200 wrestlers and familymembers attended, including Rose Drennan, widow of Coach Joe Drennan ’57, andCoach Bobby Garmon ’65. The 1969 state champion team was featured and BubbaDonnelly ’69 handled the coin toss.85 Years of Theatre—Harkening back to the founding of the Purple MasquePlayers back in 1927, the Irish faithful saluted the long and outstanding performancesof this Father Ryan group. Dozens of alumni (left) returned to watch Theatre DirectorKelli McClendon toss the coin for the Homecoming Game.10 Year Anniversary—The community enjoyed seeing them in the spring, sothey were brought back—the 2002 State Champion baseball and the 2002 and 2003State Champion girls lacrosse teams were honored prior to the Cane Ridge game, withBill Brunner ’79, coach of that championship baseball team, flipping the coin.175 Years of the Diocese—In remembering our Diocese in this, its 175 th year,the focus was on Catholic education and its rich tradition in our community. DiocesanSuperintendent of Schools, Dr. Therese Williams (left), accompanied by Vice Principaland Academic Dean Sara Hayes, did the honors with the pre-game coin toss.7

AthleticsWinter 201350 Years of Wrestling“We carried Joe Drennanaround the mat we wereso excited. The 12 of us onthe team were best friends.We could finally say that aMidstate school won a statechampionship in wrestling.”—Scott Brunette ‘69 as told to The Tennessean.The ride the grapplers gave Coach Drennan capped asix-year run to the top of the wrestling world of Tennesseeand started a dynasty that has been the most successful andhonored at Father Ryan and in the TSSAA.It all began in 1962 with Father Fennell as coach and abouta dozen curious athletes, each wondering how wrestling was(or wasn’t) like the ‘rasslin they saw on TV. Within two yearsJoe Drennan ‘57 became coach, and by 1967, Father Ryanwas on the map with its first state champion, Yogi Walsh ‘67.By 1969 with their first team state championship, the centerof wrestling in Tennessee had moved to Middle Tennessee.Nineteen team titles and 79 state individual champions later,Father Ryan still is THE standard for excellence in the state.This year we celebrate five decades of wrestling success.The 1969 team was the first team outside of Chattanoogaever to win a wrestling state championship. Following anundefeated season, the Irish toppled highly favored NotreDame, whom they had already beaten by a 20-19 score ina heated Sunday afternoon match in Nashville late in theregular season. Although Notre Dame had more individualchampions, 10 of 12wrestlers from Father Ryanplaced in the championship,including two statechampions: Scott Brunette‘69 and Bubba Donnelly‘69.“That was a great time,”remembers Donnelly, whowent undefeated for theseason in his matches. “Iremember the gym waspacked, and the crowdswere unbelievable,” saysDonnelly. “Ryan had toopen up the stage so that Coach Joe Drennan ‘57there was room for people to sit.”Before that day, wrestling was considered a secondary sport,overshadowed by more popular programs like football andbasketball. When the wrestling program began in 1962, thesport was not widely followed among high schools. Duringthe early days, wrestling in Tennessee was mostly isolatedin Chattanooga where many of the big private schools werelocated. The sport made its way across the state, where moreschools adopted the program. Father Ryan’s earliest local2010 team celebrates state Dual Team championship.8

The 1988, 1998 and 2000 teams—each won the Dualand Individual Team State Titles in the same year.Michael Carletto ‘93—won back to back titles in‘92 and ‘93.The Dunning brothers—Raymond ‘03 and Whitt‘05—and Wes Wesley ‘11 are Father Ryan’s only threetimestate champions, with Raymond claiming titles from2001-03, Whitt from 2003-05 and Wes from 2009-11.Cole Moseley ‘12—holds the record for the most winsby a wrestler in a Father Ryan uniform.Mike Hooker ‘12—who wrestled for Father Ryan as asenior after starting at McCallie, set the TSSAA record forcareer wins, wins in a season and career wins by pins.Today, the wrestling program boastsa new practice facility, the PatrickSimpson ‘74 Wrestling Facility in thenew Jim Carell Fitness Center. Namedfor the long-time coach—who wrestledon the ‘74 championship team—thefacility adds 3,000 square feet of spaceto the wrestling arena. And it honorsPat Simpson ‘74 a man whose three-plus decades haveproduced 59 state champion wrestlers.In fact, this year four alumni are wrestling at the collegiatelevel after earning athletic scholarships.With players recognized and respected across the regionfor their unwavering discipline and sportsmanship, thewrestling program has earned a place in school and statehistory. Thanks to the leadership of its coaches and players,past and present, the Irish wrestlers continue to build onits 50-year legacy and hold the torch for aspiring athleteseverywhere.1988 State Champion Seniors.2009 State Champion Seniors.1963, First Wrestling Team.1977 State ChampionsLeft: Raymod Dunning on top. Right: Tagbo Obi ‘09.Alumni wrestlers gather after their on-field appearance at the football home opener this year.10

championship team, is a faculty member in the wellness and socialscience departments, joining the faculty in 1979. He has served asthe head coach of wrestling, the linebacker coach for the varsityand head coach of the J.V. football teams. He also served as thehead coach of softball from 1987-97, winning the state titlein 1995.2013Long-time coach Patrick Simpson ‘74 will be thehonoree at the school’s 34 th annual Legacy Gala onMarch 16.The evening will also showcase the coachesand alumni of the highly successfulwrestling program, which has claimed19 state titles and is celebrating its 50 thanniversary. The event, which raisesfunds for the school, will take placeat the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Connieand Brett ’88 Wesnofske are chairingthe event. Wesnofske was a member ofthe state champion wrestling teamin 1988.Simpson, a 1974 Father Ryan alumnusand a member of the 1974 wrestling stateSince becoming just the fourth wrestling head coach in FatherRyan’s history in 1979, his teams have won seven team and eightdual state titles with 59 wrestlers earning individual state titles.He was inducted into the MTSU Wrestling Hall of Fame earlierin 2012.In making the Legacy Gala announcement FatherRyan President Jim McIntyre praised Simpson’swork ethic and his commitment to the school’sstudents. “Pat is a Father Ryan teacherthrough and through, and his faithguides his every action as he inspiresyoung men and women whether inthe classroom, on the field or on themat. For more than three decadeshe has represented excellence andachievement and has a legacy ofstudent-athletes who are better peoplebecause they were coached by him.Saluting him and the Simpson family,who have been integral parts of thiscommunity and this sport—is natural.”2013Wrestlers from all eras will gather to celebrate a half centuryof excellence.11

Cover StoryWinter 2013Back on the BusThe band members and co-directorswill tell you that the best part of thetrip was boarding the bus right afterperforming their show on TV, havingbeen up for 12 hours, traveling toFar Rockaway and performing asecond parade for the residents ofthis community, so hammered byHurricane Sandy.It began as a Father Ryan idea…in theaftermath of Sandy, why not send somemoney to help with the relief effort,and let’s offer to perform our music foran area that has been working to cleanup. Macy’s was taken with the idea,but had no possibilities—until the dayafter our offer, when David Whitehead,pastor at an interdenominationalchurch in Manhattan, contacted Macy’sto see if a band might be interested incoming to Queens. From those simpleconfluences such good things emerged.A New York City police car providedthe escort along the turnpikes andthrough the traffic to get the band toFar Rockaway, an hour’s ride to thesoutheast, right along the AtlanticOcean. Signs of the city’s strugglesgreeted the caravan as soon as it gotclose to the city: a boat parked on topof someone’s garage, the storm’s debriscovering fences and the beaten-downfields, an eerie emptiness to stores andbusinesses, windows boarded up andinsurance company signs indicating thatthe property was damaged.As the band arrived and the curiousfaces of the residents appeared, anenergy enveloped the community. Theparade line formed quickly with NewYork Councilman and State SenatorelectJames Sanders taking the front.The band set off to the tunes of “CallMe Maybe” and “Gangham Style”around the town. The music and thesight brought homeowners, firemen,visitors and policemen out of theirbuildings to follow the sound, asthough the music was leading them toa better time and a better place. Fortyfiveminutes later the parade ended inthat better place, still Far Rockaway,but more energized and hopeful—ifonly for a day—by the presence of these83 musical souls and their directors.The faces of the residents registeredsmiles, appreciation and tears. DorothyMartin said that “no Macy’s band hasEVER come to Far Rockaway. Thankyou for being the first.” Other residentsrocked to the tunes, steadily filmingthe event on their iPhones. Thanksand appreciation poured out in bothThe Irish family and TV cameras were out in force to follow the Irish. (top) Band preps at Far Rockaway.16

Making Noise across the socialMedia WorldThe Marching Band’s trip to and appearance in the Macy’sThanksgiving Day Parade lit up the social media world. OnFacebook, Twitter and various blogs as well as on TV stationsand in newspapers throughout the U.S., Father Ryan was atthe fingertips of every social media follower.“We’re trending top 4 on Twitter!”-Comment uttered by band memberon the road to Far Rockaway“…best uniforms in the Parade wereFather Ryan’s.”-Entertainment Weeklydirections. One band member was delayed in returningto the buses after heading to the auditorium for therestroom. When the directors located her about tenminutes later, she told them that she couldn’t get backout, “Everyone stopped me to say ‘thank you’, to hugme and to let me know what it meant for us tobe there.”At the family Thanksgiving Dinner back at the hotelthat evening, at the end of this very long day, the bandmembers talked with their parents and friends aboutthe experience: the marching, the meals, Blue Manand the Princeton Club, the bus ride and time withtheir friends. Every one of them said the best partwas the faces on the folks in Far Rockaway, and eachmentioned how grateful they were to have been ableto make that trip.That’s Marching to Macy’s….Father Ryan style.You can see the coverage and catch all of the details of thetrip on the website in the media gallery.“Thank you again for playing mypiece at the Macy’s parade. I lovedyour performance! Best Thanksgivingever!”-Composer John Mackey via twitter“So proud of @fatherryan! I stillcan’t get over how awesome that was!!“-Chase Stejskal @chaseallisterToday, my Thanksgiving has a new recipe. It callsfor 82 of my closest friends, traveling to New York,marching down 6 th Avenue, carrying a history of88 years, “Call Me Maybe”, “Gangnam Style”, andeven a bit of hope for the people of New York.-Liz Haynes ‘13, The Tennessean Op-Ed onThanksgiving Day“Listening to the fight song as theFather Ryan band walked off gaveme chills! It’s a great day tobe Irish!”-Ellie Scaglione @ellenscaglioneA young New York City fan wants to join the Band for the Parade.“It is our first time. So excited to be here, it hasbeen an awesome experience. It is everything weimagined and more. It’s a great day to be Irish.”-Athletic Director Pat Lawson interviewedby Channel 7 NYC17

Irish Pride: 1970 and today.“There was a lot for me to live up to, I guess, and I didn’tknow how I could do it. So I acted out a bit,” said Bob.By the time he finished Father Ryan, Bob had grown pastmuch of that self-destructive behavior and was discoveringand affirming the leader within. More importantly, he wasdetermined to live a life devoted to social justice.“In CYV I experienced magical moments of faith when Iknew I had made a difference in the lives of the poor,” saidBob. “Don’t get me wrong. The Boyds were poor. We werechildren of a first generation Irish immigrant. But on Hawkins(Street) I saw what different dynamics were at work whenpoverty was intertwined with race. That’s where I learned Icould play a role in the lives of the poor and could bring thegospel message of love and service to life.”color and prepared for me future collaborations with bossesand supervisors.”Over the next two decades Bob followed his wife and collegesweetheart, Helen Schwartzhoff, as she found teaching jobsin Minnesota. He took a variety of jobs that prepared him forhis current role. At Legal Aid in Winona, his job was “to findpoverty and end it.” He worked with battered women, welfarerecipients and the elderly, helping educate them on theirrights. Next, he managed a 180-unit housing development forthe elderly in Rochester before moving on to be a mediationprogram coordinator in Zumbrota and then a tri-countycommunity corrections planner.When Cora McCorvey hired him in 1993, she had just takenover as executive director at MPHA and was determined tore-make the bureaucracy into a results-driven agency that hada real impact on people’s lives. She said those early years werefilled with numerous difficult operational challenges, and fewsystems were in place to carry out the most routine activities.“I understood clearly that I would have to be able to attract,hire and retain the most talented professionals,” she said. “Ihired Bob to take care of a small, but important department,and over time it became clear that he had deep passion forissues that affected our large resident population, and hebegan to make creative recommendations.”Ultimately, she promoted him twice. She was struck, sheBob continued that passion when he entered the seminaryat St. Ambrose. He threw himself into community activism,working as a tutor and organizer in inner-city Davenport,Iowa. This same passion helped get him kicked out theseminary four times in clashes with the rector. He wasreinstated each time and finally left on his own after twoyears, but not before he had sharpened his organizing,speaking, writing and leadership skills.At the same time he also became a leader in the anti-VietnamWar movement, which led to an arrest during a protest afterthe mining of Haiphong Harbor in 1972.“We were holding ‘Nixon Kills Me’ signs downtown and, atnoon, all dropped to the ground. When cops told us to get up,everyone did but me. It was the time in my life when I decidedI had to be totally involved, not just preaching for others to doit,” Bob recalled.He ultimately ended up serving 30 days in jail for thatconviction, and it further crystallized his thinking on socialactivism that had been born at Father Ryan.Bob finally turned his full attention to scholarship when hewent to the University of Iowa, where he majored in Womenand Minorities Studies.“I was often the only white person or only man in a class,” hesaid. “It was a powerful experience to be in the minority andgot me thinking about how I work with women and people ofsaid, by “his keen ability to respond quickly to change whileproviding critical, thoughtful strategies and fresh ideas…whileworking very intentionally and directly to bring out the best inour staff and residents.”She said they have been able to work together for almost 20years because of “his love and respect for our residents.” Hiswillingness to help out “always makes me smile. I love Bob’stender caring heart and his special ability to put others first…”To Bob, Cora is another major mentor in his life, like thoseteachers at Father Ryan. Besides pushing him to excelprofessionally, she lets his individuality shine through.“She let me bring my values to my work and lets me be me,”Bob said, even if that means he shows up for work or staffmeetings dressed as Santa Claus, a leprechaun, or a movie starin drag. And even if it means she occasionally has to channelhis passion when it broaches the boundaries of decorum,or when she has to reject his ideas that bend or stretchbureaucratic rules to the breaking point.Bob admitted he is known for overreaching at times in hiszest to help the poor, but it is what he has committed his lifeto ever since those early days at Father Ryan.“I learned to act from a simple line in Scripture: ‘God is love’,”Bob said. “Every time I’m able to do something to bring anexperience of love to another, then I’m exposing that personto love...to God.”19

EventsWinter 2013ReMeMbeRing ouR veteRans: the heRo PRoJectThe date is now 71 years old. December7, 1941. Pearl Harbor. A day thatlaunched the United States into WorldWar II and launched thousands of youngmen and women into a period of servicethat earned them the title of “TheGreatest Generation.” Interesting, isn’tit. The day that President Roosevelt toldeveryone would “live in infamy” becamethe day these citizens became Heroes.There aren’t many left to salute or besaluted for their service, and manyof the pictures are faded. This pastyear, Father Ryan was able to start theprocess of saluting many of our Heroesthrough the Hero Project. At the 9/11Prayer Service and again at the annualVeteran’s Breakfast, eight students ofFather Ryan High School finally receivedtheir diplomas, adding “alumnus” to“member of the greatest generation”and countless other titles that describethese lives.The Hero Project began as Father Ryandiscovered the depth of sacrifice ofits students and faculty during WorldWar II. During that conflict more than500 Father Ryan students and manyfaculty members served in the armedforces. This is a remarkable number ofservicemen, because by the end of thewar in 1945, Father Ryan had been inexistence for only 20 years and wasgetting ready to graduate its 18 th seniorclass. Since the total alumni body wasapproximately 580 at this time, thatmeans that over 90% of the total FatherRyan alumni universe served at somepoint during the War. What atestament to our tradition of service!The Hero Project identifies those FatherRyan students who served in WorldWar II and either never returned fromthe war or never returned to FatherRyan to complete their studies. LeighA Hero’s Salute: (from left) Dan Fogarty, Class of 1944; Gerald Keogh, Class of 1945; The Langdon familyaccepts the diploma for David Langdon ‘43.aluMni status PRoudly confeRRedEach of the Hero Project honorees received his diploma, which says,“This certifies that this alumnus, by virtue of his being a model to hisfamily of the mission and beliefs of Father Ryan High School and ofhis service to our community and our country is herewith awarded thisHonorary Diploma.”The first honorees are:Robert Barnard, Class of 1943James M. Burns, Class of 1944Benson Wesley Davis, Jr., Class of 1944Daniel P. Fogarty, Class of 1944Eugene Greene, Class of 1945Gerald D. Keogh, Class of 1945David Leo Langdon, Class of 1943Patrick J. Nolan, Jr., Class of 1944David Leo LangdonFor more information about the Hero Project or tolet Father Ryan know of someone who should behonored, go to www.fatherryan.org/heroproject orcall the Alumni Office at 615-269-7926.20

9/11 Prayer Service honors our First Responders, who were warmly thanked by Father Ryan students.Anne Hasty of the junior class, her father, Mark Hasty, amember of the Class of 1987 and the Alumni Board, and BillVarley of the Class of 1971, have been leading this researcheffort. John Furgess, Class of 1961, serves as Chair of the HeroProject Committee, and our Registrar, Nancy Langdon,has also been deeply involved.The project was unveiled this fall, and a more touchingintroduction could not be imagined. The 9/11 Prayer Serviceis always an emotional moment, as our alumni and parentfirst responders come to the campus to be honored; this year,their arrival on the gym floor before the event began sparkeda spontaneous standing ovation from the student body thattugged at the heartstrings of even the most senior staffer. Inthis environment, we then honored our first Hero, David LeoLangdon, whose brothers, Jim ‘54 and Pat ‘57, are long-timemembers of the Father Ryan faculty. They along with David’schildren accepted the diploma from a grateful Father Ryancommunity.We told you earlier that the photos are fading, but thememories they conjure have not waned. The Langdons’ pictureof their oldest brother in uniform with the rest of their familycaptures the pride and the determination of this young man,all of 18 years old and ready to serve. But that’s the look ofall of the photos and the faces. Two veterans were there at theVeterans Breakfast to pick up their diplomas themselves, DanFogarty of the Class of 1944 and Gerry Keogh of the Class of1945. Proud, yes…of their service, but prouder to be officiallyFather Ryan alumni. The ovations for these gentlemen and thefamily members of those who could not be present resonatedloudly throughout the halls, reminding us of greatness in ourpresence and the tradition of service that they embody andinspire in our community.Veterans Breakfast, Channel 5 FeatureHonors Heroes of All AgesThe Veterans Day Breakfast has become a focal point for theschool’s celebration of our veterans and active duty personnel,and this year’s event demonstrated that in attendance andemotion. The largest crowd in the breakfast’s history came outon Friday morning, November 9, and were touched by veryspecial ceremonies.In addition to the Hero Project presentations, there was thereading of the “Odyssey of the Medal” and the presentationof that medal to our Father Ryan faculty veterans and toone alumnus who went on active service in Afghanistan thatweekend. Mary Lee Bunch, daughter of the medal’s owner—Bill Donlon ’31—read the story of the medal’s protection of herfather through WWII and the rest of his life.Senior Callie Hermann’s reading of her VFW “Voice ofDemocracy” essay was a dramatic and insightful retelling ofthe importance of the U.S. Constitution. (see sidebar on page 22).All of this was captured and told in a beautiful TV news storyby Mike Rose ’89 of WTVF (CBS). His more than six-minutestory aired on the Monday after Veteran’s Day and is availablefor viewing on the Father Ryan website in themedia gallery.21

EventsWinter 2013An Irish Voice of DemocracyIs the Constitution still relevant? That was thequestion answeredby senior CallieHerrmann ‘13 inthe VFW Voice ofDemocracy EssayContest. Since1947, the Voiceof Democracy hasbeen the Veteransof Foreign Wars’(VFW’s) premierscholarship program.Each year, more than50,000 high school students compete for morethan $2.3 million in scholarships and incentives.Students compete by writing and recording abroadcast script on an annual patriotic theme.Callie asked about the relevance of the U.S.Constitution and how different a country we’dlive in under an “Alternative Constitution”based on selfish interests.Here’s an excerpt:“So, is the U.S. Constitution stillrelevant? I can answer with absolutecertainty that it is. When I think aboutthe dreadful alternative, I have visions ofchaos, destruction and a divided nationfull of unhappy people. The “AlternativeConstitution” has no consideration forothers, and without each other we arenothing. The unity, love and inclusionthat our country once stood for wouldvanish. This is certainly not what ourFounding Fathers had in mind whenthey constructed the Constitution onthe principles of liberty, unity andselfless love. The U.S. Constitution stillholds true to these goals and dreams ofAmerica.”Go to the Father Ryan website under AlumniEvents to read Callie’s entire essay.Blackhawk Helicopter Lands at Father RyanThe normal sounds of the classroom and campus faded into the distanceshortly after the Veterans Day Breakfast as the newest Blackhawkhelicopter dropped in for a visit. Its arrival was arranged through Capt.Matt Morales ’05 who is training on the helicopter later this spring. The$22 million aircraft drew students and faculty members on the campus,including the Christ the King 8 th graders on their visit day. The craft stayedon the practice field for three hours, affording our community a rareopportunity to see up-close a hi-tech piece of the American military force.The Blackhawk making its entrance (right): MacKenzie ‘13, Matt ‘05, Maggie‘11 and Mandy ‘01 Morales.A Weekend to Remember serviceFrom Friday’s Veterans Day Breakfast and Hero Project Honorsto the special visit of the new Army Blackhawk Helicopter...toSaturday’s Veterans Pride 5K and its 300 runners and walkers...to ourremembrances of veterans...past and present...we honor our service menand women and say thank you for your service to this nation.A record number of runners and walkers turned out on a beautifulSaturday morning for the Veterans Pride 5K. Thanks to event sponsorTSH Investments and our Leadership Sponsors: Angel HealthcareStaffing, Hunt Brothers Pizza, LSI, Mary Lee Bunch and Associates,Novacopy, SMS Holdings, Star Physical Therapy and SunriseContracting for another memorable event to support tuition assistance.The 5K started on the right foot.22

Service ProfileWinter 2013Senior service opens door to life of serviceBy: Jack Murphree ‘79Francesca Mancuso, Daniel Whitcomb, Caleb Sharber, Rebecca Crumby, and Grace Farone at Harris-Hillman Special Education School.In 1972, the Father Ryan SeniorService Program introduced studentsto the immeasurable value found inthe experience of giving and caring forothers by connecting them directly withthose in need.In 2013, not only is the Senior ServiceProgram wildly popular at a 90% classenrollment, it is paving the way forgraduates who are choosing service as acareer.“Initially, they sign-up for the class toget off–campus without supervision,”says Betts Clippinger, Senior ServiceProgram Coordinator since 1997,“but they figure out quickly that theclass is not about getting their freedom.It’s about wanting to see the people theywork with because they truly careabout them.”The community service program, offeredexclusively to the senior class as a courseelective, essentially places studentvolunteers into 12 different educationaland care-giving facilities two days perweek during the school year, includingSt. Mary Villa Child DevelopmentCenter, St. Mary Villa Nursing Home,Paragon Mills Elementary School,Murrell Academy and Harris-HillmanSpecial Education School. Each of theprogram partners cater to preschool,elementary and special needs educationas well as elderly care.“Before I send my kids out, I spend threeor four days prepping them about thedifferent kinds of places they can goand the kinds of people they can workwith,” says Clippinger. “I map out thepossibilities and the responsibilities ateach one so that they are able to make achoice.”The logistics of getting from the FatherRyan campus to the various destinationsinside the 90–minute allotted classtime begins with car groups of two tosix assigned to licensed drivers withtransportation. Groups are required toride together so that they can processand discuss what’s happening at theirplace of service on the way to and fromtheir placement.Typically, the car groups do not knoweach other well, so the connections withthe people they serve aren’t the onlyrelationships they begin to build.“When I first put them in their carloads,they moan and groan about who theyhave to ride with,” says Clippinger. “Bythe end of the semester, they are verybest friends with those same people andare so grateful to have gotten to knowthem.”One important aspect of the programcurriculum is the journaling bythe students about their individualexperiences, which includes addressingfive different assigned topics each week,is a part of the program curriculum.The student journals are also windowsinto the lessons which are cultivated bythe Program.“It’s a whole other way of life they’venever experienced from the glass bubblesthey live in,” says Clippinger. “They getinvolved in other people’s lives and theygrow to love them.”Integrating the concept and theimportance of serving others into thereality of high school is not exclusive toFather Ryan, but it is uniquely FatherRyan.“Service is an important topic amongparents at other schools,” says Angela(Allbee) Mills ‘85, Director of AlumniCommunications. “but our motto isFaith, Knowledge, Service, and we’ve23

Service ProfileWinter 2013Service throughout the comunity; (clockwise from top left) Gina Beckman with a friend at Centennial Adult Care; Cindy Nguyen at St.Mary’s Villa; George Edwards making a mark at Christ the King; Casey Motley ‘12 visits his friends at Paragon Mills.been about service to the community for over 40 years. It isingrained in our student experience.”At the core of the Senior Service Program is the belief thatcultivating the habit of giving of one’s self deliberately makesthe desire to serve steadily grow stronger.“Our Senior Service Program is a tangible way for studentsto live their faith,” says Tim Forbes ‘93, Dean of CampusMinistry and Student Life. “It is a practical way to put faithinto action and an opportunity to minister with their peers.It is a time of real self-discovery for them.”At Paragon Mills Elementary School, fifteen seniors areassigned to pre-kindergarten through 4 th grade classes,assisting teachers with one-on-one and small group work,grading papers and mentoring special needs children,according to Teresa (Sharp) Davis ‘81, school librarian andpoint person for the Senior Service Program there.“The Ryan students make such an impact,” says Davis. “It’sreally neat to watch their relationships grow. Whenever ourspecial needs kids see their buddies, it helps defuse what mayhave been a difficult day for them.“Our teachers really bond with the Father Ryan students,”says Davis. “They know they can rely on them, and they makeplans in their classrooms that include them.”Bringing individual skill sets and leadership to service is alsofostered by the Senior Service Program.“Two of our Father Ryan seniors were interested in teachingmath to our students last year,” says Davis. “One of theteachers let them form a small group made up of 4 th graderswho brought sack lunches and participated in activities thatwere tied to the skills they were learning in class.”“The group was so effective that it led to the formation of amath club headed by Ryan students at our elementary school,”says Davis. “On top of all of these experiences for these youngstudents, I am personally so proud to have these Father Ryanstudents come to my school and represent so well the traditionof Faith, Knowledge, Service.“It’s important, especially for the Elliston Place alums, toknow that the real life experiences that we remember sovividly at Ryan are still happening today, and that our studentsare still motivated by those experiences to pursue careersin areas they otherwise would not have heard about beforecollege,” says Mills.For Kristin Schletzer ‘08, senior service in a pre-K classroomwhere English was not a first language cemented her careerpath. She is working on a master’s degree in education andEnglish language learning at David Lipscomb University.“Looking back on it, the Senior Service Program honestlychanged my life,” said Schletzer. “The diversity in thatclassroom was not something I had ever been exposed to,and it was a real challenge for me. I definitely would neverhave considered what I am doing now had it not been for theSenior Service Program.”24

yan studentsends helpto congo’sstreetchildrenby Maria BonvissutoReprinted with permissionfrom the Tennessee Register.Thanks to one Nashville youth’s efforts, street children in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo will receive desperatelyneeded clothes.Wabi Tela, a junior at Father Ryan High School in Nashville,has organized a charity known as Kemi’s Friends to collectand send used summer clothing to the impoverished childrenof Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capitalcity. Tela gathered boxes and boxes of donations, whichare currently traveling overseas, to be given to Kinshasa’spoorest youth.Tela created Kemi’s Friends in March 2011, but the seeds ofthe charity were planted long before he collected his first pieceof clothing. Tela’s family originally hails from the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo. His parents Zudi and Nkumu grewup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before attendingcollege in Belgium, where Wabi was born. The Telas eventuallymoved to the United States to raise their family.It was during two trips to the Democratic Republic of theCongo in the summers of 2008 and 2009 that Tela and hisyounger brother Kahwit noticed the terrible living conditionsof the children in Kinshasa. Thousands of boys and girls theirage and younger wandered the streets, abandoned, homeless,and without the basic necessities of life. Tela was shocked andsaddened by this dire situation. “(It was) unnatural to me,”he said.After some research, Tela discovered that the abandonedchildren of Kinshasa are known as Shegues. After theDemocratic Republic of the Congo was thrown into horrificsocial and economic strife due to violent civil wars that rockedthe country from 1996 to 2003, many children there foundthemselves cast out into the streets. According to Tela, thishas happened to thousands of children in Kinsasha – someestimates as high as 30,000 – all orphans of AIDS, victims ofabuse, or abandoned by or separated from their parents.Tela determined that he would find a way to assist the children.It was then that Kemi’s Friends was born.He christened the newly founded charity after his 7-year-oldsister. “Her name means ‘God is taking care of me,’ so wewant children over there to know we’re taking care of themeven if they feel no one is,” explained Tela.He decided that there was no better place to start the clothingdrive than his own school, Father Ryan. With the assistanceof Dean of Student Life and Campus Ministry Tim Forbes,Tela set up donation boxes in all the theology classroomsand visited classes to give presentations about his cause. Theresponse was overwhelming. Donations from the communitypoured in and over the course of his freshman and sophomoreyears, Tela said, his clothes drive garnered a “tremendousamount” of clothing.Despite the overwhelming first success of Kemi’s Friends, Telastill had some snags to overcome. The cost of shipping such abig load of clothes to another continent was prohibitive. Andthere was also the problem of how the donations would bedistributed once they reached their destination. For the firsttwo years of the drive, Tela could not send the Congolesechildren their clothes due to high shipping costs. However,after talking to several different charities, Wabi discoveredPurple Pride from Nashville to Kinshasa: Kemi’s Friends was able to collect many boxes of clothing; Caritas Congo, a Catholiccharitable organization operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, distributed the clothes to the street children.25

Caritas Congo, a Catholic charitable organizationoperating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The group agreed to partner with Kemi’s Friendsto distribute the clothes to the poor children ofKinshasa, and it also gave a substantial donation tohelp defray transport expenses.This, along with the cooperation of a generousshipper, made it possible for Kemi’s Friends tofinally send its first donation to the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo by boat. Once the donationstouch the coast, Caritas will pick up and deliverthem to Kinshasa’s street children shelters.Tela said one of the most rewarding aspects of thisministry has been, “seeing the community hereopen their arms.” And, of course, he mentionedthat, “It’s nice to help out the country where myfamily’s from.”The junior hopes that Kemi’s Friends will live on athis alma mater long after he graduates. “I want thisto be a permanent thing there, I hope my brotherwill carry on when he gets to Father Ryan.”He added that he wants this work for the childrenof Kinshasa to continue beyond his family so that,“Even if we’re not there (Father Ryan) physically,the drive’s still going on.”In the meantime, though, Tela is content to observethe present results of Kemi’s Friends and continue topromote his cause.“As long as we can help one child, that’s evengood enough.”For more information or to give a donation, visit Tela’swebsite: http://kemisfriends.org or email kemisfriends@gmail.com. To follow news and show support, followand like Kemi’s Friends on Facebook.Winter 20131954 BILL SHANKS lives in Daytona Beach, FL with hiswife Carolyn. Bill was named to the Midtown RedevelopmentBoard where he will serve two years as Project ProfessionalSite Planner. This project includes a large residential/commercial portion of Central Daytona and the developmentof a campus master plan for the expansion of Bethune–Cookman College.1968 GARY LIVINGSTON retired in August 2012, after20 years with Hewlett Packard Company. Gary is stilltraveling, but now it’s in a RV all around the U.S.1969 DR. ROBERT CAMPBELL (top right) was honoredin January by the FDA at a ceremony marking the 30 thanniversary of the Orphan Drug Act. The event recognized30 heroes whose accomplishments to support and developtreatments for individuals with rare diseases have madeclinical, research, advocacy and regulatory contributions.Bob was acknowledged for his work to develop the VEPTRmedical device (a lifesaving artificial diaphragm for childrenwith spinal deformities, see Irish Ayes, Winter 2012), aswell as his tremendous advocacy for rare diseases.1980 TONY FREELAND is a graduate of University ofTennessee, Knoxville. He served as U.S. Army Officer andnow owns a civil engineering firm in Bellingham, WA.1982 JIM HUBBUCH has been promoted to Vice Presidentof Strategic Financial Partners. He is responsible for anaggressive growth plan for the Nashville/Knoxville regionsin terms of production and in growth of the number ofNashville-based advisors for the firm.1984 BLAKE FONTENAY (right) had his first novel, ThePolitics of Barbecue, published. It is available in stores andvia Amazon.com. The fictional story is set in Memphis andchronicles the greed and corruption that accompany plansto build a World Barbecue Hall of Fame in the city.1985 LAURA CANTRELL (lower right) performed thissummer at “Music City Roots, Live from Loveless Barn”where several of her classmates cheered for her. Laura is acountry music artist living in NYC. Her latest CD is KittyWells Dresses: Songs of the Queen of Country Music, andshe is working on her fourth album.1987 JASON ERWIN, Father Ryan’s resident artist andfaculty member, recently created a mixed media map ofNashville for The Scout Guide. The guide book highlightsindependent businesses and attractions in Nashville.1989 MICHAEL JONES has relocated to Nashville after a17–year absence. He took a new position with his employer,US Bank, as a Private Client Relationship Manager in theBrentwood office covering eight branches in the MiddleTennessee area.26

1996 Gary Gerald is assistant professor of biology atNebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE. He marriedLisette Torres in the summer of 2012.1998 Kevin McCauley graduated from Belmont witha bachelor’s degree. In 2010 he married his wife, Brittany,and they had a daughter, Everett Anne McCauley, in 2011.Kevin left cooking at Margot Cafe to become the full-timekitchen manager and part-time culinary instructor at VikingCooking School in Franklin, TN.1999 Laura (Bosio) Allen was named Teacher ofthe Year for the 2012-2013 school year at Avery TraceMiddle School in Cookeville, TN. Laura is in her eighthyear in the classroom and is teaching 5 th grade reading andsocial studies.2000 Steven Schrimpf accepted the position ofoperations analyst at Produce Alliance LLC, a Nashvillebasedbrokerage company. He is now living in Hermitagewith his wife, Anna, and son, Aidan.2000 Jenn Sims, currently completing her Ph.D. insociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recentlyorganized and led an international team of 20+ scholarsto produce The Sociology of Harry Potter: 22 EnchantingEssays on the Wizarding World (Zossima Press 2012). Asthe first book–length sociological analysis of Harry Potter,it aims to introduce thepublic to a sociological wayof thinking via analysisof the wizarding worldcreated by J.K. Rowling. Inaddition to being the editor,Jenn also wrote four of thechapters. Anne MarieMcCabe-Morgan ‘00,Bridget Mahoney‘05 and Brittany Sims‘05 are all mentioned in theAcknowledgments. Brittanyis also the co-recipient(with J.K. Rowling) of thebook’s dedication.2002 Dr. Sarah Talley has joined the staff of DuckloEyeCare, P.C., announcedDr. Tommy Ducklo‘67, optometrist and owner.“Sarah is a talented youngoptometrist,” said Dr.Ducklo. “We are very pleasedto welcome her to our teamas our practice continues togrow.” When not providingeye care, Sarah helps at herparent’s equestrian boardingfacility, Chataway Farm, inhistoric Leiper’s Fork.2004 Stephanie Elderlives in Clarksville, TN whereshe is pursuing a Masterof Music in InstrumentalConducting at Austin Peay StateUniversity. She assists withthe APSU Wind Ensemble, aswell as the “Governor’s Own”Marching Band. In addition,she is a graduate assistant inthe Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center.Prior to enrolling in APSU, she was the band director atBradley Central High School in Cleveland, TN. She earnedher Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the UTKnoxville in 2008.2005 Frances (Leathers) Meza was promoted to therank of Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps effectiveAugust 1, 2012. She lives in Beaufort, SC.2005 Brittany Sims received her master of publicadministration from Tennessee State University inMay 2012.2009 Caitlin Mulloy completed her 2012 term aspresident of Delta Zeta Sorority at UT Knoxville. Duringthis time the sorority built a house on campus, the first in UThistory. She was in charge of 160 girls with 43 living in theDZ house. Caitlin followed another alum, Laine Moody‘08, as sorority president.2009 The BCS National Championship Game broughttogether several ‘09 grads forthe night! Scott Englert,Rachel Hunkler andMaria Rigby met up andtailgated together before thegame. Scott and Maria areseniors at Notre Dame andRachel is a senior at Alabama.2010 Domenic DiGiovanni, a junior at HillsdaleCollege in Michigan, has been selected as an IntercollegiateStudies Institute (ISI) Honors Fellow and attended ISI’sStudent Leadership Retreat in Mecosta, MI. He founded anISI student reading group centered on the ideas of economicliberty and morality. He accomplishes all this while studyingphysics and economics, tutoring in the school’s writing centerand participating in the college’s Catholic Society.2010 Ellen Mullins earned All-South Region HonorableMention by the American Volleyball Coaches Associationafter another impressive seasonat UT Knoxville. Appearingin every match as the startinglibero, Mullins shattered hersingle-season totals by averagingan impressive 4.55 digs per set,a mark that ranks third all-timein the rally scoring era at UT.She finished the season with thesecond-most digs (541) and the28

fourth-highest scoops per set average in the SEC.2010 Anthony Simpson, a junior at Bryan College,finished his cross country season at the NAIA NationalChampionship where he led the Lionswith a personal best time of 25:11.His run placed him 25 th overall,garnering NAIA All-AmericanHonors. In addition to his family,Father Ryan Boys Cross Countryand Track Coach Doug Jones was inVancouver, WA to support the formerIrish runner. Anthony was named asthe Appalachian Athletic ConferenceMen’s Cross Country Runner of theweek in September after his performance in the VanderbiltClassic Cross Country Meet, where he posted a fifth placefinish in a field of 135 runners, leading the Lions to a secondplace finish in the team competition. Anthony ran the 8Krace in 26:02.2011 Tusculum College’s Warren Cheney capturedmedalist honors to win the 2012 Walters State Fall GolfClassic in Morristown, TN. He fired a two-under par 34 inthe nine-hole final round to win his first collegiate golf titleand rally the Pioneers to a two-stroke victory over TennesseeWesleyan in the team competition. Warren came from sixshots back to tie the first round leader with a score of 112.The two would decide the individual crown with a suddendeathplayoff, which lasted an additional seven holes. Warrenscored a par on the seventh playoff hole to earn themedalist title.2012 Sam McCullough, Jimmy Oh and E.J. Hinloare marching for the Notre Dame Band. Sam, who attendsHoly Cross College across the street from Notre Dame, isone of only two freshman chosen to join the snareline. Thethree are photographed in front of Ricci Band Rehearsal Hallat Notre Dame.2012 Maeve McNameereceived a Middle TennesseeOSU (The Ohio StateUniversity) Alumni ClubScholarship Award.2011 Mary Pat Conway was elected president byher sisters at Delta Zeta at UT Knoxville. She is the thirdpresident in a row from Father Ryan for the sorority.Alum Promoted to top national guard postGary Ensminger ‘77 has been selected as the U.S. Command Chief Warrant Officer of theArmy National Guard.CW5 Ensminger has served in the Tennessee Army National Guard for the past 33 years.Gary is an aviator with the National Guard, qualified in multiple rotary wing aircraft. Hehas had many assignments in the National Guard: all centered around Aviation Trainingand Aviation Logistics. Gary deployed to Kosovo in 2004, serving with the Multi-National Forces in the Balkans.In 2009, Gary was appointed as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the State ofTennessee. The State Command Chief Warrant Officer is the senior Warrant Officer,responsible for policies, procedures, administration and training for all Warrant Officersin the State.On October 5, 2012, Gary was selected by Lieutenant General William Ingram to serveas the U.S. Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Army National Guard. Gary willhave the same responsibilities, but will oversee all 54 States and Territories.Gary and his wife, Melanie, relocated to Washington, DC for this three–year assignment.29

BirthsWinter 2013Joseph Hudson to Amanda and Stephen Baker ‘93 bornon August 23, 2012. Raymond and Mary Jane Baker(Faculty) are thrilled to be first-time grandparents.Elizabeth Frances (Betsy) to Louisa and Buster Bateman‘99 born on April 12, 2012. Grandparents, Tommy ’75 andSusie (Francescon) ’75 Bateman are enjoying theirfamily’s new addition. Louisa teaches 8 th grade at Christ theKing, and Buster began his career as a financial advisor lastyear with Wells Fargo Advisors, where he joined his father.Lily Grace to Mark and Brandy(Hounihan) Brandenburg ‘94 onAugust 9, 2012. She is adored by her twobig brothers Matthan, 4 and Asher, 3.The family lives in Frederick, MD.Shea Everett to Rob Duke III ‘98and his wife, Lauri Buckner, born onSeptember 11, 2012. Shea is the greatgrandson of Dr. John RobertDuke, Sr. ‘50 and Thomas MoganDavis, Sr. ‘47. Rob, Laurii and Shea livein Nashville.Thomas Samuel Hoover III to Casey and Tommy Hoover,Jr. ‘03 born on September 11, 2012. Tommy, Sr. and JudyHoover (Board of Trust) are thrilled to be first-timegrandparents.Griffith Lee to Lee Ann (Griffith)‘96 and Jeff Johnson born onJuly 18, 2012.Amelia Marie to Chrissy and MattMcWatters ‘00 born on October 8,2012. This is the first child for McWattersand the first grandchildfor his mom, Mary AliceMcWatters, (Faculty).Paige Baker to Kimberly (Baker) ‘00and Stephen Songy born on July 8, 2012.Virginia Gray Ellen was welcomedinto this world on November 14, 2011.Virginia is the daughter of HunterEllen ‘96 and Rachel (Mayo)Ellen ‘01. She also has a proud2–year–old brother, Zane Patrick.Ayden Alexander to Teresa and LanceWise ‘91 born on July 1, 2012.Autumn Grace to Bryan and Theresa (Nichols)Furlong ‘04 born in November, 2011.Emerson “Emmy” Josephine to Chip andKate Goetzinger (Staff) born onNovember 13, 2012. Big sisters Allisonand Payton are pictured with their newbaby sister.Harper Elizabeth to Tiffany (Jackson) ’00 and StephenHolland born on October 7, 2012.Eric Michael, Jr. to Anne Marie (McCabe) ‘00 and EricMorgan, Sr. born on June 26, 2012.Anna Rollins to Angela (Rohling)‘98 and Mike Gregory born on May 14,2012. Their first daughter, KatherineGayle Gregory, was born March 2, 2010.The Gregorys moved to Knoxville lastsummer where Mike is directorof marketing services and specialevents for UT and Angela continuesto work as an occupational therapistfor Gentiva Health.30

WeddingsWinter 2013ALLYSON AGBUNAG ‘04 and BEN LORANCE ‘04 weremarried on March 10, 2012. The couple is living in Nashville.LEAH CONNERS ‘00 and P.G. Banker were married onJune 2, 2012 at her aunt’s farm in Franklin, TN with theREVEREND JOSEPH PATRICK BREEN ‘54 officiating.Leah is the daughter of JOHN T. CONNERS III ‘69 andthe granddaughter of JOHN T. CONNERS, JR. ‘37. She isa resident in Family Medicine at John Peter Smith Hospitalin Ft. Worth, TX, where the couple lives. P.G. works forHummingbird Productions, a music advertising firm basedin Nashville.KRISTI MORGAN ‘99 and Craig Cotham were married inKey West, FL on October 20, 2012.Tish (Pilkerton) ‘03 and Bryan Picklesimer ‘99TISH PILKERTON ‘03 and BRYAN PICKLESIMER ‘99were married on June 23, 2012. Tish is coaching and teachingPE at Ensworth School, and Bryan is coaching and teachingPE at Overbrook and St. Cecilia.MELISSA PUCHALSKI ‘05 and Albert Rich Dorsey IV weremarried on September 8, 2012. The celebration was at St.Joseph Church in Madison, TN. The happy couple lives inBrentwood, TN.Caroline Ruth Moses married LEE MICHAEL SPROUSE ‘98on October 20, 2012. Lee is a civil and criminal trial attorneyin private practice. He and Caroline live in Nashville.KATIE THROOP ‘03 and Chase Burnett were married onSeptember 1, 2012. The couple had a small ceremony andreception at her father-in-law’s home in Crossville, TN infront of about 40 friends and family.SHARE YOUR LATEST NEWSAND STAY IN TOUCH WITHTHE FATHER RYAN FAMILYIrish Ayes is always eager to hear what and howour alumni and families are doing. You can keepin touch with updates on college experiences,jobs and promotions, marriages, births and otherpersonal highlights at alumni@fatherryan.org.PARENTS OF ALUMNIIf your son or daughter no longer maintains anaddress at your home, please notify the Father RyanAlumni Office of his or her new address by calling615-269-7926 or e-mailing Angela Mills ’85 atmillsa@fatherryan.org.Olivia Juneau and JASON HARTMAN ’08 were marriedon December 5, 2012. GREG HARTMAN ’10 was the bestman and JESSE BUTRUM ’08, DAVID COMM ’08 andCHARLIE MENKE ’08 were groomsmen.Follow us on Facebook.com/fatherryanhighschoolTwitter.com/fatherryan31

In MemoriamWinter 2013WILLIAM C. “BUDDY” ABBOTT, JR. ‘65 - Father of Trey ‘95,Amy ‘97 and Marty ‘01 Abbott.ROBERT A. ANGLIN, JR. ‘43.BARBARA BAGLEY - Mother of Paula Bagley ‘11.JAMES DAVID BAIRD - Father of Craig Baird ‘93.LAWRENCE “ROMEY” BALTZ ‘44 - Preceded in death bysiblings Joseph, Geroge, Bernard ‘43, Alfred ‘55 and Frank ‘54Baltz and Anna Marie Harrigan and Margaret Taylor. Survivedby sisters Bernadine and Elizabeth Baltz and Catherine Corbitt.ANGELA H. BARDILL ‘78 - Sister of Bill ‘71, Kathy Vaughn‘73, Mary ‘74, Pat, Dan, Karen ‘75, Theresa Adkins ‘76, AnneMcIntire ‘79, Renesa Davis, Joe ‘80 and Maureen ‘82 Bardill andJohn Gupton IV.JOHN CHRISTOPHER BATEMAN - MATTHEW P.BATEMAN ‘82 - Brother of Kevin (deceased), Matthew(deceased), Michael, Steve and Cathy Bateman ‘73, Frances Baird,Trisha Fultz, Barbara Barrett and Peggy Cooper Montgomery.WILLIAM IRVIN BERRY ‘46 - Life Trustee of Father Ryan andbrother of the late Robert Berry ‘42 and George Berry ‘51.MARY LOUISE BEUERLEIN - Wife of Joseph M. Beuerlein ‘58and mother of Anthony Beuerlein ‘86 and Amy BeuerleinScanlon ‘89.ALICE MANZ BOOTH - Mother of Linda Garner, CharlesBooth, Debbie Taylor ‘75 and Michael Booth.THOMAS E. BREEN ‘51 - Brother of Hugh Breen ‘47, Fr. Joe PatBreen ‘54, Fr. Philip Breen ‘57, Ann Treadway, Mary Jo Beavinand Dorothy Williams.ROBERT ROSS CALDWELL ‘73.MERLIN ANTHONY “TONY” CONNOLLY ‘63 - Brotherof Matthew ‘60, Alvin ‘61 and Joe ‘66 Connolly; son of the lateMatthew F. Connolly, Sr. ‘37.THOMAS MICHAEL CONNELLY ‘66.ROBERT J. CROWLEY - Father of Robert, Charles, John ‘78 andJim ‘80 Crowley and Jacquelyn Hilyer.JOHN J. CUNNINGHAM - Life Trustee and father of John, Jr.‘78 (deceased) and Mark Cunningham ‘80.DIANE E. DEFREECE - Mother of Kenneth ‘77, Thomas ‘81,Jim ‘82, Mike ‘83 DeFreece and Peggy Dean.CHARLES “CHARLIE” L. DONNELLY ‘46 - Father of JaniceAlexander (deceased) and Lisa Baltz.SHIRLEY EATHERLY - Mother of Beth, John Overton ‘97,Justin, Biz and Joy Eatherly (senior).BERNADETTE EICHORN - Mother of George S. Dobler II andAmanda (Dobler) Swafford ‘90.CHRISTIE S. ELDER - Sister of Theresa Mascola ‘82 andMickey Elder ‘85.THOMAS “SONNY” L. EVANS, SR. ‘41 - Father of Thomas‘67, Terrance and Daryl ‘77 Evans.GERTRUDE “TRUDY” FAIMON - Mother of Bill Faimon ‘50.CHARLIE E. FIELDS - Staff member from 1986 to 2005.JOHN MURRAY FLYNN ‘65 - brother of Jerry Flynn ‘59(deceased) and Becky Frazier.NANCY B. FOLEY - Mother of Wendi (Curtis) Johnson ‘85.LILLIAN PELLETTIERI FORD - Sister of the late CharlesPellettieri ‘50, also known as Wes Don Bishop.CATHERINE KLEESPIES FORTE - Wife of Fritz Forte ‘40 andmother of Greg Forte ‘73, Ann Yuknavage ‘74, Regina Neliganand Alicia Davis.HENRY C. FYKE ‘49 - Father of Steve ‘73, Tony, Chris, Scottand Karen ‘85 Fyke, Julie Agee and Sally Henshaw.MARTHA MARY GIBBS - Mother of Ronnie Gibbs ‘68, DebbieJohnson, Janet Himmelberg and Kenneth Gibbs.ANGELA M. GILMORE GRIFFIN - Sister of John E. Gilmore,Jr ‘67 (deceased), Mary Ann Gilmore (deceased), Betty Neuhoff,Kathy Bonnet, Amy Schmid, and Joe Gilmore ‘67.LUALHATI “MARYLOU” GO - mother of Aljon Go ‘93 andHenry Go ‘94.MARY REGAN GREEN - Mother of Mary Ann Harris, EllenTipton, Jim Green ‘67 and Roberta Wheeler.MARTHA HAINS - Mother of Sarah Hains ‘11.JOHN B. HARDCASTLE - Husband of Jennifer (Seaman)Hardcastle ‘86.JOSEPH WALSH HOWINGTON - Son of Maurice Howington‘44 (deceased).WILLIAM K. JAMESON - Father of Maureen, Tim ‘72, Kevin‘76, Christopher ‘77 and Mike Jameson ‘81.MATTHEW KEEFE - Son of Stephanie Wood Keefe-Schmitter ‘77.JANE L. KELLY - Mother of Mike ‘71, William “Tinker” ‘73,Chris and Bryan ‘84 Kelly.LEO A. KERRIGAN - Brother of Thomas Kerrigan ‘55, PaulKerrigan ‘58 (deceased) and Gail Rosson.GEORGE G. KNIERIEM - Father of Brad Knieriem ‘96, RobinNewell and Shannon Hofferbert.MICHAEL B. KRUSE - Father of Amy Hubbuch ‘83, Lisa Carter‘84, Kevin Kruse and Eric Kruse ‘92.RICHARD “DICK” W. KULASKI, JR. - Father of RichardKulaski III ‘92 and Megan Odle ‘95.MARTHA J. LANGDON - Wife of the late Joseph Langdon‘47, mother of Gayle Hilyer ‘75 and sister of Bill Bell, Jr. ‘46(deceased) and Leonidas Bell ‘56.RALPH F. LANGRECK - Father of Rick ‘77 and Michael“Bucky” ‘79 Langreck and Karen Brown.WALLACE A. “SANDY” LATIMER, JR. ‘65.THOMAS A. LAWRENCE ‘07 - Son of Theresa (Neeley) andTony Lawrence III ‘77 and brother of Rebecca ‘04 and Matthew‘08 Lawrence.DAVID L. LEAVER ‘64 - Brother of Roger Leaver ‘63.JAMES MICHAEL LIEBHART ‘70 - Brother of John Liebhart32

‘63, Theresa Lancaster, Melanie Sadler, Jean Ramsey andMary Liebhart.CHARLES LINDER - Father of Tom Linder ‘61, Mike Linder ‘67(former faculty member), Kathy Sampson and Patty Story.ROBERT I. LINSTROM - Father of E.J. Linstrom ‘93.LENORA R. LUKEN - Mother of Tom Luken ‘60, GeorgeLuken, Jr., Ann Mayfield, Lee Dorough and Janet Morgan.TIMOTHY R. LUSK - Father of Alex Lusk (junior).DAVID A. MADDOX ‘58.THOMAS J. MALONE - Father of Brian Malone ‘89, MeghanJohnson ‘91 and Maureen Malone ‘94.DAVID L. MASON ‘74 - Brother of Elaine Pedigo, TommyMason ‘72, Melanie Phillips, Mike Williams, Mark Williams,Lisa Bailey and Charlie Williams.THELMA L. MCBRIDE - Mother of Jacque, Dennis III ‘68 andTommy ‘70 McBride.JAMES A. MCCANN - Father of Jim McCann ‘68, ChrisDonnelly and Kate Morales.FRANCIS “FRANK” R. MCGRANAGHAN - Father of Mark,Michael, Anne-Marie, Lisa Miller, Sean ‘83 and Fran ‘84McGranaghan.JANE C. MCMAHON - Mother of Mark (deceased) and JeffMcMahon III ‘65, Susan Stahl and Sharon Baskette.MARGARET ANN MEACHAM - Mother of Hale Meacham, Jr.‘79, Larry Meacham ‘80 and Lisa Berger ‘81.COL. (RET.) B. JOHN MOGAN ‘61 - Brother of Mark ‘69(deceased), Thomas (deceased), Camille Mogan andMicheleen Scull.DR. J. TUCKER MOORE, JR. - Father of Jesse Moore III,Colette Balmer, Greg Moore, Nichole Batey and ClaudineAllen ‘89.MARIE G. MORRISSEY - Mother of Loftus A. Morrissey III‘68 (deceased), Pam Kennedy, Kevin Morrissey, James Morrissey,Marcia Newman and Gina Miller.PAUL H. MURPHY ‘47 - Preceded in death by siblings Mickey,Dan ‘48 and Catherine Bradley.PAUL W. NELSON - Father of Ken Nelson and TeresaWeatherly ‘89.DEBBIE SULLIVAN OLDHAM ‘79 - Mother of Brittany ‘06 andBrooke ‘06 and sister of Jimmy ‘67, Michael ‘68 and Gary ‘77Sullivan and Becky Singer ‘84.DENNIS NOLAN OSBORNE ‘61 - Father of Sid Osborne ‘87and brother of James (deceased), Jerry ‘58, Robert ‘60, Frank ‘64,Mike ‘66, David ‘69, Timothy, John and Kenneth Osborne andMarlea Hardin.STEPHEN N. PELTIER - Father of Christine ‘09 and Catherine‘12 Peltier.PAUL A. PICKNEY ‘45 - Father of Mike Pickney ‘74 (deceased),Cynthia Katopodis ‘75, Cheryl Edwards ‘77 and MonicaBostleman ‘81.JOANNE E. PIETSCH - Mother of Josh ‘93 (deceased), Matt ‘97and Becky ‘00 Hite.JOSEPH E. POWELL - Father of Cindy, Carol ‘88, Larry, Davidand Stephen Powell.DAVID V. POWER ‘48 - Father of David Power, Jr. ‘86, JenniferBerry ‘90 and Amanda Power. Also survived by siblings SisterAgnes Power and John Frazier Power ‘39.MILDRED M. RIMLINGER - Mother of Carla Moore ‘73(deceased), Charles H. Rimlinger, Jr. and Carol Dodson ‘73.DANIEL H. RIORDAN ‘56 - Brother of Pat Riordan ‘55.JOHN W. RIPPETOE - Father of John ‘76, Mike ‘78, Ken ‘80and Tom ‘82 Rippetoe and Regina List ‘83.BARBARA ANN ROHLING - Wife of Mark Rohling ‘65.NORA VOURIE ROHLING - Mother of Jean Marie Mooney,Linda Valiquette, Elizabeth Burton, Grace ‘71, Joe ‘73, Mike ‘74,Pat ‘74 and Larry ‘75 Rohling.MARGARET B. ROTELLA - Mother of Frank J. Rotella, Jr. ‘59and Helen Seul.KATHERINE DIXON SHELTON - Mother of James ‘64, Mike‘65, Pat ‘67, Terry ‘69, David ‘73 (deceased) and Dennis ‘77Shelton and Kathleen Vetter (deceased) and Dannye Higgs.LISA COX SMITH - Mother of Margot Cox ‘02 and formerFaculty member.WILLIAM A. STRASSER ‘57 - Brother of Ed Strasser ‘52, JohnStrasser ‘56 (deceased), Tom Strasser ‘60 and Loretto Walsh.MURIEL M. SUDEKUM - Mother of Bill Sudekum ‘67 andEmily Riggs.CHARLES L. SUTTLE - Father of Lisa Hartman, JenniferReeves ‘88 and Megan Suttle ‘12.DAVID E. TATE ‘58.NANCY TAYLOR - Sister of Tyler Taylor ‘65.EVERETT TEMPLETON - Father of Tim ‘69 and BarryTempleton and Penny Richardson.MARY ELAINE VALIQUETTE - Sister of Al ‘66, John ‘68,Richard ‘71, Kathy Edry, Loretta ‘75, Ginny Gilliam ‘77, Johanna‘79, Christine Valiquette and Thomas ‘80 and Luke Valiquette‘93 (both deceased).THOMAS A. WARNER ‘52 - Brother of John Warner ‘43(deceased).JAMES C. WEBB ‘66.WILLIAM “BILL” E. WEHBY, SR. ‘47 - Father of Bill Wehby, Jr.‘83, Teresa Wrenn, Stephanie Page, Diane Carter, Jennifer Lewis,Jane Stuart, Denise Baker and Leslie Arkenberg; brother of Jack‘44 (deceased), Mickey ‘50 and Sam Wehby, Shirley Welsh andDelores Young.HARRY J. “JOHN” WILSON, JR. ‘62.ARMER “BUSTER” WOLFE, SR. - Father of Buster ‘68 and Don‘70 Wolfe, Rose Mines, Anita Lester and Patricia Nicholls.CHARLES “CHARLIE” WOLFE - Father of Neil Wolfe ‘96.EDWARD J. WOODFIN, SR. ‘50.GERALD WRIGHT ‘73.JOHN “BUDDY” JOSEPH YORK, JR. - Son of the late John J.York, Sr. ‘48 and brother of Marty ‘77 and Christopher York.CYNTHIA DAVIS ZIMMERLE - Wife of Edwin Zimmerle ‘73.33

770 Norwood DriveNashville, TN 37204NON PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGEPAIDNASHVILLE, TNPermit No. 22ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTEDSave the Dates for Reunions May 31-June 2, 2013From the All Alumni Reception on Friday to the LouGraham Alumni Golf Tournament and your ownclass’s celebration on Saturday to the touchinginduction of the Class of 1963 as Golden Grads onSunday, Reunion Weekend 2013 will be a time forremembering and celebrating.Classes ending in the 3s and 5s will celebrate Reunions.Invitations will be mailed this spring.To ensure you receive your reunion invitation, visitwww.fatherryan.org/alumni and click on the AlumniUpdate Form link to send us your contact information.It will be an unforgetable Irish Weekend!facebook.com/fatherryanhighschooltwitter.com/fatherryan