St.

Rita of Cascia High School

Proudly Presents
The 75th Annual

Alumni Banquet “Coming Home”

Friday, April 29, 2011

ON CAMPUS at
St. Rita of Cascia High School

Special Class
Reunions
50 Years
Class of 1961
25 Years
Class of 1986
 75th Annual Alumni Banquet & Class Reunions
Friday, April 29, 2011

Welcome & Class of 1961 Entrance

Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, President

Video Presentation
Honoring Tonight’s Award Winners

Honorary Alumnus Award

Raymond Fendler

Athletic Awards
Denis Bartz ’71; Jason Cegielski ’86; John Foley ’86; Donald Maher ’71;
John Reuther ’61; Robert Wirtz ’86; John Zaleski ’86

Loyalty Awards
James Brasher ’71; Joseph Donzelli ’61;
Gregory Pawlowski ’61; Scott Smolik ’86

Hall of Fame Inductees

Thomas Arundel ’80; Nicholas Calarco ’73;
Rev. Bernard Danber, O.S.A. ’68; Sally Deenihan (Hon.);
Brian Hamilton ’90; William Obrochta ’52;
Tony Simmons ’93; Frank “Bud” Sloup ’54

Mustang Lifetime Achievement Award

Eugene McGrail ’41

2011 Man of the Year

Michael Heeney ’71

Invocation & Dinner

Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, President

Bonanza Ticket Drawing

1st Place - $2,500 | 2nd Place - $500

Closing Prayer
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, President
 2011 Alumni Banquet Honorees
Raymond Fendler, Honorary Alumnus Award
Ray is the proud grandfather of current St. Rita seniors Matthew and Michael
Oskvarek. Since Matt and Mike started at St. Rita in 2007, “Papa Ray” has been
a loyal St. Rita supporter, especially of the St. Rita Band. Ray has been actively
involved with the St. Rita Band Boosters taking on many behind-the-scene roles.
Ray has volunteered each year at the Mustang Stampede and even braved freezing
weather in 2008 to help raise money for the band’s trip to Italy in 2009. Whether
it is driving his grandsons to and from school, taking on an active role in their
academics, attending band performances and athletic events or volunteering and
fundraising, Ray has demonstrated the amazing involvement that grandparents
can have in the lives of their grandchildren. Ray would like everyone to know
that he has loved all the good times he has experienced at St. Rita and was able to
be involved due to the support of his wife Donna.

Denis Bartz, 1971, Athletic Award

Denis was a member of Student Council and the Knights of Augustine at St.
Rita. He participated on the 1968 and 1969 Intramural Basketball Championship
teams. Denis was named the MVP of the Varsity Football team his senior year and
saw the team capture the Chicago Catholic League and Prep Bowl Championship
titles. He was also named Mr. Mustang his senior year. After graduating from St.
Rita, Denis accepted a scholarship to play football for the University of Hawaii
where he led the team in rushing and touchdowns his freshman year. In 1973, he
transferred to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse to work toward his career
goal of becoming a general dentist. He then received his doctoral degree in 1979
from Loyola University and has practiced dentistry on the Southwest Side ever
since. In 1977, Denis married his high school sweetheart Nancy and they have
been blessed with a wonderful family of four children, Jenny, Melissa, Michael
and Kevin. Denis has enjoyed practicing dentistry with his brother Raymond for
the past 30 years and he is also a part-time instructor at the Loyola Medical Center
teaching general practice dental residents.

Jason Cegielski, 1986, Athletic Award

Jason was named All-Catholic and 2nd Team Catholic All-American for his in-
volvement on the Mustang Varsity Football team. After St. Rita, he went on to
attend Purdue University where he was named All Big Ten with four game balls
as an offensive guard. Jason currently resides in the Garfield Ridge Area of Chi-
cago.

John Foley, 1986, Athletic Award

Upon graduating from St. Rita, John received a full scholarship to play football
for Lou Holtz at the University of Notre Dame. At the time, John was the #1
football player in the country and received honors as the Sun-Times Player of the
Year, Parade All-American Linebacker and the USA Today Defensive Player of
the Year. A block against Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown during the 1988
Cotton Bowl ended John’s football career, but he went on to help recruit during
the rest of his time at Notre Dame. John became an investment banker and was
responsible for helping to turn-around many companies such as Key Bank and
Oppenheimer. He now works for Barrington Research in Chicago as the Midwest
Sales Manager. However, the most important thing to John is spending time with
his family and his three boys, Ryan, Tyler and Nick. Ryan has followed in his
father’s footsteps and plays football at NIU. John lives in Wrigleyville and enjoys
traveling with his girlfriend Rebecca. He was inducted into the St. Rita Hall of
Fame in 2005 and the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame in 2008.

Donald Maher, 1971, Athletic Award

Don was a member of St. Rita’s 1970 Lightweight Basketball City Championship
team and the 1971 Heavyweight Catholic All Star team. He went on to attend
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he played basketball during
his freshman year and baseball all four years. Don is a tech/service representative
at INX International Ink Co. He has been married for 33 years to his wife Toni
Marie. Don has three daughters, Kristy, Beth and Angie and six grandchildren,
including quadruplets, they are, Nathan, Lylah, Landon, Olivia, Clare and Maya.

John Reuther, 1961, Athletic Award

John was the Catholic League leading scorer in basketball his senior year and was
named to the All-City All-Star team. He received a basketball scholarship to the
University of Louisville where he earned the 4th highest career point-per-game
average (18.2) and scored a total of 1,346 points. John was selected to enter the
Louisville Athletic Hall of Fame. John retired in 1998 after having spent 30 years
as a high school teacher and 10 years as a basketball coach. He currently resides
in Louisville with his wife of 44 years, Diana. John’s two brothers, also St. Rita
alums, Joe ’60 and Jim ’63 are retired and reside in Louisville as well.

Robert Wirtz, 1986, Athletic Award

After high school Bob attended the University of Central Florida where he played
baseball. After one year out of state he came home and enrolled at Morton Junior
College. At that time Bob continued playing baseball as he worked part-time for
Wirtz Rentals Company, his family owned business. After two years at junior
college, Bob decided to work full-time and play baseball in the summer. In 1992,
he married his wife Julie, and in 1998, they had a daughter, Jordan. In 2001, their
son Reece was born. Bob and his family have been living in Mokena since 2005
and he is the manager at Wirtz Rentals in Summit.

John Zaleski, 1986, Athletic Award

John earned many distinctions as a football player while at St. Rita. In 1985, he
was named All-Area Defense, All-State Defense and Offense, Catholic All-Amer-
ican Defense and Offense and USA Today All-American Punter with a 46.7 yard
average. John earned a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. In
1992, he began a career in law enforcement with the Cook Country Sheriffs De-
partment. John currently lives in Crown Point, Indiana with Sheila, his wife of
14 years. John and Sheila have a son Jake who is 11 years old and John’s nephew
Alex is a St. Rita sophomore. John enjoys coaching his son’s football, basketball
and baseball teams.

James Brasher, 1971, Loyalty Award

During his years at St. Rita, Jim played on the Frosh-Soph and Varsity Basket-
ball teams. Following his graduation, Jim entered Loyola University of Chicago
where he majored in accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1975. Also
in 1975, Jim became engaged to be married, received an Elijah Watts Sells award
for his achievement in passing the CPA exam and joined the accounting firm of
Peat Marwick Mitchell, now known as KPMG. He was with KPMG for almost
23 years, holding several leadership roles, including Vice Chair of Tax. Jim re-
tired from KPMG in 2007 and joined Baker Tilly as the Managing Partner of Tax
Services and will retire again this May. Jim serves on St. Rita’s Board of Direc-
tors and is an active member of the Valentine Dinner Dance committee. He also
serves on Loyola’s School of Business Board of Advisors. Jim has been married
to his wife Debbi, a former St. Rita Cheerleader and Homecoming Queen, for 35
years and has three children, Jim, Aimee and Katie. Jim and Debbi currently live
in Palos Park.

Joseph Donzelli, 1961, Loyalty Award

Upon graduating from St. Rita, Joe went on to attend baking school, which he
completed in 1963. Joe worked for Jewel Food Stores for over 30 years, three
years as a bakery manager and 28 years as a distribution manager. In 2000, he
retired from Jewel to start a 2nd career selling wooden pallets and he also sells cars
for his childhood friend and fellow St. Rita graduate Joe Rizza. Joe has been mar-
ried to his wife Mary Lou for over 45 years and they have two sons, one daughter
and 10 grandchildren. He hopes to see some of his eight grandsons attend St. Rita
in the future. Joe enjoys playing golf and likes to attend his athletic events that
his grandchildren play in.

Gregory Pawlowski, 1961, Loyalty Award

Greg was born in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and grew up on the South-
side of Chicago, attending St. Basil grade school. While at St. Rita, he was a
member of traveling bowling and golf teams. Greg graduated from the University
of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1966 with a BA in the teaching of French and
Spanish. He then went on to get a Masters in the French language from Loyola
University in 1972. Greg returned to St. Rita to teach French and Spanish from
1966 to 2005. Greg and his wife Joanne live in Plainfield and have two children,
Mike and Janet, and seven grandchildren.

Scott Smolik, 1986, Loyalty Award

Scott was a four year member of St. Rita’s Football and Baseball teams. Since
1989 he has worked as an elevator mechanic for Schindler Elevator. In 1991,
Scott married his wife Sharon and they had three children. Scott’s oldest son
Scott graduated from St. Rita in 2010 and is now in the United States Marine
Corps. His daughter Katie is a junior at Marist High School and his youngest son
Jimmy will be a freshman next year at St. Rita. Scott has coached football at St.
Linus in Oak Lawn since 2002.
Thomas Arundel, 1973, Hall of Fame Inductee
Tom was a member of Student Council at St. Rita for all four years and was also a
captain of both the football and baseball teams for which he was named All-Cath-
olic League. He was named the St. Rita Man of the Year in 2002. Tom has been
a very loyal supporter of the Valentine Dinner Dance. He has also always been a
very generous and loyal supporter of all St. Rita athletic and academic programs
throughout the years. Tom was also an original member of the Pat Cronin Memo-
rial Golf and Scholarship Committee. Professionally, he had a very successful
career at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Tom was preceded at St. Rita by his
father William ’42 and his brothers Billy ’75 and Jimmy ’76.

Nicholas Calarco, 1973, Hall of Fame Inductee

Nick has dedicated his life to St. Rita. He was the last elected President of the
Alumni Board of Directors. He was very instrumental in helping to create the St.
Rita Alumni Scholarship Fund as well as the Legacy Scholarship for which he has
served as Chairman for 5 years. Nick began serving on the President’s Alumni
Advisory Board in 2008, and he became a member of the St. Rita Board of Di-
rectors in 2010. He has been awarded the St. Rita Loyalty Award and the Crest
of St. Augustine Award for his unwavering dedication to St. Rita of Cascia High
School. Nick also coached in the St. Rita Baseball Program from 1999-2008 and
has been instrumental in numerous fundraisers for the school’s athletic programs.
Nick’s greatest accomplishment, though, is being the proud father of two St. Rita
alumni, Anthony from the Class of 2001 and Nick from the Class of 2003.

Rev. Bernard Danber, O.S.A., 1968, Hall of Fame Inductee

Fr. Danber grew up in the shadows of St. Rita High School, and the school was a
big part of his life even before he became a student in 1964. As a student at St.
Rita, he was an honors student and was involved in many clubs and activities. In
1989, Fr. Danber became only the 2nd Alumnus of St. Rita to be named Principal.
During his tenure, in May of 1990 Cardinal Bernardin announced that St. Rita
was moving its former campus at 63rd and Claremont to the campus of the former
Quigley South located at 77th and Western. Through that process, Fr. Danber
came to be known as “The 2nd Founder of St. Rita High School.” In addition to
his 23 years in education, Fr. Danber has done parish and hospital ministry, and
he is currently the chaplain for the Chicago White Sox.

Sally Deenihan, Honorary Alumnus, Hall of Fame Inductee

In 2007, Sally was named the 1st female Principal of St. Rita High School, the first
for any Augustinian school in the country. This followed over 20 years of service
to St. Rita as a teacher, department chair and administrator. Over the years, she
made significant contributions to St. Rita as the Chair of the Curriculum Council,
Secretary of the St. Rita Teachers’ Association and Moderator of the National
Honor Society, Scholastic Bowl Team and Math Team. In her 25 years at St.
Rita, her passion for education was unmatched, and she worked each day to carry
out the mission that was started by the Augustinians in 1905. Sally is married to
Brian ’60 and mother of Brian ’88, Patrick ’90 and Brendan ’91. She retired as
Principal in 2010, but her impact on St. Rita will be felt for generations to come.
Brian Hamilton, 1990, Hall of Fame Inductee
Brian was one of the most dominant defensive players in St. Rita Football His-
tory. He was named a USA Today 1st Team All-American Defensive Tackle in
his senior season of 1989. He was also named 1st Team All-State in The Chicago
Sun-Times in his senior season and The Chicago Tribune in both his junior and
senior seasons. Brian was also awarded the Tony Lawless Award as the top player
in the Catholic League during his senior season. He earned a scholarship to play
football at the University of Notre Dame where he was a three-year starter and
captain of the team in 1994. Brian is currently a board member of the Lou’s Lads
Foundation, a charitable organization established in honor of Lou Holtz to pro-
vide financial assistance to underprivileged students.

William Obrochta, 1952, Hall of Fame Inductee

Bill was very involved in his days as a student at St. Rita, including Intramu-
ral Basketball, Student Government, the Sanctuary Society, Camera Club, Radio
Club, and as a member of the Fighting Mustangs Football team. He was a two-
year starter for the Mustangs anchoring the offensive life as a guard. In his junior
year he had the privilege of playing with his older brother Wally ’51, a cherished
memory for both. Bill accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of
Tulsa where he was a three-year Letterman also earning All-Missouri Valley rec-
ognition as a guard. After college, he spent time as a teacher and football coach
at both St. Rita and De La Salle before becoming a pipefitter. Eventually, Bill
started the company Joliet Valves, which he owned for 30 years before selling it.
He has a strong devotion to the mission of St. Rita High School and the Augustin-
ians and continues to be a very generous supporter.

Tony Simmons, 1993, Hall of Fame Inductee

Tony was a football and track standout while at St. Rita. He was named The
Chicago Sun-Times Athlete of the Year in 1993. Tony also became the 1st track
athlete in St. Rita History to win an Individual State Championship, winning both
the 100M and 200M titles in 1993. He attended the University of Wisconsin on
a football scholarship where he set the Badger record for touchdown receptions
with 23. Tony was a 2nd round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 1998. He
played five seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, Browns, Colts and the Giants,
amassing 58 career receptions for 998 total yards and six touchdowns. Tony also
played three seasons in the Canadian Football League. He is currently coaching
in the Danish American Football League in Denmark.

Frank “Bud” Sloup, 1954, Hall of Fame Inductee

Bud was a standout football and basketball player during his days at St. Rita. He
was an All-Catholic and All-State halfback in football and an All-Catholic and
All-City basketball star. Bud went on to Purdue University where he decided to
concentrate on football. St. Rita Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Barney Badke
called Sloup one of the best basketball players ever to play at St. Rita. After col-
lege, he had a very successful career in sales retiring in 2000. Frank has been
married to his wife Dorothy for 55 years, and together they have three children,
Nancy, Joyce and Bob. They also have six grandchildren.
Eugene McGrail, 1941, 2011 Mustang Lifetime Achievement Award
After graduating as Valedictorian from St. Rita, Gene was hired by Peoples Gas,
Light & Coke Co. In 1943, he went into the Army where he met the high school
friend of his wife Pat. He started writing Pat who lived in Rhode Island and when
he was discharged in 1946 he finally met her. Gene then returned to work at
Peoples Gas and in 1948 married Pat. Together they had their first son in 1950.
The McGrail family relocated a couple times as they had more children, before
settling in Morgan Park where they had their 7th child. For Gene’s 50th reunion
for St. Rita he became actively involved in locating lost alumni, an effort that he
continued for many years. In 1988, he retired from Peoples Gas and began taking
an annual week of classes at Indiana University, which he is looking forward to
taking part in for a 23rd year. Over the 70 years since his high school graduation
Gene has remained very active at St. Rita. Gene was named St. Rita’s Man of the
Year in 1991, earned the St. Rita President’s Award in 1995 and received the crest
of St. Augustine Award in 2007.

Michael Heeney, 1971, 2011 Man of the Year

Mike is a lifelong resident of the Beverly neighborhood. He was a member of the
National Honor Society and The Ritan newspaper staff at St. Rita. After graduat-
ing from St. Rita Mike attended Illinois State University and the Worsham Col-
lege of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He has been a licensed funeral director-em-
balmer in Illinois for 36 years and is the third generation in his family’s business,
Heeney-Laughlin Funeral Directors. Mike has been a very loyal and generous
supporter of St. Rita for many years. He has been a member of the Valentine Din-
ner Dance Committee, and he has helped to continue the tradition of the Heeney
Awards, which recognize St. Rita students for achieving straight A’s on their se-
mester report cards. Mike has also been an active lifelong parishioner of Christ
the King Parish, serving as an usher, lector and a member of the Parish Advisory
Board. He is also a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Bev-
erly Area Planning Association, Ridge Historical Society and the Knights of Co-
lumbus Cardinal Bernardin Council #324. Mike and his wife Denice have been
married for 33 years and they have two sons, Michael and Matthew. His brother
Joseph also attended St. Rita graduating in 1967.

Congratulations to all of
St. Rita of Cascia High School’s
2011Alumni Banquet Honorees
 St. Rita of Cascia
High School
Thanks and Honors
our National and Local
Alumni Service Men

Tom Kelly, 1961, Fallen Hero

Following his graduation from St. Rita, Tom worked as a teller at Chicago City
Bank while he studied Business Administration at Bogan Junior College, now
Richard J. Daley College. During those years, he also met his future fiancée Jo-
anna Polo. In 1965, Tom joined the U.S. Marines as a reservist and then decided
to pursue a career with the Chicago Police Department. During his short 4 years
as a Chicago Police Officer, he served in various assignments, including time in
the Area 1 Task Force. Because Tom was never one to talk shop, his family was
unaware that he earned 20 honorable mentions during those 4 years. With his ca-
reer off to a good start, Tom and Joanna became engaged and started to plan their
lives together. However, on May 3, 1970 during a routine traffic stop Tom’s life
came to a sudden, tragic end as he was killed in the line of duty. Tom’s memory
will live on in the hearts of all who knew him and shared in his love and friend-
ship.
 St. Rita of Cascia High School
“Man of the Year” Honorees
1964 David A. Kamm ’54
1965 Hon. Edward J. Egan ’41
1966 Hon. William J. Campbell ’22
1967 Dr. John J. Brosnan ’32
1968 Thomas W. Dower ’10
1969 John J. Madigan ’34
1970 Capt. Thomas M. Frost ’40
1971 Emmet McCarthy ’14
1972 Rev. Raymond R. Ryan, O.S.A. ’48
1972 John J. McHugh ’47
1972 Robert F. Jemilo ’53
1973 Lawrence F. Stark ’53
1974 Edmund J. Rooney ’42
1975 John F. Brady ’26
1976 John J. Cranley, Sr. ’26
1977 Earl F. Evans ’30
1978 Raymond J. Parello ’45
1979 Terrence J. O’Reilly ’28
1980 Ralph H. Steinbarth ’45
1981 Charles S. Dunphy ’26
1982 Bro. Mark Thedens, O.S.A. ’55
1983 Louis Ricci ’53
1984 Rev. Martin J. Sobiesk, O.S.A. ’47
1985 James C. Miller ’47
1986 Dr. James J. Gardner ’29
1987 Edward J. Gedraitis ’46
1988 Patrick E. Mahoney ’54
1989 Rev. Patrick E. Murphy, O.S.A. ’66
1990 Robert A. Black ’40
1991 Eugene T. McGrail ’41
1992 William T. Doyle ’41
1993 William J. McNichols ’29
1994 Rev. Walter McNicholas, O.S.A. ’44
1995 Dr. Donald Racky, Jr., Ph.D. ’54
1996 Francis E. Napleton ’43
1997 Joseph M. Scanlon ’58
1998 James Segredo ’73
1999 Jack Quinn (H) & Gene Schaller (H)
2000 Fr. John R. Gavin, O.S.A. ’40
2001 John Buckley ’70
2002 Thomas M. Arundel ’80
2003 Richard Hochgraver ’71
2004 Michael J. McArdle ’54
2005 Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83
2006 Michael J. Maione ’56
2007 Arthur R. Velasquez ’56
2008 Dr. Gerardo A. Grieco ’72
2009 Michael Georgopulos ’72
2010 Donald A. Petkus ’58
2011 Michael P. Heeney ’71

St. Rita of Cascia High School

Office of Institutional Advancement
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, President
Ernest J. Mrozek ’71, Vice President
Thomas J. Ramsden, Director of Institutional Advancement
Joshua R. Blaszak ’02, Director of Alumni & Public Relations
Trisha A. Harrington, Administrative Assistant
Daniel A. Manzella ’03, Advancement Officer
John Schmitt ’84, Director of Annual Appeal
Javier Solorio II ’02, Director of Graphic Design
Robert Quinn (Hon.), Advancement Officer
 St. Rita of Cascia
A Saint for Our Day
Wi fe, Mot h er, Wi d ow, A ug ust i n ian Nu n, Peacemaker

St. Rita of Cascia is the Patroness of the Impossible

Solemn Novena
Friday, May 13, 2011 - Saturday, May 21, 2011
6:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
7:00 p.m. Mass and Novena Prayers

Feast Day Masses

Sunday, May 22, 2011
9:30 a.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
10:00 a.m. Mass and Novena Prayers
6:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
7:00 p.m. Mass and Novena Prayers

St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel

7740 S. Western Ave. | Chicago, Illinois 60620 | (773) 925-6600
 St. Rita of Cascia High School
36th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing
Friday, July 22, 2011
1:45 p.m. Shotgun Start
Gleneagles Country Club – Lemont, IL

Advertise Your Business With a Sponsorship

For Details Contact St. Rita’s Advancement Office at (773) 925-5029

$150 per golfer

Includes golf & cart, beer during golf,
sausage cookout on course, and dinner
with open bar after golf.
Details & Registration
Available Online Starting May, 6, 2011
@ www.stritahs.com