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| Volume #4 Issue #5 Date: May 2018
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| Blackfriars Gala Was a Smashing Success!
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On April 20th, nearly 500 friends of Fenwick celebrated at the 66th Annual Blackfriars Gala at Drury Lane Theatre, hosted by the families of Dr. James ’70 and Mrs. Nancy Dan, and Hon. Michael, Sr. and Mrs. Patricia Mullen. This year, Mr. V. James Marino ’68 and Dr. Kenneth S. Nelson ’75 were inducted into Fenwick’s Hall of Fame. Monsignor Michael M. Boland of Catholic Charities was awarded the Lumen Tranquillum.
Prior to the start of the Gala, 17 members of the Fenwick Hall of Fame welcomed this year’s inductees into their august group at the inaugural President’s Reception. This intimate gathering was met with great enthusiasm by all members of the Hall of Fame, their families and guests.
The evening continued with remarks by Monsignor Boland, dinner and drinks, dancing and a competitive live auction. The most popular item by far was a mass to be said in the winner’s home on Christmas Eve by none other than Fr. Richard Peddicord, O.P. We are grateful to announce that the evening raised over $375,000 (net) towards financial assistance for our talented and deserving students. We would like to thank our generous sponsors, donors, host families, student volunteers, and guests at the Gala for this accomplishment.
Click on the buttons below to view videos of 2018 Fenwick HOF inductees Jim Marino ’68 and Dr. Ken Nelson ’75, and Lumen Tranquillum awardee Monsignor Boland as they accepted their awards and addressed the student body in the Auditorium. See you next year on April 26th, 2019!
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|  | Back row L-R: Terry Gallagher '63, Ray Wicklander, Jr. '55, Jeanne Hardy, Jay Javors '76,
Walter Morrissey '60, Pat Kelly '73, Loretta Cooney, Jack Flynn '51, Fr. Ed Shea, O.F.M. '74, Bill Krug '72,
Bill Divane '60, Tim Rooney '75, Dr. John Cahill '73 and Dr. George Wendt '65.
Front row L-R: Fr. Richard LaPata, O.P. '50, Fr. Charles Dahm, O.P. '55 (Lumen Tranquillum recipient 2015), Jim Marino '68,
Fr. Richard Peddicord, O.P. (President of Fenwick High School), Dr. Ken Nelson '75, Don Leone '53 and Dr. Gene McEnery '49. | |
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| Fenwick's Newest CCL Hall of Famer!
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Four tables of Fenwick family, friends and classmates celebrated with Larry Wert '74 as he was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) Hall of Fame at the Coaches Association's 57th annual banquet on April 26th. The lifelong Riverside resident was a swimmer, diver, golfer and on the water polo team while a student-athlete in high school. Wert broke the Fenwick 1-meter diving record of Ken Sitzberger (1964 U.S. Olympic gold medalist) by less than two points and was a member of the polo team that won two national championships. Bob Groseth, Larry's coach with the Friars, was in attendance to share the moment, as was former Fenwick President Emeritus Father Richard "Dick" LaPata, O.P. '50.
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| Forever Friars: William Martin '54
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In 1966 the 29-year-old Martin (right) teamed up with Murtaugh, 26, another Catholic Leaguer, to prosecute serial murderer Richard Speck for committing "The Crime of the Century." |
| The young Assistant State’s Attorney stood at the center of “The Trial of the Century” in the mid-1960s as the chief prosecutor of mass-murderer Richard Speck.
As the Fenwick Bar Association celebrates its the 20th Annual Accipter Award Luncheon on May 18th, we remember 2006 recipient William Martin '54, who passed away last July at the age of 80, following a long battle with cancer.
After serving as editor of The Wick student newspaper and graduating from Fenwick, Martin attended Loyola University Chicago and its law school, where he was voted the outstanding student. He founded and was editor of the Loyola Law Times, a Journal of Opinion.
Until his death last year, the native Oak Parker (St. Giles) was a private practitioner specializing in attorney ethics and criminal law. He is, however, known best for putting a monster behind bars. The murderer’s name was Richard Speck, who went on a killing spree on Chicago’s southeast side the hot night of July 14, 1966. Read more.
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| Fenwick Baseball Photo Album from Florida
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John Sterk '98 and his wife, Jenny. | |  |
From left: Fenwick Dads Jack Grace (Mary Rita '11, Margaret '13 and Jack '18) and Michael Kolovitz (Lucas '19). | |
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On April 2nd, some 40 Fenwick Friars young and old had a great time as parents, players and alumni gathered for the Orlando Alumni Event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Cocktails and hors deouvres were served in the Champion Stadium mezzanine before our game with Passaic Valley Regional High (NJ). Unfortunately, the boys were only able to play a few innings before the game was called due to rain. (They finished the game the following day -- and won.) Alumni representation spanned six decades!
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Fan favorites: (from left) Joe Runnells, Joe Pusateri '67, Alex Pup, Jack Grace and John Toal '56. | |
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| New York City Alumni & Friends
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On April 26th approximately 15 alumni and friends joined President Fr. Richard Peddicord and V.P. of Institutional Advancement Chris Ritten at the Yale Club in midtown Manhattan for a NYC Fenwick alumni gathering. Graciously hosted by Geoffrey Gneuhs ’66, it was a wonderful evening of Friar camaraderie, networking and reminiscing while getting an update on what’s happening at Fenwick today.
The evening continued in the lounge, which features oil paintings of several former U.S. Presidents who are Yale alumni. Pictured left to right are: Jim Hamilton ’81, Gneuhs, Dan Barron ’09, Father Peddicord, Colleen Osborne ’08, Brian Barron ’09 and John Osborne ’10. Thank you to all who attended and to our host, Geoffrey!
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| Faculty Focus – Roger Finnell '59
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Wrapping up his 55th year of teaching at Fenwick (with four more as a student!), Roger Finnell '59 is Mathematics Department Chair and a true Friars' treasure. |
| What is your educational background? RF: I graduated from Fenwick in 1959. (The White Sox in World series!) B.S. (natural sciences) from Loyola University Chicago in ’63 (the year they won the NCAA basketball!); M.A. from Loyola Chicago.
What did you do prior to becoming a Fenwick teacher?
RF: I graduated from college and started at Fenwick three months later, in September of 1963. (Obviously, I was five at the time!)
What are you reading for enjoyment?
RF: The New Yorker magazine, for play and movie reviews and in-depth articles.
What interests do you pursue outside the classroom?
RF: Travel and seeing plays (some for possible BFG production) and seeing White Sox games (once saw a no-hitter vs. the Sox). Read more.
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| Collegiate Friars:
Liam Murphy '17 and Anastasia Velliotis '16
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Liam is wrapping up his freshman year at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, while Anastasia is a sophomore at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). | |
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Anastasia Velliotis
Fenwick Graduation: 2016
Hometown: Western Springs, IL
Grade School: LaGrange Highlands Middle School
Current School: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (Gies College of Business)
Current Major: Marketing and Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship
Career Aspirations: I want to start my own company. I want to develop my own brand.
Fenwick Achievements/Activities: Soccer, Captain of Debate, Best Buddies, NHS, Student Ambassador, Italian Honors Award
Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: I don’t think that I can pinpoint one specific person. However, one teacher that I really loved having was Ms. Schulte (Mrs. Holmberg now). She really helped me see my true potential and helped me understand what my strengths were. She instilled a lot of confidence in me and always believed in my ability to be something great, and for that I am truly thankful and grateful. Another teacher that I truly adored was Father Joe [Ekpo]. He taught me some of the greatest life lessons. His stories really had an impact on me. He taught me to always see the good in everyone even when it might be incredibly difficult. Read more. Aidan Murphy Fenwick Graduation: 2017
Hometown: Chicago
Grade School: Immaculate Conception School (Chicago)
Current School: Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Current Major: Computer Science with Spanish minor
Career Aspirations: software development and possibly research
Fenwick Achievements/Activities: Received the Evans Scholarship, Chess Club
Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: I think Fr. Monco had the most influence on me. He was the coach of the Chess Team as well as my Theology Teacher sophomore year. He and I had really good conversations during and after school, and he was always a good listener. He helped me to consider things from a different perspective, which continues to be beneficial. Read more.
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| Friars Have New Boys' Basketball Head Coach
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Fenwick has named Staunton Peck as Head Coach for Boys Varsity Basketball, as Rick Malnati steps down. In his five years at Fenwick, Malnati, led the Friars to a 122-33 record, which included a three-year, 38-game winning streak against opponents in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL). His 2016-17 team posted a 30-5 record and was the Class 3A runner-up in Peoria, marking the best basketball finish in school history.
“Five years ago Staunton Peck and I got a chance to come to Fenwick to coach basketball,” Malnati, 58, reflected. “I originally told Athletic Director Scott Thies that I would commit to three years and then Staunton would take over. I was having so much fun, I stayed five! I’m very thankful to the Fenwick community, the faculty, and my players and parents for their support,” Malnati continued. “I have great confidence in Staunton. He has a great basketball mind and a heart for kids.” Read more.
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| Two Teachers to Retire; Mr. Borsch and
Mr. Finnell Mark 50 and 55 Years at Fenwick!
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Please join us Tuesday, June 19th, in the Fenwick Courtyard (5 - 7 p.m.) as we celebrate the retirements of teachers Mary Marcotte and Lucy White as well as the 50+ year service anniversaries for Rich Borsch and Roger Finnell! Mrs. Marcotte, a beloved English Teacher, will retire next month as the 2017-18 school year comes to a close. Marcotte, who has worked in private and public-school settings during her 44-year teaching career, came to Fenwick in 1994 when the once all-boys institution went co-ed and began admitting female students. She is retiring on June 8, after 23 years of teaching Friars’ students; for seven of those years, she was Chair of the English Department. “Mary Marcotte is among Fenwick’s greatest teachers both past and present,” praises Principal Peter Groom. “Mary has excellent communication skills and cares deeply about her students. She has taught English at multiple levels, most notably English II Honors, English IV Honors and AP Literature. Countless students were inspired by Mrs. Marcotte to continue their love of all things related to English and were also inspired to become better people. She will be missed.” Theology Teacher Mrs. White also is retiring. “Lucy has given her heart and soul to Catholic education for decades,” says Mr. Groom. “At Fenwick, she has taught thousands of our freshmen scripture in a comprehensive way. Through her approach the students have gained a real depth of understanding. As the Director of the Kairos program our students were able to explore the role that spirituality played in their lives while bringing them closer to both their family and God. She has been a role model and friend to so many.” Rich Borsch, while not yet retiring, is marking his 50th school year at Fenwick. “Mr. Borsch started at Fenwick as both a teacher and coach. Early on he demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills which lead him to be quickly moved into a leadership position in our counseling office,” Groom adds. “Rich transformed our counseling office into what we have today. As a college counselor, Mr. Borsch has been one of the greats. I have personally witnessed his ability to connect with the students and parents to help them find the best fit. His knowledge of colleges and their specific admissions offices is unparalleled.” This school year also marks the 55th year of teaching at Fenwick for Math Department Chair Roger Finnell '59. (For more on Roger, please see the “Faculty Focus” above.)
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| 87th Commencement Speaker Is Blake Sercye '04
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Fenwick High School will celebrate its 87th commencement exercises on Friday, May 25th, at the UIC Forum (tickets required). Addressing the Class of 2018 will be alumnus Blake Sercye '04. Mr. Sercye grew up on the West Side of Chicago. He graduated, with honors, from Princeton University as a politics major and later attended the University of Chicago Law School. Today he is a litigator at law firm Jenner & Block. Sercye also is chairman of the Chicago Board of Zoning Appeals and president of the Chicago Medical District Commission. He resides in the Austin Village neighborhood in an historic Queen Anne house built in 1897. "At Fenwick, Blake sang in the Genesis Gospel Choir, played in the band, and participated in track and field, hockey and football," recalls History Teacher Gerald Lordan, PhD. He also was a Kairos leader, a member of the History Club and a State Debate winner, adds Rich Borsch, Associate Principal and Director of Student Services.
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| 49th Annual Friar Classic:
Friday, June 15th at White Pines
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The 2018 Friar Classic Golf Outing is on Friday, June 15th, at White Pines in Bensenville, IL.
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| Fall Reunions for Class Years Ending in 3 and 8!
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All classes ending in 3 and 8 are welcome back to Fenwick for Reunion/Homecoming Weekend, September 28-30th, 2018! School-sponsored events for the big weekend are open to all alumni:
Friday, September 28th - 4-5 p.m. at Fenwick — tours of the school.
- 5 p.m. at Fenwick High School — Football Tailgate with designated areas for the reunion classes.
- 6:30 p.m. — Bus transportation (optional) to Homecoming Football Game at Triton College in River Grove.
- 7:30 p.m. — Homecoming Football Game @ Triton College
- Class-specific evening gatherings after the game — details TBD.
Saturday, September 29th
- 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Class of '68 50th Reunion Mass (in Chapel) and Luncheon (in Lawless Gym).
- Class-specific events as determined by the 3 and 8 Planning Committees. Please contact Kristyn Rein at krein@fenwickfrars.com for details.
Sunday, September 30th
- Noon - 2 p.m. — Family Day a Brookfield Zoo (all are welcome!)
For updated reunion information, please visit fenwickfriars.com/reunions.
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| Fenwick Bar Association Annual Accipiter Award & Luncheon
Friday, May 18 87th Fenwick Commencement
Friday, May 25 Golden Friars Mass & Luncheon
(Class of '68 and earlier)
Friday, July 13
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The Class of 2018 graduates this month! By making a gift to Fenwick High School, you are helping to ensure that every class of graduates is as prepared for their college years as you were.
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Have something to share with your fellow alumni? Please send all of your alumni news and happenings to the Communications Department at communications@fenwickfriars.com.
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