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| Volume #4 Issue #2 Date: February 2018
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| Alumni Spotlight: Bernie Judge '57
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In mid-December, former Tribune City Editor Bernie Judge spoke with Fenwick broadcasting/journalism students about fake news and his storied career. | |
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Judge's FHS Yearbook photo from 1957. |
| Veteran newsman Bernard “Bernie” Judge ’57 returned to Oak Park for his 60th class reunion this past September, and he was back again for a school visit in mid-December to speak with students in Mr. Rick O’Connor’s Journalism III – Broadcasting class. Fenwick was esteemed even in his day, he told the young Friars. “About 97% of my graduating class went to college,” said Judge, who was City Editor of the Chicago Tribune from 1974 until 1983. (Later he was Editor and General Manager of the City News Bureau, Associate Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times and, until his retirement, Editor and Publisher of the Law Bulletin Publishing Company.) The use of pens was not allowed at Fenwick in the mid-1950s, he said, because homework was to be done in ink at night. “If you were caught with a pen in school, it was a JUG demerit and a $5 fine, which was a lot of money back then!” Sure, there was a generation gap and some blank stares in the classroom when Mr. Judge referenced teletype wire services and the AP. Most of the Wick reporters also in attendance probably thought Judge was referring to Advanced Placement courses, not the Associated Press news agency. Still, the heart of his message wasn’t lost on the teenagers. After all, the esteemed journalist is highly credible. Some students stayed after class to present him with a “Wick is Lit” T-Shirt and heard some fascinating accounts of investigative stories that Judge oversaw, “things that are no longer undertaken today, involving placing reporters undercover into prisons or government offices to investigate corruption,” recalled The Wick Moderator and English Teacher Gerard Sullivan. “Our editors told him about their top story of the current issue on the topic of VPNs [Virtual Private Networks] being banned by the school. He was just as surprised and confused by the new technological realities of their world as they were by the reporting of old,” Mr. Sullivan said.
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| Faculty Focus – Rizelle Capito
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Mrs. Capito chairs the Expressive Arts Department and has been teaching at Fenwick for nine years. |
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What is your role at Fenwick?
RC: I am the Expressive Arts Department Chairperson. I am one of two band directors and teach Beginning and Concert Band. I am also the school yoga instructor and provide yoga instruction during PE classes and after school.
What is your educational background?
I received my Bachelor's and Master's of Music in Music Education from DePaul University.
What did you do prior to becoming a teacher at Fenwick?
I taught band in Woodland School District 50 in Gurnee, IL. I spent four years teaching 5th Grade Beginning Band and then moved to the middle school to teach 6th, 7th, & 8th Graders, which I did for four years. I then briefly taught elementary general music and band at St. Monica Catholic Academy before coming to Fenwick in 2009. I am currently in my ninth year at Fenwick.
What are you currently reading for enjoyment?
I am reading The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross.
What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?
Yoga, reading, travel and other physical activity (currently kickboxing). To what teams and/or clubs did you belong as a student? I was a 'Band Geek' in high school (and still am). I was involved in almost everything that had to do with music: band, orchestra, musicals.
Which clubs/Sports/Activities do you run at Fenwick?
Besides Band, which is also a class, I provide yoga and meditation classes after school to Fenwick students, faculty and staff. I provide yoga classes to various Fenwick sports teams when asked. I am also moderator for the Fenwick Tri-M Music Honor Society.
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| Collegiate Friars: Veronica Kalwajtys '16
and Robert Metaxatos '17
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Robert Metaxatos
Fenwick Graduation: 2017
Hometown: Bloomingdale, IL
Grade School: Westfield Middle School
Current School: College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA)
Current Major: English & Philosophy
Career aspirations: Professor of English Literature
Fenwick Achievements/Activities: Public Forum Debate Team (captain), The Wick (editor of two years), Write Place tutor, Friar Mentor, WYSE (sectional champion in English) and National Honor Society (vice president)
Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: All Fenwick teachers have had positive influence on me in some way. It was during an open house my family and I met Dr. Lordan, who spoke of the compassion and Dominican style of instructors at the school; particularly, he easily influenced me to attend Fenwick. His lectures from World History class freshman year still chime in my head: take our study of five major Occidental philosophies, mental health and even, in one instance, a Gaussian distribution.
I think my favorite is his link between Erikson’s model of human development and [Paul] Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of Great Powers. To be exposed so young to concepts sometimes abstract requires a devoted focus and gentle wisdom. In this vein, we cannot periodize history: We participate in it. History breathes and the past haunts us. Extend this to Fenwick’s own rich history — I found in every classroom in which I stepped, to be a Thomist scholar is to commit a tradition of excellence to habit.
Read more about Robert and Victoria.
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| Trio of Friars' Hoops Legends
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The afternoon of January 13th was emotional for Fenwick girls' basketball coach Dave Power as three of his former players had their jersey numbers retired. Devereaux Peters' father, Delacy, joined Tricia Liston '10 and Erin Lawless '03 at center court for the ceremonial presentation. Dev Peters '07 is playing overseas and was unable to make the trip back to Fenwick. | |
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"What a great day for Fenwick!" proclaimed Athletic Director Scott Thies '99. Read more coverage of the historic event in the Wednesday Journal and Oak Leaves.
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| 50th Banua Deemed a 'Golden' Success!
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Some 55 Blackfriars Guild alumni, representing six decades, attended the pre-show reception before the 50th edition of Banua on Saturday, January 27th. The hilarious Roger Finnell impersonators were a highlight of the evening! To date, more than $36,200 has been raised for the Fenwick Auditorium. The Class of '86 had the most donors with nine alumni from that class donating. The Institutional Advancement Department thanks parents Christine Frech, Katie Gallagher and Laura Bucolo. "They were amazing. We would never have raised that much money without their hard work and creativity!" praised Major Gift Officer Jen Iarrobino, who coordinated the event with the help of Mr. Finnell. It's not too late to contribute! Please click here and designate "Banua 50th."
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| Feb. 3rd Concluded 'Catholic Schools Week'
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Last week (Jan. 28-Feb 3) the National Catholic Educational Association celebrated Catholic Schools Week. This year's theme was "Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed." In observance, many alumni wrote Twitter tributes to Catholic school teachers who have made a difference in their lives.
Fenwick Theology Teacher John Paulett attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio, at St. Ignatius. More than 50 years after graduating, he remembers Mr. John Wirtz (pictured) and other teachers who left their mark on him.
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| Class of 1983 Holiday Gathering
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Last December, members of the Class of '83 gathered in Riverside at classmate Pat Leone's restaurant, LaBarra. From the front (left to right) are: Pat McDermott, Mike Prah, Pat Muldowney, John McGovern, Pat Leone, Michael Romano, Matt Quinn, Mike Burns, Eric Geiger,Tony Nitti, Dan Durkin, Dave O'Connor,Sean Sullivan, John Walsh, Brian Walsh, John Nowicki, Brian O'Malley, Tom Murray, Brian Sullivan, Anthony Vecchio, Tom Frawley, Bob O'Donnell and Tom Pingle.
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| Are Any Friars Going to the Winter Olympics?
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If any alumni are headed to South Korea for the Winter Olympic Games, please let Fenwick know. USA!
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| Save the Date: April 20th Is 66th Blackfriars Gala!
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Save the Date for the 66th Annual Blackfriars Gala! The event will be held on Friday, April 20th, 2018, at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. Please join us for a fun evening of dinner, dancing and an exciting live auction with fellow Friars – all are welcome! This year we will induct V. James Marino ’68 and Kenneth Nelson, M.D. ’75 into the Fenwick Hall of Fame, and present Monsignor Michael Boland with the Lumen Tranquillum Award. Reduced price tickets will be available for graduates of the classes of 2005-2017. More details will follow in the coming months; please visit the Fenwick website for updates.
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The Communications Staff needs your help. We still are researching three potential story ideas for future editions of the Friar Reporter alumni magazine: - Do you know of a Fenwick alumnus or alumna who is teaching at a college or university? (Send us their names, please!)
- What about Friars who went on to become civil servants, such as police officers or fire fighters? Tell us who they are.
- Are you part of a Fenwick multi-generational family -- grandparent, parent and child who all have graduated from FHS?
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Also, send us "Class Notes" info for the spring 2018 issue of the Fenwick alumni publication, along with any corresponding photos. Please email Cameron Watkins, Director of Alumni Relations.
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New York City Alumni & Friends Gathering
Thursday, April 26
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The new semester is here, with warmer weather on the horizon! 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 Director of Alumni Relations Cameron Watkins at cwatkins@fenwickfriars.com.
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