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| Volume #1 Issue #7 Date: August 2017
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| Alumni Spotlight: Dan Brutto '74
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When people say that Daniel Brutto '74 worked himself through school, they mean it quite literally. “I am a hard worker,” the Elmwood Park native admits. “That’s the way we were raised,” he says of his two younger brothers (also Friars) and sister, who went to Trinity. “We were brought up that our parents got us through [financially] a good high school, but college was on us.”
So, the eldest Brutto child caddied for six years at Oak Park Country Club. “I won my first set of used clubs when I was 14,” he fondly recalls. “I was like, ‘You’re giving these to me? You mean I don’t have to buy them?” To “build up funds,” he also worked at Armanetti’s liquor store. When he was 18, Dan started taking the Lake Street elevated train to Loyola University by day and was loading trucks at the UPS Franklin Park facility at night. Thirty-eight years later he retired from the same company: as President of UPS International and former Senior Vice President of United Parcel Service, Inc.
Brutto worked himself up the varied rungs of the metaphorical corporate ladder. Between his time at Fenwick and Loyola, he worked nights “primarily to pay my way through college. It was a union job that paid well,” he says of his 5-10 p.m. shift. It was difficult, but his high-school experiences had prepared him well, Brutto notes. “Fenwick prepares its students for competition,” he says matter-of-factly. No offense to the Jesuits, but college at “Loyola was easier," he adds.
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| Forever Friars: Bill Jenks '50
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To call William “Bill” Jenks ’50 (1932-1989) inspirational might be a gross understatement. But inspire he did and, through his preserved written words, still does nearly 30 years after his death. All of those words – hundreds of thousands of them and millions of characters – were typed on an electronic typewriter by Jenks, who was paralyzed and pecked at the keys using a wooden peg held tightly between his teeth. He wasn’t born without the use of his arms and legs, however.
Jenks grew up a healthy boy in an Irish-Catholic neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago. In late 1943 the Jenks family moved to Park Ridge, on the northwest edge of the city, where Bill and John, his older brother, transferred to St. Paul of the Cross parish and school (Sisters of Mercy). In the autumn of ’46 Bill followed John to Fenwick High School on a merit scholarship. He began making the daily, 13-mile trek south to Oak Park with their father, Mack, who was a teacher at nearby Austin High, a Chicago Public School. Mack Jenks also was a retired U.S. Army Officer and taught military science to Junior ROTC students at Austin.
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| Links Success for Fenwick Duo
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|  | CCL Player of the Year Jack Mortell '17
soon will tee off for the Miami U.
Redhawks in the MAC. | |  | Amy Kucera '17 is heading to Xavier University, where
she will golf for the Musketeers in the Big East Conference. | |
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Fenwick golfer Jack Mortell ’17, who is headed to Miami University (Oxford, OH) to play golf, was the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) Player of the Year this year, shooting a 66 at the Catholic League Tournament. “Jack also set a 9-hole record last season, shooting 30 [six under par] at Harborside,” points out Jerry Kribs, the CCL’s Lawless Coach of the Year.
On the girls’ tees at the Class 2A state finals, Amy Kucera ’17 tied for 21st in the state out of 112 players. In Round 1, she carded a two-over-par 74, which tied her for 10th place, only three strokes behind the leaders. Leading into the finals, Kucera “was a medalist honors in both the sectional and regional rounds,” says her coach, Kitty Delany. “Amy shot a 73 at the Schaumburg Sectional and a 78 at the Fenwick Regional.
“I can’t say enough about Amy’s self-discipline and work ethic,” Delany continues. “When you look at how far she came from freshman year – [when] she didn’t even play for me and was shooting in the 100s. She had no experience playing competitive golf but decided she wasn’t going to swim at Fenwick. She set goals and worked hard to achieve those goals.” Plus, Kucera is the ultimate team player and leader: “poised yet humble and encouraging,” according to Coach Delany.
In true Fenwick and Dominican fashion, Kucera is well-rounded, too. She has been accepted into Xavier's University Scholars honors program, competed for and was a finalist for the Saint Francis Xavier Scholarship for “students with exceptional academic achievement and outstanding leadership involvement. She is being awarded both merit-based and athletic scholarships. In college, she plans to study mathematics, business analytics, statistics and computer science.
Kucera received two D1 and three D3 offers. One coach who recruited her said, “I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to be awed by a girl who totally buys in to the process of being great.”
Delaney concluded, “Xavier is lucky to have her!”
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| 'Twas a Night of Ponies, Food, Fun & Friars!
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 | Mark Iatarola (from left), Dan Shea, Bob Dobry (all Class of 1978) and Kevin Ryan '77 enjoyed a night at the track on July 14th -- supporting a great cause! |
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Some 125 pony watchers showed up at Hawthorne Racecourse on July 14th to support the John J. Crowder Scholarship Program, which welcomed back Brianna Daley '14,
its first four-year recipient, who studies and runs track at Trinity College in Connecticut. Ms. Daley spoke passionately about giving back. Musical entertainment was provided by alumni, the Bonaccorsi and Ritchie Brothers. More than $20,000 was raised in support of Fenwick High School.
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| Faculty Focus – Maria Nowicki
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|  | Fenwick Math Teacher Maria Nowicki starts
her 10th year at Fenwick later this month. |
| What is your educational background?
MN: I have a BS from the Kelley School of Business [at Indiana University]; majored in Quantitative Business Analysis. Master of Arts from Dominican University in Teaching.
What did you do prior to becoming a teacher at Fenwick?
MN: I worked for Control Data, a division of IBM at the time, right out of school in the late ’80s. I was the interface between programmers and the sales forces. I loved it because it combined my programming background with customer communication on a daily basis.
What are you currently reading for enjoyment?
MN: I am just finishing The Secret Life of Bees. I love to read and catch up on my reading in the summer. During the school year, my husband makes fun of me because I fall asleep with my pre-calc book (my favorite book).
What interests do you pursue outside the classroom?
MN: I enjoy tennis, golf, reading, walking and traveling. I love food, dining and cooking. Cooking and baking for people I love, especially family and friends, is my favorite thing to do.
To what teams and/or clubs did you belong as a student?
MN: I was very involved in athletics: basketball, track, softball and track. I was most involved and committed to the yearbook staff. I was the editor of the sports section and even went to yearbook camp for two summers.
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| Collegiate Friars: Summer 2017
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|  | Farmer, shown here receiving his 2015 national championship ring from UCLA's chancellor, is set
to embark on his redshirt senior year. |
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Name: Matt Farmer
Fenwick Graduation: 2013
Hometown: LaGrange, IL
Grade school: Highlands Elementary
Current school: UCLA
(University of California, Los Angeles)
Current major: Psychobiology
Career aspirations: Considering dental school
and other options
Fenwick achievements/activities: Three-time state champion in Men's Water Polo, two-time Illinois Player of the Year, NHS, four years varsity swimming and water polo
What Fenwick teacher had the most influence on you? Fenwick Friars have been blessed with a staff of amazing people -- many that I consider role models. The teacher that had the most influence was Mr. Ramzi Farran. Not only was Mr. Farran an incredible lecturer and teacher, but he was an example of the kind of person I strive to be: His unconditional kindness and love for his students and colleagues showed us just how great a person could be. Mr. Farran continues and will continue to have an impact on my life.
What Fenwick class influenced you most? I would say that Mr. Wnek's AP biology class had the most influence. That class solidified my decision to pursue a science major even as a D1 athlete. His class showed me that hard work and enjoyment of what you do is a recipe for success.
Best Fenwick experience/the one you would like to live again: Winning the 2011 State Water Polo Championship -- setting a record for most wins in a season (36-0). Watching Coach Dave Perry receive his medal and the trophy as the stands at Stevenson High School went crazy. That was a wonderful moment.
What Fenwick experience changed you the most? Losing the 2012 Sectional Championship game made me realize that things weren't always going to come easy and without adversity; that if I was going to be successful, I had to work to put myself in a position to be successful.
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| Travel to Italia with the Domincans!
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Travel to Rome, Orvieto, Florence, Siena and Bologna! The Dominican Friars of the Central Province invite you on a pilgrimage to Italy, September 13-22, 2017. Join Fr. Andrew Wisdom, O.P., and Fr. Louis Morrone, O.P., on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the St. Dominic! Begin this spiritual and cultural journey in Rome to visit the Vatican Museums, the major basilicas of Rome, and a special celebration at the world Dominican headquarters. Then, travel to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, via Orvieto, and spend four incredible nights in this romantic city! There also will be full day-trips to Siena and Bologna to visit and pray at the sacred sites of St. Catherine and St. Dominic. Book early to reserve your spot on this celebratory trip. Call Corporate Travel Service at 313-565-8888, ext. 121, for more details. Limited space available.
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| What Happened to the Missing Madonna?
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Meet the "Queen of All Friars."
If anyone knows how and/or when this statue of the Virgin Mary disappeared from Fenwick, Fr. Peddicord will grant full pardons in exchange for information. Please call or email the school if you know anything!
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| Grandparents Day
Wednesday, October 11 Mass of Remembrance
Sunday, October 29
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The start of the 2017-18 school year is three weeks away! By making a gift to Fenwick High School, you are helping to ensure that every class of graduates is as prepared for the 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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