Tolle Lege!

FALL 2009
“Take Up
and Read”

The St. Rita of Cascia High School Alumni Magazine

34th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing Raises

1 GOLF OUTING $26,500 to Assist Current St. Rita Students

3-7
2 PRESIDENT's letter

in the news
T he 34th Annual
Scholarship Golf
Outing, held Fri-
day, July 24th, raised over
$26,500.
8-9 athletics
Over 260 alumni, fam-
10 advancement ily, and friends joined
together at Gleneagles
11 in memoriam Country Club in Lemont,
IL for a wonderful day.
12 HOMECOMING This year's golf outing
was one of the most suc-
cessful in recent St. Rita
of Cascia High School
history. It was also the
highest attended outing at St. Rita President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 joins a foursome on the golf
course at the 34th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing that was held on July 24th.
Summer State Title Gleneagles this year.
This year's outing was one of the most successful in recent St. Rita history.
The money raised will
Wraps Up Successful directly benefit students
Year for Baseball Team attending St. Rita. St. Rita currently offers The 35th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing
over $900,000 annually in scholarships and will be held at Gleneagles next year. Golfers
financial aid. should save the date for Friday, July 23, 2010.

T he 2009 Season was a huge suc-

cess for St. Rita of Cascia High
School's Varsity Mustang Base-
ball team.
Regular season play began with the
Mustangs being ranked #1 in the area
by three of the top local newspapers and
20th in the nation by Baseball America
Magazine.
...Continue Reading on Page 8
The Mustang Summer Baseball Team gathers
around their new trophy after capturing the
State Title in the Illinois High School Baseball
Coaches Association's Phil Lawler Summer Classic
tournament. The victory wrapped up an already
successful year for the Mustangs who ended the
regular season as Super Sectional Champions.
Board Chairman Ernest Mrozek '71 Named
St. Rita of Cascia High School Vice President
E rnie Mrozek '71 has been named St. Rita
of Cascia High School's new Vice Presi-
dent. Ernie, who has been a member of
St. Rita's Board of Directors for the past three
years, also took over as the Chairman of the
Board on July 1st.
Upon graduating from St. Rita, Ernie went
on to attend the University of Illinois at Urba-
na-Champaign where he received a BS in Ac-
counting in 1976.
For 12 years Ernie worked at Arthur An-
derson before he moved on to The Service-
Master Company, a Fortune 500 company
with annual revenues of over $3 billion. Er-
nie remained at ServiceMaster for over 20
years and was the President and Chief Op-
erating Officer prior to his retirement over a
year ago following the sale of the company.
Ernie has been married for 35 years to his
wife Diane and has two children, Maggie 26
and Matt 17.
Mrozek is offering his services Pro Bono
and will oversee long-term planning, school
finances, the Office of Institutional Ad-
President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 is joined by new Vice vancement, and the Admissions Office. He
President and Chairman of the Board Ernie Mrozek '71. will also be a mentor to the students.

1
 Tolle Lege! is a publication of
the St. Rita of Cascia High School
Office of Institutional Advancement
From the Desk of the President
7740 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60620
Telephone: (773) 925-5029
Fax: (773) 925-6582 Fall 2009
E-mail: advancement@stritahs.com
Dear Ritamen & Friends:
St. Rita High School is sponsored by the
Augustinian Order and has been serving
the Chicagoland area since 1905.
105 - 23,207 - 707 - 1
No, these are not my lottery or Keno numbers! These are num-
Administration bers that tell an awesome story. The awesome story that is St.
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 | President Rita of Cascia High School.
Mrs. Sally E. Deenihan | Principal
Mr. Ernest J. Mrozek '71 | Vice President We are entering our 105th academic year on the shoulders of
the 23,207 Ritamen who have graduated with pride and helped
Office of Institutional Advancement make a difference in the world. Many of you reading this make up that impressive
Mr. Joshua R. Blaszak '02 | Director of Public Relations number. We have 707 students starting the 2009-2010 year from throughout the
Mrs. Trisha A. Harrington | Administrative Assistant Southside of Chicago and every suburb imaginable and do not forget Indiana! All of
Mr. John Schmitt '84 | Director of Annual Appeal us together make the 1 St. Rita Family. These are not just statistics, but rather each
Mr. Javier Solorio II '02 | Director of Graphic Design member tells a wonderful story about dedication, pride and tradition. All hallmarks
of St. Rita High School.
Board of Directors
Mr. James J. Brasher '71 Thank you for all you do to add to the success of St. Rita. Thanks especially to all who
Mr. Sean J. Carney '74 helped us not only reach our 2008-2009 Annual Appeal goal of $643,650.00, but sur-
Dr. John Donahue, Ed.D., J.D. pass it with $645,338.00 in an economy where every charity is down and some down
Mr. James Gagnard '64 considerably. This shows to me the pride and dedication of our Ritamen and friends.
Mr. Thomas M. Harrington '74, Ex-officio
Let’s do it again this year!
Mr. Thomas J. Healy '83
Bro. Gary Hresil, O.S.A. '86, Ex-officio
Mr. Gregory J. Jania '89
I am pleased to announce the new Vice President of St. Rita of Cascia High School,
Mr. Mark A. Kelly '84 Mr. Ernest Mrozek of the Class of 1971. Ernie is also the Chairman of the Board of
Alderman Lona Lane, 18th Ward Directors at St. Rita. Ernie has been very generous with his time, talent, and treasure
Very Rev. William Lego, O.S.A. , Ex-officio and I am so grateful that he will be assisting me in making St. Rita an even better place
Mr. Timothy I. McArdle (Hon.) for our young Ritamen of today and tomorrow! Welcome Ernie!
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83, Ex-officio
Mr. Ernest J. Mrozek '71, Chairman You are always welcome here on campus. Stop by for a visit anytime. God Bless you
Mr. John O’Neill '79 all and may St. Rita powerfully intercede for us all!
The Honorable Noreen Daly Reilly
Mr. Stephen M. Schaller '83
Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A. '83 Sincerely,
Mr. Terrance R. Stefanski
Mr. J. J. Wilczewski '92

Emeriti Members of the Board of Directors

Mr. Ronald M. Abramowicz '60
Mr. Patrick E. Mahoney '54
Mr. Michael J. McArdle '54 Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A. '83
Mr. James C. Miller '47 President
Mr. Donald A. Petkus '58
Mr. Edward J. Schmit '63
Mr. Michael Schneider '46
Mr. Arthur R. Velasquez '56

Secretary to the Board

Ms. Vivian Oliva
Calendar
September 3 Novena to St. Rita | 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Board of Advisors September 9 Ritamen Luncheon
Mr. Anthony J. Calarco '01
Mr. Nicholas A. Calarco '73 September 11 First Home Football Game vs. Br. Rice | 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Sean J. Carney '74 September 18 Homecoming Football Game vs. Fenwick | 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Robert W. Gallagher '83
Mr. Richard Hochgraver '71
September 20 Family Mass and Breakfast | 9:00 a.m.
Mr. Michael Jilek '97 October 1 Novena to St. Rita | 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Sylvester Majka '64
October 9 Football Game vs. Providence Catholic | 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Patrick J. O'Malley '77
2 October 21 President's Club Dinner
MUSTANG NEWS
Mustangs Making News

S
Students Initiate Annual Service Trip in Lawrence, Massachusetts
ummer vacation began for six St. Rita of Cascia High School
students by taking volunteering to a different level. These
students took part in St. Rita’s first ever weeklong Service
Trip. The students, all members of St. Rita’s incoming senior class,
traveled to Lawrence, Massachusetts for a week filled with various
service opportunities, as well as reflection and education on volun-
teering.
The students who participated were Jack Allen (St. John Fisher),
Mike Basic (St. Mary Star of the Sea), Dan Dillon (Most Holy Re-
deemer), Kevin Handler (Queen of Martyrs), Roberto Hernandez
(Nativity BVM), and Tom Riordan (St. Cajetan).
The Service Trip, which St. Rita plans to continue annually, pro-
vided participants a chance to remove themselves from their every-
day routines and become fully immersed in service. Each morning
the young men began with prayer and traveled to worksites for the
day. After the daily volunteer work was completed the group would
gather together to reflect on what had taken place and discussed
other issues related to their service.
Organized under St. Rita’s Campus Ministry Office, Lawrence,
Massachusetts was selected as the location for this 1st Annual Ser-
vice Trip due to the vast amount of aid needed in that area. Law-
rence is currently the 23rd poorest city in the United States. The
Order of St. Augustine, which St. Rita is a part, also has a presence
in the Lawrence community. Thus, the students had a strong con-
nection to those they were assisting.
The students took on many different tasks during the trip. They
assisted partnering organizations in whatever ways necessary. Time
was spent tutoring and mentoring boys at Blessed Stephen Bellesini
O.S.A. Academy, a private, independent Catholic middle school
dedicated to providing a quality, scholarship education to boys
from limited financial means living in Lawrence. Other volunteer
time was spent assisting with projects at Lazarus House Ministries
and serving meals at the Cor Unum Meal Center.
The development of the Service Trip opportunity was led by
the Director of Campus Ministry, Mrs. Vicki Blaszak, and Campus
Ministry’s Augustinian Volunteer, Ms. Meghan Fitzgerald. The
Campus Ministry Office is working to offer a range of volunteering
opportunities to St. Rita students in order to spiritually enlighten
St. Rita students and faculty assisted at the Cor Unum Meal Center in Lawrence,
Massachusetts as part of St. Rita’s 1st Annual Service Trip. Back row from left:
Director of Public Relations/Mathematics Teacher Mr. Josh Blaszak '02, Dan Dillon ’10
(Most Holy Redeemer), Augustinian Volunteer Mr. Joe Toomey, Roberto Hernandez
’10 (Nativity BVM), Mike Basic ’10 (St. Mary Star of the Sea), Jack Allen ’10 (St. John
Fisher), and Tom Riordan ’10 (St. Cajetan). Front row from left: Kevin Handler ’10
(Queen of Martyrs), Director of Campus Ministry Mrs. Vicki Blaszak, and Augustinian
Volunteer Ms. Meghan Fitzgerald.
and educate them, while at the same time connect them to those in
surrounding communities and abroad.
“It was great to see our students move beyond their comfort
zone and commit to helping others for an extended period of time.
It’s easy to get caught up in our daily routines, so the challenge of
living as a community and putting our faith into action for an entire
week will hopefully help bring about a deeper understanding of our
Augustinian values,” said Mrs. Blaszak.
“We hope that our young men have recognized the face of God
in people from all walks of life and will continue to serve others as
we are all called to do as Christians,” she said.
The 1st Annual Service Trip took place May 31st through June
6th. The students were accompanied by Mrs. Blaszak, Ms. Fitzger-
ald, Director of Public Relations/Mathematics Teacher Mr. Josh
Blaszak '02 and Augustinian Volunteer Mr. Joe Toomey. Everyone
who participated, including the faculty, found the week to be ex-
tremely rewarding and educational. Following the trip’s success,
plans are already underway for the 2nd Annual Service Trip.

Two Longtime Faculty Members Retire

T wo of St. Rita of Cascia High

School's most well-known and
longtime faculty members began
a new chapter in their lives as they retired
from teaching following the 2008-2009
Academic Year.
Biology teacher Mr. Robert Gasiecki and
Business/Computer teacher Mr. Richard
Grill '64 each spent their careers educating
thousands of students at St. Rita. Together
they contributed a total of 79 years of dedi-
cated service to St. Rita, Mr. Gasiecki with
38 years and Mr. Grill with 41 years.
The St. Rita family thanks them and Mr. Robert Gasiecki Mr. Richard Grill '64
wishes them the best of luck and God's St. Rita Teacher St. Rita Teacher
blessings as they begin their retirement. 38 Years 41 Years

Veritas † Unitas † Caritas 3

 IN THE NEWS
From the Director of the Annual Appeal
Fall 2009
Dear Alumni and Benefactors:

I sincerely thank you for your loyal support to St. Rita of Cascia High School. It is your loyal support that has once again
allowed us to reach and surpass the goal of our Annual Appeal. I hope and pray that you realize how important you are
to the great success of our fine school.

St. Rita High School succeeded in raising $645,388 for the 2008-2009 Annual Appeal. This is an amazing example of
the true dedication all of you have to St. Rita. In these trying times, where reports shows that charitable gifts have
decreased, the St. Rita Annual Appeal has experienced over 5% growth. This is a tribute to our Alumni and all our benefactors for their loyalty
in keeping St. Rita a priority with their charitable giving.

As the Director of the Annual Appeal, I can say with certainty that the Annual Appeal is the lifesource of the school. Each and every year is a
challenge, but your gifts truly make the difference. The success of the Annual Appeal helps us to award over $900,000 annually in scholar-
ships and financial aid to our current students.

As we begin a new academic year, we continue to need your help! Please consider a gift to the 2009-2010 Annual Appeal, which will help us
continue our mission to provide the premier Catholic education on the Southside of Chicago.
Sincerely,
May God Bless you and your family!

John Schmitt ‘84

Director of the Annual Appeal

73rd Annual Alumni Banquet Brings Over 600 Attendees to Campus

F or the second consecutive year, over

600 Ritamen and their guests gath-
ered on campus at St. Rita of Cascia
High School for the 73rd Annual Alumni
Banquet and Class Reunion.
This installment attracted huge turnouts
from the anniversary classes and featured a
stellar collection of honorees.
The golden Mustang class of 1959 was 90
men strong at the reunion, and they looked
sharp as they enjoyed their private cocktail
hour in matching letterman sweatshirts, spe-
cially conceived this year by Don Baldinelli
'59, who was also a Loyalty Award winner
that evening.
Mr. Baldinelli joined many other Ritamen
on stage to accept honors for their dedicated
service to the school.
Fellow Loyalty Award winners were Hen-
For 105 years St. Rita of Cascia High School has been providing a tradition of excellence in
education. This tradition has led to student ACT scores rising each of the past 5 years. En-
ry “Butch” Bianco '59, Chris Larkin '84, and
Alex Zaleski '84. Athletic Awards were pre-
sented to four 1984 classmates – Mark Kelly,
Mark McGowan, Gregory Pastorek, and Jef-
frey Schaaf.
Hall of Fame Inductees included Robert
Craig '49, Joe Gorman '81, McAlister Mer-
chant '61, Curtis Price '88, and Ronald Kale-
ta '59 (dec.), whose family was in strong at-
tendance to receive the award on his behalf.
Legendary coaches Jack Quinn and Gene
Schaller were also inducted into the Hall.
Several other honors took place during
the spectacular evening. Current Director
of Admissions and Varsity Hockey Coach
Craig Ferguson was made an Honorary
Alumnus, Nick Calarco '73 was presented
with the Crest of St. Augustine Award for
his faithful service to the school, and Mike
Georgopulos was the 2009 Man of the Year.
Each honoree was highlighted in a cus-
tom video presentation, created by Director
of Graphic Design Javier Solorio II '02 and
narrated by Dean of Men John Nee '93. The
video included a welcome from Fr. Tom Mc-
Carthy, O.S.A. '83, President of St. Rita, as
he was traveling in Italy with the Mustang
Band during the banquet.
Each honoree was featured with a person-
alized slideshow and voice-over biography,
and Man of the Year Mike Georgopulos
pre-taped his touching acceptance speech.
The production was a huge hit, and can be
viewed in its entirety at www.stritahs.com/
alumni/banquet.
The 74th Annual Alumni Banquet will
once again be held on campus. Save the date
for Friday, April 16, 2010.

Legacy courage family members to continue the tradition. Students who have a father, grandfather, or
great-grandfather (maternal or paternal), who is a graduate of St. Rita or Mendel Catholic High
School, are eligible for a $1,000 Legacy Scholarship for their first year at St. Rita. Over 25% of
Scholarships the students in St. Rita's current freshman class are benefiting from these scholarships.

For Scholarship Details, Contact Craig Ferguson - Director of Admissions | (773) 925-7482.

4 TOLLE LEGE! FALL 2009

 IN THE NEWS
Class of 2009 Earns Over $10.6 Million in Merit-Based Scholarships

Valedictorian Daniel K. Moore Salutatorian Benjamin G. Richardson

O n Sunday, May 17th, 167

Ritamen walked across
the Sanctuary of the St.
Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel to
become St. Rita's newest alumni
On Sunday, May 17th, 167 Ritamen became alumni as commencement exercises
for the Class of 2009 were held on campus. The Class of 2009 earned over $10.6
million in merit-based scholarships. 18% were named Illinois State Scholars.

The Class of 2009 also had 61 IHSA All-State Academic Team.

as commencement exercises for
the Class of 2009 were held.
97% of the graduates from the
Class of 2009 will be attending
college this year, as others are
entering the armed forces, trade
schools and the work force.
St. Rita sent forth students
who are enrolling in schools
such as the University of Notre
Dame, the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, the Uni-
versity of Chicago, and Villano-
va University.
Collectively, graduates of the
class earned over $10.6 million
in merit-based scholarships.
members in the National Honor
Society, 30 members or 18% of
the class named as Illinois State
Scholars, and 43 members rec-
ognized with United States Pres-
idential Education Awards.
Valedictorian Daniel K.
Moore (St. John Fisher) will be
attending the University of Chi-
cago this fall.
Dan was on the Gold Honor
Roll, a member of the National
Honor Society, a Heeney Award
recipient, an Illinois State Schol-
ar, a recipient of the United
States Presidential Education
Award, and was named to the
During his four years Dan was
also very active in athletics and
activities. He was a member of
the Mustang Swimming team,
Scholastic Bowl team, Math
team, Theatre Group, Cascian
yearbook, and was the Editor-
in-Chief of The Ritan student
newspaper.
During his commencement
address, Dan recalled his time
at St. Rita and spoke of what he
will remember most as he moves
forward on life's journey.
He said, "When I look back on
my experiences at St. Rita, many
things come to mind: the high
caliber of our achievements, the
challenges we had to overcome,
and the journeys we prepared to
embark upon.
The biggest thing that comes
to mind though is the St. Rita
Family. One of the most impor-
tant things St. Rita has taught
me is how to appreciate people.
I truly believe we are all a fam-
ily."
Salutatorian Benjamin G.
Richardson (St. Bernadine) will
also be attending the University
of Chicago in the Fall.
Ben was on the Gold Honor
Roll, a Heeney Award recipi-
ent, a member of the National
Honor Society, an Illinois State
Scholar, and a recipient of the
United States Presidential Edu-
cation Award.

North American Augustinian Friars Attend Convocation in Illinois

A ugustinian Friars
from all across the
four Provinces in
North America recently
joined together as one in
St. Charles, IL to celebrate
being Augustinian.
Over 200 Friars were in
attendance for the 2009
Convocation held from
June 8th-12th. This event
was the largest ever gather-
ing of its kind for the North
American Augustinians. Over 200 Augustinians were present June 8th-12th at the Convocation of Augustinian Friars from the four North American Provinces.

Become of member of the 1905 Guild. Remember St. Rita of Cascia High School in your Estate Planning.
For information on assisting St. Rita through your estate plan and becoming a member of the 1905 Guild, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (773) 925-5029.

Veritas † Unitas † Caritas 5

 IN THE NEWS
Student Receives Scholarship Founded in Honor of St. Rita Principal

M att Goosherst, a member of the

Class of 2010 at St. Rita of Cas-
cia High School, was recently
chosen as the recipient of the Sally Deeni-
han Mathematics Scholarship, a scholarship
Carney’s success speaks to his strong roots
at St. Rita, and his willingness to give back
signals his fond remembrance of his time
here.
Mrs. Sally Deenihan, for whom this schol-
me personally to have a scholarship estab-
lished in my name. Jason was a pleasure to
have in class, and everyone here at St. Rita
is proud of his continued success. Matt is
a great candidate for this scholarship, and
founded by Jason Carney '01 in May 2008. arship is named, is in her 25th year of ser- I look forward to having him in class this
Goosherst, a graduate of St. John Fisher vice at St. Rita. She was named Principal in year. The tradition of Ritamen giving back
School, was chosen for this $1,000 tuition 2007, the first female principal of St. Rita or to their alma mater is paramount in our abil-
scholarship based on his essay about the im- any Augustinian high school. ity to continue to offer an excellent Catholic
portance of mathematics in preparation for Deenihan's previous roles at St. Rita in- education to these young men.”
college. clude Vice President of Academic Affairs The Sally Deenihan Mathematics Scholar-
Goosherst is an exceptional student, hav- and Math and Science Division Chair. She ship is one of many scholarship and financial
ing made the Gold Honor Roll each of his also continues to teach the AP Calculus aid plans offered by St. Rita High School,
first six semesters, and currently holds a 4.88 course. Deenihan’s husband Brian D. was as each year over $900,000 is provided to
GPA. He has also been very involved in the a 1960 graduate, and her three sons also students in need, to close the gap between
resurgence of the St. Rita Theater Group, passed through Rita’s halls: Brian P. '88, Pat- tuition and the actual cost of educating a stu-
and has performed in A Few Good Men and rick '90, and Brendan '91. dent. Over 58% of St. Rita students receive
Cotton Patch Gospel. Deenihan congratulated Goosherst on his some sort of financial support, which makes
Upon receiving news of the scholarship, hard work and said, “It is a great honor for programs like this so important.
Matt said, “I’m very happy and lucky to have
been chosen as a recipient of this award.
Thank you to Mrs. Deenihan and Mr. Car-
ney.”
Carney was also an exceptional student
during his time at St. Rita, earning a perfect
36 on the Mathematics portion of his ACT.
He benefited from Mrs. Deenihan’s tutelage
in his junior and senior years, was a member
of the National Honor Society, and played
on the Varsity Baseball team.
After graduating from St. Rita, Carney at-
tended the University of Notre Dame, where
he graduated with a degree in Finance &
Economics in 2005.
Carney worked for three years with Ac-
centure Consulting as a Business Consultant,
and in September 2008 he was accepted into
the University of Chicago Booth School of Matt Goosherst, a member of St. Rita's Class of 2010 , was recently chosen as the recipient of the Sally Deenihan
Business, the top-ranked MBA program in Mathematics Scholarship, a scholarship fund founded by Jason Carney '01. Goosherst is congratulated by Princi-
the country. pal Sally Deenihan and President Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83.

Do you know a young man who would like to be on St. Rita’s mailing list?
You are St. Rita’s best recruiters! Alumni are an invaluable part of passing on the tradition of St. Rita High School, as well
as introducing new people to the excellent Augustinian education and family atmosphere we have been offering for 105
years. If you know a young man who will be looking to make his high school choice in the next few
years, do him a favor and fill out this form and return it to us in the Appeal envelope. It could
be a son, grandson, great-grandson, nephew, younger brother, or neighbor. Thank you for
believing in our great school and the mission of Catholic education!
Your Name
Student Name
Student Address
Student Phone
Grammar School
6 Grade Level

Six Students Honored for
Roles in Youth Leadership
O n Sunday, April 26th,
six students from St.
Rita of Cascia High
School were honored at the
6th Annual Vicariate V Youth
Leadership Awards Banquet
at Lexington House in Hick-
ory Hills.
The event was presided over
by Most Reverend Gustavo
Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S, Auxil-
iary Bishop of Chicago and
Vicar for Vicariate V.
The Youth Leadership
Awards recognize a young
person’s active participa-
tion in the life of the Church
through Parish and Catholic
High School programs.
The students who repre-
sented St. Rita at the Awards
Banquet were Brian Allen '09
(Palos South JHS), Kevin
Handler '10 (Queen of Mar-
tyrs), Frank Herrera '09 (St.
John Fisher), Daniel Moore
'09 (St. John Fisher), Thomas
Murphy '10 (St. Cajetan), and
Benjamin Richardson '09 (St.
Bernardine).
Students were honored in
ten categories for Youth Min-
istry throughout the Vicari-
ate.
Moore and Murphy re-
ceived their awards for Prayer
and Worship, which means
they participate in the setting
St. Rita senior Brian Allen (Palos South JHS), receives an award in Peer Minis-
try from Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S at the Vicariate V Youth
Leadership Awards Banquet. Also pictured is Kevin Handler '10 (Queen of
Martyrs) who received an award for Community Life.
Veritas † Unitas † Caritas
of Liturgical celebrations, in
roles such as Lector or Eucha-
ristic Minister.
Richardson received his
award for Community Ser-
vice and Social Justice, which
is for teens who have shown
commitment and dedication
to participation in service in
areas such as soup kitchens or
mission trips.
Handler received his award
for Community Life, for
building relationships rooted
in Gospel values, and Allen
and Herrera received their
awards for Peer Ministry, for
their role as leaders on the
Kairos retreat.
Aside from the awards pre-
sentation by Bishop Gustavo,
the evening also featured
introductory remarks from
Maria (Cooky) Perez-Eraci,
Coordinator of Youth Minis-
try for Vicariate V, as well as
portions of Witness of Faith
essays that were submitted by
some recipients. Brian Allen
was chosen to read a portion
of his essay.
The evening celebrated
those youth in Vicariate V that
are actively involved in pro-
moting the service-oriented
message of Christ, and make
their surrounding communi-
ties better in the process.
IN THE NEWS
St. Rita Theater Group Presents
Cotton Patch Gospel Musical
R ecently, St. Rita of Cas- Cloonan’s precise picking on the
cia High School’s Theater banjo and mandolin.
Group ventured into new Creative set design allowed the
territory with their performance cast to make the most of their
of the musical Cotton Patch Gos- props, including benches with
pel, with music and lyrics by Harry special extensions that could trans-
Chapin. form them into a church archway
Cotton Patch Gospel retells the or a rowboat.
Jesus narrative in modern times, The play was directed by Mr.
specifically rural Georgia. John Tolley, who has many years
So, clad in jeans and a flannel of experience putting on high
shirt, senior Mike Kennedy’s Je- school plays. Rita faculty member
sus was humble in appearance but Ms. Lauren Condon served as As-
authoritative in his performance. sistant Director, with Mrs. Krista
He evoked emotion in his solitary Joyce as vocal coach.
moments of anguish, and inspired St. Rita’s performance of Cotton
exhilaration while leading the Patch Gospel was energetic and in-
company in song. spired. The cast put their all into
Narrating the show was Mat- the musical numbers, softly ac-
thew, played by stage veteran se- centing quiet pieces like “You Are
nior Dan Moore. Moore was the Still My Boy”, and then jubilantly
perfect choice for lead role, as his proclaiming their faith in songs
experience kept the action moving like “We Gotta Get Organized”.
and the timing precise. His vocals It was a bold new step for the
showed the depth and range of maturing thespian program, and
someone well beyond their first sets the bar high for next year’s ac-
musical performance. tors.
The rest of
the company,
led by senior
Kyel White and
Whitney Young
senior Paxton
Bahr, provided
choral sup-
port and often
played more
than one char-
acter, ranging
from a murder-
ous mayor to
faithful fisher-
man.
The tunes
were mostly
upbeat blue-
grass, provided
by several tal-
ented student
musicians who
were set up on
the stage itself The company sings the energetic tune “Spitball” from Harry
behind a couple Chapin’s Cotton Patch Gospel. From left: Jack Howard ’10 (St. John
of hay bales. Fisher), David Straple ’09 (St. Germaine), Matt Goosherst ’10 (St.
Of particular John Fisher), and Colleen McGarry ’09 (Mother McAuley). Back:
note was Jack Michael Kennedy ’09 (Incarnation).
7
 ATHLETIC NEWS
Hockey Team Wins Back-to-Back Summer State Title Wraps Up
Kennedy Cup Championships Successful Year for Baseball Team

F or the second year in a row, under the leadership of

Head Coach Craig Ferguson (Hon.), St. Rita of Cascia
High School's Varsity Hockey team won the prestigious
Kennedy Cup Championship.
The Mustangs defeated the Fenwick Friars to become St.
Continued from Page 1
As the season continued the Mustangs lived up to the high
expectations. They dominated game after game and made it all
the way to the State Championship, a first in St. Rita Baseball
history.
Rita's first-ever back-to-back Kennedy Cup Champs. This sea- After defeating Sandburg High School in the IHSA Super
son the Mustangs also made it to the Illinois Final 4 and were Sectional, the Mustangs took on New Trier High School for
regular season Chicago Catholic League Champions. the State Title at Silver Cross Field on June 13th. They played
aggressively and left it all on the field. However, New Trier
pulled off a 4-3 upset.
Mark Payton '10 was named as the Chicago Sun-Times Play-
er of the Year. His offensive out-
put helped power the Mustangs
to the 4A State Title game.
Payton was just one of many
standouts on a team chock-full of
raw talent. Payton was later also
named the Jack Kaiser MVP of
the Summer State Champion-
ship Game.
While the Mustangs came
up just short of winning their
Volleyball Team Captures Their first-ever regular season State
Championship, they came
First-Ever Catholic League Title back in the summer to defeat
Sandburg once again in the

T he Varsity Mustang Volleyball team completed a very

successful season this spring as they captured St. Rita
of Cascia High School's first-ever Chicago Catholic
League Championship in the sport.
The Mustangs defeated St. Ignatius College Prep on Satur-
Phil Lawler Classic Summer
State Championship game.
The Mustangs took home the
title after a 9-0 victory. This
is the 2nd time in St. Rita history baseball has won the
day, May 23rd to claim the CCL Title. After upsetting tour- Summer State Title.
nament favorite Loyola that Friday, the fifth-seeded Mustangs
dropped their first game to St. Ignatius, however rallied to
eventually knock-off host team St. Ignatius.
Basketball Program Announces
It was a excellent finish for the Mustangs who entered into Gary DeCesare as Head Coach
the season on a strong note, as preseason they were ranked
40th on ESPN Rise's list of the top 100 teams in the nation.

S t. Rita of Cascia High School made a big splash in the

basketball world recently, when the school announced
the hiring of a new Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Gary
DeCesare.
The announcement came on the heels of another big move at
St. Rita, the naming of long-time Head Varsity Baseball Coach
and Development Officer Mike Zunica (Hon.) to the position
of Athletic Director.
DeCesare has a long history with the sport of basketball,
and a great reputation for success. He spent 16 seasons as the
Head Coach of St. Raymond High School in the Bronx, New
York, his hometown.
Following his time at St. Raymond, DeCesare moved on to
the college arena as an assistant coach for the University of
Richmond. Most recently he spent four years as the Associate
Head Coach of the DePaul University Blue Demons.
DeCesare has also joined the St. Rita family as a full-time
staff member. He will serve as the Assistant Director of Ad-
missions.

8 TOLLE LEGE! Fall 2009

 ATHLETIC NEWS
St. Rita Mustangs Kick Off the 2009 Football Season in Portage, IN

T he 2009 Football Season officially

began on August 29th with the
Mustangs of St. Rita of Cascia
High School taking on the Indians of Por-
tage High School in Portage, IN. With
thousands in attendance, the Mustangs
took on one of the largest high schools
in Indiana at their stadium known as the
“warpath.” All three Mustang levels were
victorious with Varsity winning 35-20.
While the Portage game kicked off the
regular season schedule, the Mustangs
actually began their preseason prepara-
tions with an overnight team building
experience.
“The captains asked me if we could have
an overnight in which we could take part
in a number of team activities to bring the
team together,” said Head Varsity Coach
Todd Kuska '90. “It worked out well. All
of the kids and coaches had a great time.
We definitely came together as a team
throughout the experience.”
With a united spirit, the Mustangs have
once again set out to attain several season
goals. They hope to start the season off
as a winning team and win the Chicago
Catholic League Blue Championship, as
they did last year. In addition, St. Rita
hopes to get another shot at bringing
home a State Championship.
“We hope we accomplish all our goals
this year, but we also understand that
there may be bumps in the road to a
championship. It is our job to overcome
those obstacles and work towards achiev-
ing our goals,” said Coach Kuska.
Entering the season, the Varsity Mus-
tangs were ranked 1st in the “Southland”
by the Southtown Star and 6th in the Chi-
cagoland area by the Chicago SunTimes.
This year’s Mustangs are led by senior
captains Joe Campagna, Kyle Jachim,
Ronnie McNamara, and Jake O’Dea. Se-
nior Bruce Gaston, a big-time college the football program
prospect, is returning this season and as he said, “For me personally and for
will be a key player for St. Rita on the de- our coaching staff, our hope is that every
fensive side of the ball. On the offensive player has some great experiences and
side, a returning starter is lineman senior walks away with more than just trophies
Tim Ladd. The leading rusher is junior and accolades. We ultimately want to win
Jahwon Akui, who also contributed to championships, but we all realize the im-
team’s success last season. portance of each of our players improv-
The new season has also brought about ing as both a student and athlete.”
the addition of two members to the Fans will not only be able to support
coaching staff. Dan Cepek ’81, who had the Mustangs in person, but they can
been coaching the linebackers at Driscoll also view a couple games on television.
Catholic High School for the past 8 years, This year’s game vs. Br. Rice on Septem-
and Tim Stratton, a 2001 graduate of Pur- ber 11th will be televised on MeTV. The
due University will be assisting the Mus- game vs. Mt. Carmel is slated as the “Na-
tangs with coaching this season. tional High School Rivalry Game of the
As the season moves ahead, Coach Kus- Week” and will be available on CBS Col-
ka commented on his expectations for lege Sports October 2nd.

2009 Varsity Football Schedule

Saturday August 29 6:00 p.m. @ Portage, IN vs. Portage High School
Friday September 4 7:30 p.m. @ Morris Community High School
Friday September 11 7:30 p.m. vs. Brother Rice (14th Ward Celebration)
Friday September 18 7:30 p.m. vs. Fenwick (Homecoming)
Friday September 25 7:30 p.m. @ Bishop McNamara
Friday October 2 7:00 p.m. @ Gately Stadium vs. Mount Carmel
Friday October 9 7:30 p.m. vs. Providence Catholic (Senior Night)
Saturday October 17 1:00 p.m. @ University of Chicago vs. St. Ignatius College Prep
Saturday October 24 1:00 p.m. @ Loyola Academy
Friday October 30 7:00 p.m. IHSA Playoffs

VERITAS UNITAS CARITAS 9

 ADVANCEMENT
Moriarity Foundation Dolores M. McGowan Scholarship Fund
Assists Student Tuition Will Provide Years of Future Assistance

R ecently, St. Rita of Cascia High School was

presented with a $2000 donation by The
Andy Moriarity Foundation. Mike Moriarity
'99, co-founder of the foundation, presented St. Rita
President, Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. '83, with the
contribution in memory of his brother Andy Moriar-
ity, a 1998 graduate of St. Rita.
Andy passed away in a car accident on March 5,
2005. Following Andy’s death, Mike along with two
of Andy’s longtime friends and classmates, Keith Ber-
nard '98 and Mike Cavanaugh '98, established The
Andy Moriarity Foundation to assist families in need
at St. Rita and in the Beverly neighborhood.
In 2007 the foundation began hosting an annual
softball benefit to support its mission. This year the
3rd Annual Andy Moriarity 16” Softball Tournament
was held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Kennedy
Park in Chicago.
This is the second year in a row the Andy Moriarity
Foundation has been able to make a contribution to
St. Rita for student tuition assistance.
T hankfully, for many years to
come numerous students, who
may not have otherwise been
able to, will now receive the excellent
education and experience offered at
St. Rita of Casica High School. This
opportunity has been made possible
thanks to Mrs. Dolores M. McGowan.
Following Mrs. McGowan's sud-
den death this past April the Dolores
M. McGowan Memorial Scholarship
Fund was established.
All who knew Mrs. McGowan were
aware of her love for St. Rita. In fact,
Mrs. McGowan openly expressed her
love for and loyalty to St. Rita for four
decades.
She was the wife of Jack (Hon.),
mother of John '78, Steve '81, Mark
'84, and Denise, a former St. Rita Var-
sity Cheerleader, and grandmother of
Drew '08, Ryan '11, Steve '07, Matt '10,
and Jake '13.
When Mrs. McGowan passed away,
her family found it fitting to request
that in lieu of flowers contributions be
made to St. Rita in order to provide for
student scholarship assistance.
As a result of the family's request,
over $18,000 was donated to St. Rita
by those whose lives were touched by
Mrs. McGowan.
This overwhelming outpouring of
generosity prompted Mrs. McGowan's
immediate family to think of a way they
could continue her legacy for many
years to come. Thus, the McGowan
family met with Mr. John Schmitt '84,
Director of the Annual Appeal and a
lifelong friend of Mark, to discuss how
they could continuously help St. Rita
students in Mrs. McGowan's memory.
The McGowan family decided that
in addition to immediately dispersing
assistance to current students, they
will commit to giving another $5000
each year to the Dolores M. McGowan
Scholarship Memorial Fund.

Volleyball Program Receives Donation

in Memory of Rita Alum Jack Pazier '53

E dward Pazier recently visited

St. Rita of Cascia High School
to present President Fr. Tom
McCarthy, O.S.A. '83 with a $500 do-
nation in memory of his father Jack
Throughout his lifetime, Jack would
gather regularly with his St. Rita class-
mates from the Marquette Park area.
The donation made in Jack's mem-
ory will directly benefit the Mustang
"Gooch" Pazier '53. Volleyball Program, as Jack was a proud
Jack passed away on March 25, 2009 supporter of volleyball, especially when
and in lieu of flowers his family made his son Edward played.
MASS CARDS a request that donations
be made to St. Rita.
& SPECIAL INTENTIONS A longtime resident
of Marquette Park, Jack
attended both grammar
Mass Cards and Special Intentions are available school and high school at
through the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel. St. Rita. Following high
Contact Ms. Vivian Oliva school, he went on to
serve in the Korean War
(773) 925-6600 ext. 6623 and later worked in vari-
ous businesses.

We want to hear from you! Do you have any news you would like to share in a future publication
Keeping about a new job, a recent marriage or birth, retirement, etc? Please send us updates and pictures.

Track St. Rita of Cascia High School Office of Institutional Advancement

7740 S. Western Ave. | Chicago, IL 60620 | advancement@stritahs.com

10 TOLLE LEGE! FALL 2009

 Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A.
In Memoriam 1955 - 2009

The St. Rita of Cascia High School Office of Institutional Advancement has been notified of the following deaths of Alumni,
family members, and/or friends. Sympathies are expressed to the families of the following:
Rev. William Murphy 1933 Dr. James Lauraitis 1950 Frank Higgins 1959
Frank Michaels 1936 Cousin of Tom Lauraitis '55 Richard Guido 1960
Raymond Quinn 1936 Ronald Patterson 1950 Michael Stawczyk 1960
Leonard Heinz 1938 Joseph Fedor 1953 Father of Mike '86 and Jason '93
Brother of Charles '49 and George '50 Terry Murphy 1961
Ed Liebner 1939
Robert Fleckenstein 1953 William Haas 1962 Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A.
George W. Barenz 1940
Larry Murray 1953 Jim O'Neill 1966 entered eternal life July 26, 2009,
Al Steffek 1940
John Pazier 1953 Father of Jim '98 after a four-year health struggle. He
Daniel Calandriello 1941
Thomas Baranowski 1954 Greg Ohner 1968 professed solemn vows with the
Robert Sapp 1942
James Casey 1954 Joseph Burke 1971 Augustinians December 31, 1982.
William F. O'Connor 1943 Brother of Dan '70 and Alderman Ed Burke Fr. Schweifler is remembered by
Patrick Carney 1955
Francis "Bud" Rebedeau 1943 Henry Surma 1972 many for his time as a St. Rita High
Roy Putlack 1955
John Lynch 1944 Stephen Rickard 1974 School teacher from 1980-81. He
Michael Kanka 1956
Robert Schneider 1945 David Mernin 1975 went on to spend many more years
Charles Ptacek 1956
George Plahm 1946 John Knerr 1977
in education. Eventually he became
Robert Zegadlo 1956 the Associate Pastor of St. Jude
John Halinkski 1948 Michael Mernin 1979
Richard Dyczkowski 1957 Parish in New Lenox, IL in 2001,
Ernest Tisil 1948 Arturo Velasquez (Honorary)
John Gorecki 1959 where he remained until his death.
John Zuraff 1948 Brother of Jim '66, father of Aaron '96, and Father of Art '56, Ed '68, and grandfather of Ed '95
Robert Miller 1949 cousin of David '67 and Zefin '70
Elizabeth Adduci, grandmother of Frank Herrera ’09 Patti Higgins, friend of St. Rita Assistant Principal Joe Partacz and grandmother of Dan ’09
Charlotte Alaksiewicz, mother of Jerome ’57 and the late Harry and Doreen Hoffman, uncle and aunt of St. Rita Director Peter Melone, father of Timio ’90 and Edward ’93
Stanley ’61 of Security Dan Hoffman and Dan ’01 Rev. Ed Meurder, uncle of St. Rita faculty member Todd Kuska ’90
Deborah Alford, former St. Rita librarian Willie Holmes, grandfather of Jason Holmes ’11 Tom Monahan, grandfather of Mike Diana ’11
Joan Atencio, aunt of former St. Rita faculty member Mike Betty Hughes, grandmother of Mike Martin ’09 Rev. George Morgan, O.S.A.
Brennan Ludivico Izzo, grandfather of St. Rita Director of Campus Bill Moroney, grandfather of Sean Moroney ’10
Barbara Wynn Bansley, grandmother of David Maroney ’06 Ministry Vicki Izzo Blaszak Philip Nowicki, father of Ben ’01
Ray Bartasius, father of Andrew ’12 Sr. James Jeffers, D.C. Mary O’Gorman, mother of Kevin ’85
Annette Basso, aunt of Bill Kazlauskas ’65 and great-aunt of Dave Johnson, brother-in-law of St. Rita Maintenance Rony Oliva, brother of St. Rita Admin. Assistant Vivian Oliva
Bill ’98 Engineer Pat Mitchell Eleanor O’Toole, wife of Jim ’41
Bruce Blair, father of John ’98 and Steve ’02 Jason Kazmierczak, son of Jim ’76, nephew of Ray Ulrich ’74 Joseph Qualter, uncle of Rich ’09 and Tom ’10
Wybrand Bostrom, grandfather of Brian ’04 Mary Kelly, aunt of St. Rita President Rev. Tom McCarthy, Margaret Pawlowski, mother of Charles ’73
Jack Callahan III, grandson of Jack ’56, great-nephew of Gene O.S.A. ’83 and great-grandmother of Adam Hodorowich ’09 Kenneth Pederson, grandfather of Bob Gallagher ’11
’59, and the late Jerry ’63 Mary Kennedy, grandmother of Conor LePrete ’11 Joseph Petkus, father of Joe ’67
Robert Creighton, husband of former St. Rita faculty member Rose Kenny, mother of Brad ’85 Mary Phillips, aunt of Dan Schergen ’10
Mary Ellen Charles Kipp (Hon.), father of Bill ’66, Charles ’67, Ed ’73, LaVerne Plichta, mother-in-law of former St. Rita faculty
Nancy Crotty, mother of David ’77, grandmother of John ’07 Rich ’77, Mark ’79, grandfather of David ’03 and Ray ’10 member Lisa (O’Connor) Plichta
Loretta Czierwzycki, great-grandmother of Chris Powell ’10 Keith Knapp, grandfather of Connor Mary Prendergast, grandmother of John ’02
Bill Deiters, father of St. Walter Deacon Jim and grandfather Jack Kolimas, father of Paul ’86 Miriam Reagan, grandmother of Hank Pender ’11
of Mark ’98 Sue Kordas, sister-in-law of Tom '75 and Jim '91 and aunt of Joseph Ritacco, father of Joe ’72
Pat Dilger, wife of Al Dilger ’42 Kevin '08 and Marty '10 Jim Rubbennolt, cousin of Midwest Augustinian Vocations
Dora Dineff, grandmother of David ’04 Donald Kriz, father of Mitch ’06 Office Manager Sr. Ardis Cloutier, O.S.F.
Mary Doorhy, mother of Martin ’73 Bernice Krukones, mother of Dr. Michael ’62 and Dr. James ’69 Dorothy Rypel, grandmother of Eric Campbell ’09
Clifton Eirspar, uncle of Brad Widdel ’11 Claire Kuchay, wife of Stanley '42 Wayne Sagotz, father of Brandon ’96
Mary Fagan, great-grandmother of Joe Welter ’03 Sr. Gilmary Lawlor, O.S.A. Thomas Schmidt, father of John ’82, Bill ’85, Jim ’87 & Joe ’90
Santiago Favela, father of Kevin ’10 Alexander Lazowski, father of John ’83 Rev. Michael Schweifler, O.S.A., former St. Rita faculty member
John Ferguson, father-in-law of Kevin Prunty ’95 Jerry Lockie, former St. Rita teacher Marge Signorelli, mother of Joe ’81, Mike ’83 and Frank ’84
Harlan Fisk, father of former St. Rita faculty member Justin Fisk Ray Lucchetti, father of John ’69 Rose Smikoski, mother of Frank ’56, Norbert ’58, Thomas ’61,
Maureen Conroy Fitzgerald, friend of St. Rita friend Pat John MacAskill, father of Sean ’03 and Patrick ’07, cousin grandmother of Thomas ’83
McCabe of St. Rita President Rev. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, and Patrick John Strelow, friend of the Insley family
Dr. Robert Foley, father-in-law of Tony Colosimo ’63 brother-in-law of Tom Pavletic ’66 Veronica Sweeney, great-grandmother of Adam Vargas ’09,
Jeannette Foran, sister of Joe Liebner ’41 and the late Ed Sr. Mary James Madigan, D.C. and Quinn Sweeney ’11
Liebner ’39 Eileen Maher, sister of Mike Burke ’82 & aunt of Mike Burke ’11 Mario Szczesny, Sr., father of Mario, Jr. ’96
Rev. Mark Garrett, O.S.A. Edward Marks, father of Joseph ’65 and Jerrold ’70 Carol Tabak, mother of Carol Ingersoll
Donna Gergits, wife of Joe ’54 Mary Martensen, mother of James ’66 Virginia Tague, mother of Bernard ’74, Bob ’84, and Tom ’81
Timothy Golden, uncle of Dan ’09, Mike ’10, and Tom ’12 Tom and Art McCabe, brother of St. Rita friends Don and Pat Nancy Tulcholski, wife of Dean ’70, sister of Mahoney brothers
Rev. Gisley Azevedo Gomes, friend of former St. Rita staff McCabe Jim ’73, Mike ’76. Rick ’79 and John ’84
member Sr. Barb Kwiatkowski, O.F. Dolores McGowan, wife of Jack (Hon.), mother of John ’78, Alan Vaisnoras, son of Anthony ‘60
John Grahovec, brother of the late Ed Grahovec ’51 Steve ’81, Mark ’84, & Denise (former SR Cheerleader), & Ed Walsh, grandfather of Mark Walsh ’11, John Murphy ’12,
Robert Hajnacki, father of Bill ’89 grandmother of Drew ’08, Ryan ’11, Steve ’07, Matt ’10, & Jake ’13 Charlie Murphy ’13
Mary Ellen Harling, mother of Chuck ’84 John McGovern, father of Jack ’75 and Jim ’76 Madeline Walters, mother-in-law of Martin Plecki ’66
Ruth Harrington, grandmother of Connor Taff ’10 Michael McGrath, father of Dan ’11 Florence Werkmeister, great aunt of Nick Dachota ’12
Rose Headtke, aunt of Martin ’77 Charlene McLaughlin, wife of former St. Rita Fathers’ Club Ed Wissman, friend of the Bokoski family
Josh Hernandez, friend of the Kennedy family President Charles, mother of Tim ’73, Mike ’75, and Dan ’85, Clinton Yaster, grandfather of Jonathon Koleno ’11

All attempts at accuracy are made prior to publication. If there is an error with a listing or an omission, please contact: Office of Institutional Advancement | (773) 925-5029 | advancement@stritahs.com
11
St. Rita of Cascia High School Non-Profit Organization
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Chicago IL 60620 PAID
Tel: 773.925.5029 | www.stritahs.com

SAVE THE DATE! St. Rita of Cascia High School

Homecoming 2009
St. Rita Mustangs vs. Fenwick Friars
Pat Cronin Field at Doyle Stadium
Friday, September 18th
Sophomore Game | 5:00 p.m.
Varsity Game | 7:30 p.m.
Special Alumni Homecoming Event:

Italian Sausage Dinner Friday, September 18th | 4:30 p.m.

Alumni are invited to enjoy a special complementary Italian Sausage Dinner before this
year's homecoming football game in the St. Rita Dining Hall located in the Athletic Wing.