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SPSL Alumni NewsVolume 30, Number 2, Spring 2019

St. Pius X / St. Leo School6905 Blondo Street, Omaha, NE 68104402.551.6667www.spsl.net

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK ALUMNI SHOWCASE AT SPSL

Throughout Catholic Schools Week, schools and parishes schedule activities and events to provide opportunities for celebration and engagement with students. St. Pius X / St. Leo School kicked off Catholic Schools Week 2019 with an Alumni

Showcase.

Over 700 of our current students from Pre-K to 8th grade welcomed 8 amazing Alumni back to our school campus so they could share their musical talents with our school community. Fr. Bob Dufford

(1957), Kathy (Hargis) Mayer (1991), Jules DeSalvo (1998), Audrey Saucier (2017), and four Alumni from the Class of 2015, Joseph McAuliffe, PJ Mooney, Matthew Baysa, and Daniel Noon all delighted our students with their amazing voices and performances.

Mrs. Mayer encouraged our students to join her as she sang “What a Beautiful Name It Is.” Mr. DeSalvo treated the students to a baroque sonata on his euphonium, and Mr. Mooney tickled the ivory while singing “You Raise Me Up” with his c l a s s m a t e s , Baysa and Noon. Other h i g h l i g h t s included Miss S a u c i e r ’ s rendition of Adele’s “When

SAYING GOODBYE TO SISTER VIOLA

Sister Viola Miksch was a teacher at SPSL for an amazing 46 years. Sister Viola was a teacher in first, second, and third grades for 22 years. She spent 11 years as a resource teacher and 13 years as a resource teacher assistant. Sr. Viola retired from SPSL after the 2013-14 school year. Sadly, Sr. Viola passed away on December 1, 2018.

Sr. Viola had a positive impact on so many in our school community. She was loved by our students, Alumni, and staff. Her gracious heart and kind spirit will be missed. Upon hearing the news of Sr. Viola’s passing, many Alumni shared their memories of Sr. Viola, including:

“Sr. Viola always played jump rope with us in 2nd grade. Rest in peace, Sr. Viola.” -Stacy Moraczewski (1988)

“God bless Sr. Viola, my second grade teacher. I still hold love in my heart for her.” -Hannah Naughton (1988)

“I remember Sr. Viola from the ‘70’s. A gentle soul, great role model.” -Jeff Stumpf (1981)

“Sr. Viola was my second grade teacher, and how she treated me with love has and will always stay with me.” -Katijo Sierawski (1993)

Jules DeSalvo (1998) on the euphonium

SPSL Alumni Mayer, Dufford, and McAuliffe

Sister Viola Miksch

We Were Young” and Mr. McAuliffe’s performance of “Moving Way Too Fast.”

The event concluded with the whole assembly joining together to sing one of Fr. Bob Dufford’s famous compositions, “Sing To The Mountains.” Our school was thrilled to shine a light on some of our incredible Alumni as part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration.

Class of 1964Jerry Hutchinson is a retired police officer. He now works training police officers on best practices for handling a person with mental health challenges. Jerry resides in Edina, MN.

Class of 1967Judge Michael Pirtle was honored as the NCEA Distinguished Graduate at the SPSL 4th Annual Recognition Dinner on April 9, 2019. Judge Pirtle presides in the Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2nd Judicial District.

Class of 1972Steve Carlin retired in November, 2018 from Metropolitan Utilities District after forty (40) years of service. Steve resides near Fremont, NE.

Class of 1989Lori (Lazure) Rusch, PhD, RN, an Associate Professor at Creighton College of Nursing, was selected as Nebraska Nurses Association Outstanding Nurse Educator for her innovation and expertise in the educator role. Dr. Rusch was honored during

the NNA/NNP Joint Convention October 3-5, 2018 in Omaha.

Class of 1998T.W. Huntington joined Omaha law firm Kutak Rock in December, 2018. T.W. practices in the area of tax credits.

Class of 2003Peter Morrissey earned his M.S. from Cambridge University in 2013 and his MBA from University in Chicago in 2018. He has worked in public policy in NYC since 2013. Peter is getting married in July, 2019.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Class of 2004Elizabeth (“Molly”) O’Connor was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Elizabeth earned a law degree from the University of Notre Dame and is now practicing law in Omaha. She is the first millennial elected to the Board of Regents.

Class of 2009Orrin Wilson married Mackenzie Taylor on October 20, 2018 in Galveston, TX.

Class of 2011Harrison Hohman was an escort for the Aksarben Ball held in October, 2018. Harrison is pursuing degrees in economics and Spanish at Stanford University.

Elizabeth Schumacher was an Aksarben Princess in 2018. Elizabeth expects to graduate from Benedictine College this spring with a degree in nursing.

Class of 2015Several SPSL Alumni contributed to Roncalli Catholic’s production of “The Addams Family: A New Musical” in November, 2018. Tara Larson played the part of Alice Beineke, Teddy Novotny was Stage Manager, and Nevin Sekar was on Spot Lights. Zach ten Bensel (2017) was the Assistant Sound Manager and Sam Mausbach (2012) provided additional behind the scenes support as one or Mr. Keough’s Minions.

Tara Larson played the part of Serena in Roncalli Catholic’s Spring 2019 production of “Aladdin” supported by crew members Teddy Novotny (Stage Manager), Zach ten Bensel (2017) (Sound Manager) and Kendra Fix (2018) (Stage Crew).

Skutt Catholic senior, Joseph McAuliffe, was named a National Merit Semifinalist. Joseph also earned a perfect 36 score on the ACT test. Joseph has been involved in many extracurricular activities during his time at Skutt Catholic including International Thespian Society, Chorus, and State Speech. After high school graduation, Joseph plans to study musical theater.

PANTHER HAPPENINGS

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ALUMNI NEWS

Class of 2015 (continued)Daniel Noon, a senior at Creighton Prep, was named a Semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. This honor recognizes Daniel’s outstanding academic achievements and is awarded to just 1 percent of the 1.6 million students involved in the competition across the country.

Teddy Novotny, a senior at Roncalli Catholic, recently completed work on a community gardening shed at St. Pius X Parish as his service project to earn his Eagle Scout badge. After high school graduation, Teddy plans to attend UNL to study secondary education.

Class of 2016Mercy High School students Madeline Rozmajzl, Mia Rodriguez, Bella Goaley (2017) and Megan Rozmajzl (2018) honored SPSL teachers Ryan Lampe, Greg Gorski, Tiffani Herfordt, and Larry Stephens in Mercy’s “Crossing Bridges” ceremony. This is an opportunity for current Mercy girls to honor a junior high school teacher who positively impacted their education and prepared them for their high school journey at Mercy.

Chris Nubel was a member of the Creighton Prep Blue mock trial team that won the mock trial state championship competition on December 4, 2018 in Omaha.

Class of 2017Audrey Saucier played the part of Brooke Rodgers in the Rose Theater’s production of “Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium” in the Fall of 2018.

Daniel Osborn and Grant Saucier played on the Skutt Catholic Varsity Football team which won the Class B State Championship for 2018. Daniel was a Guard/Defensive Tackle and Grant played Center/Defensive Tackle.

Omaima Lado, a sophomore at Marian, placed third

50TH REUNION FOR CLASS OF 1969

The St. Pius X Class of 1969 will host its 50th class reunion on Friday, May 31, 2019 starting at 7:00 pm in the St. Pius X / St. Leo School Cafeteria. Classmates will enjoy food, beverages, and a school tour. The next night, on Saturday, June 1, the Class of 1969 will reconvene on the SPSL Campus for the All School Reunion Event!

If you have not sent in your RSVP, we would love to see you! Please RSVP to piusx1969reunion@gmail.com. If you have questions, please contact Suzy Wurtz at suzywurtz@gmail.com.

5 YEAR REUNION FOR CLASS OF 2014

The Class of 2014 is planning a 5 year class reunion on May 31, 2019. Please contact the Class of 2014 SPSL Class Ambassador Katie Walsh at walsh.katie33@gmail.com to ensure we have your current contact information and to help plan your reunion. We look forward to reconnecting with you!

at the District Debate Tournament. She will compete in the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Dallas this summer.

Class of 2018Dani Stolze created a fragmented self-portrait that was selected for publication in Celebrating Art!

Osborn with his father

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY

Our deepest sympathy to the families of: Matthew Freivald Class of 1980 Peggy (Mills) Grasso Class of 1966 Doug Hoffman Class of 1985 Tony Homan Class of 1977 Bethany Kampe Class of 2005 Matthew J. McGill Class of 1980 Roberta “Bobbie” Mixan Class of 1968 Steven J. Reznicek Class of 1970 Sister Viola Miksch Faculty (1968-2014)

ALUMNI NEWS

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SPSL DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

SPSL hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Dodgeball Tournament on March 16, 2019. Many SPSL Alumni participated in this spirited competition. A team of Roncalli Catholic students led by SPSL Alumni James Borer (2017) were the ultimate winners of the tournament. There was also a contest for best

costumes, and that award went to an Alumni team called the “Sitting Ducks” comprised of Rob and Kris (Harrell) Bailey (1983), Tim and Jen (Harrell) Buckholz (1987) and Kaela and Brian Harrell (1990). Thank you to all who participated in this fun event!

REMEMBERING BEA KARP

Our school remembers with fondness Mrs. Bea Karp, a Holocaust survivor, advocate, and author who shared her story of hope and survival with our 8th grade students for approximately the last 15 years. Mrs. Karp passed away on March 3, 2019.

To enrich a unit on The Diary of Anne Frank, Mrs. Karp would share the story of her family’s internment during the Holocaust. Mrs. Karp shared many poignant pieces of her past including when the Gestapo arrived at her childhood home, giving her only minutes to pack her belongings. A young Bea grabbed a porcelain doll that was precious to her, but the soldier chided that where she was going, she didn’t need dolls. In defiance, Bea threw the doll on the floor breaking it, inspiring the title of her memoir “My Broken Doll” which has been adapted into a stage play. Despite living through one of the most horrific times in world history, Mrs. Karp was able to heal and forgive, and that is the message our students were so blessed to hear for so many years.

Bea Karp

ALUMNI NEWS

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MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES

Memorials and Tributes are a wonderful way to remember or honor a loved one. Listed below are donations received from an Alumni or in honor of an Alumni for the SPSL Educational Endowment Trust Fund between 9/5/2018 and 3/28/2019. (Alumni designated by graduation year.)

MemorialsEddie Bianchi Joseph C. Byam (1966)Jack and Dorothy Brady Marie de Martinez (1967)Malcom Domon Patty and Tom Griffith (1972)Larry Donovan Tom and Margaret (Guziec) Hoarty (1962)Robert S. Griffith Mary and Tim Coyle (1973) Charlie Friel (1973) Patty and Tom Griffith (1972) Sid and Linda (Johnson) Lathrop (1964) Mike and Vicki (Griffith) Lorenz (1978) Mary Patricia McBride (1971) Kathy (Lohaus) McGillivray (1977) Doug Myers (1973) Kathleen Tuttle (1965) Dave Weist (1978)Tony Homan (1977) Marie Homan Bernie and Pat Kobza Chris and Michele (Zach) Walker (1981)Gladys Kestel Sue Kurtenbach (1972)Dennis Malliard Tom and Margaret (Guziec) Hoarty (1962)Andrew Oswald Rita Bianchi (1966) Mary and Tim Coyle (1969) Rod and Mary (Gibney) Crowe (1972) Mary Elizabeth Lomax (1965) Deborah and William Loneman (1971) Mary and Gary Marasco (1959) Patty and Tom Griffith (1972)Philip Pogge Tom and Margaret (Guziec) Hoarty (1962)

We apologize if there are any omissions or misstatements of the memorials and tributes. SPSL is so appreciative of all gifts to our school.

ANDREW OSWALD HONORED ON FATHER O’BRIEN LEGACY TREE

Andrew and Darlene Oswald had four children graduate from our school: Teresa (1972), Sue (1973), Cindy (1976), and Mark (1980). Andrew worked at Union Pacific for over 40 years. He and his second wife, Iris,

were honored in 2005 for their volunteer service at our school. He volunteered with the former SPSL Maintenance Director, Dave Ludwig, extensively helping with maintenance around our campus. Andrew passed away in November, 2018. After his passing, the Oswald family designated memorials for their father to St. Pius X / St. Leo School. On February 22, 2019, Teresa and Sue took a school tour and attended a ceremony to add a leaf with their father’s name to the Father O’Brien Legacy Tree.

MRS. DRVOL RETIRES

Mrs. Carol Drvol announced that she will retire from St. Pius X / St. Leo School at the end of the 2018-19 school year. Carol has been a music teacher at our school since the Fall of 2000.

In her time at SPSL, Carol has spearheaded eighteen musicals for our 5th and 6th graders. She collaborated with Mrs. Karen English on over 140 music productions throughout the years including grade level music programs, variety shows, 7th & 8th Grade Girls Chorus performances at New Cassel, taking students to Middle School Honor Choir, NE Children’s All State Choirs, and hosting Alumni Benefit Concerts. Carol has inspired many of our students to try new things, to believe in themselves, and to use and refine their musical talents.

Carol is looking forward to spending more time with her family, including her grandchildren, during retirement. SPSL Alumni and friends throughout our school community wish Carol happiness in this next chapter of her life.

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SPSL TODAY

4TH ANNUAL SPSL RECOGNITION DINNER Our Fourth Annual SPSL Recognition Dinner was held April 9, 2019. This event is an opportunity for our school to honor individuals who have been committed to and actively involved in our school.

This year, our beloved former Principal of 35 years, Joyce Gubbels, was inducted to the SPSL Hall of Fame. To many, Joyce is the very embodiment of SPSL. Joyce shared this reflection about her goals and impact at SPSL: “During my 35 years as Principal of St. Pius X / St. Leo School, I tried very hard to model well my Catholic faith life and my love for God. I strongly believed that each child sent to our school community was a gift from God and thus must be treated with utmost dignity, respect, and care. I hoped that my leadership in this area powerfully affected each child that became a part of our school community.”

Luci Catalano was presented the Sr. Viola Miksch “Servant of Mary” Service Award. Luci was a third grade teacher at SPSL School from 1987-2015. After retirement, Luci continued to be a substitute teacher at our school. Luci is adored by the students and staff members at SPSL.

Jacque Brink was honored as our Volunteer of the Year. Jacque and her husband Jason have two sons, Kaleb (2017) and Aiden, who will graduate from SPSL this May. Throughout her many years as a SPSL parent, Jacque has been a faithful volunteer in countless capacities at SPSL,

including but not limited to, our fundraisers, liturgies, parent committees, classrooms, and cafeteria.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

An incredible 25% of the SPSL Class of 2019 received an academic scholarship to an Omaha Catholic High School. These 17 students received scholarships from Roncalli Catholic, Mount Michael, Creighton Prep, Marian, and Duchesne High School. Congratulations to these students and their families!

Class of 2019 academic scholarship recipients

Christy Vogel is our 2019 Sr. Brigetta Burns Teacher of the Year. Christy has been a teacher at SPSL for 29 years, working as a media specialist and librarian. In 2015, she earned an Endorsement in English as a Second Language Instructor. Her husband and four children are all graduates of SPSL. Christy has positively impacted so many at SPSL, and her efforts have greatly improved the education we provide to students.

Judge Michael Pirtle (‘67) was honored as our 2019 NCEA Distinguished Graduate. Judge Pirtle believes his Catholic education gave him a solid educational foundation to always move to the next level. Throughout his remarkable career, he has been recognized as a legal professional dedicated to improving the administration of justice. Judge Pirtle currently presides in the Nebraska Court of Appeals, 2nd Judicial District.

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DEVELOPMENT NOTES

ON THE CALENDAR

Friday, April 26: SPSL students will participate in the 15th Annual Race for Education, a fundraiser involving walking, running, snow cones, and fun. This is a great way to support our school.

Thursday, May 16: SPSL Class of 2019 will celebrate a graduation Mass at 8:30 am at St. Pius X Church followed by breakfast in the St. Pius X Parish Center. A graduation ceremony and prayer service will then be held at St. Leo the Great Church starting at 7:00 pm.

Saturday, May 19: The 15th Annual SPSL Golf Tournament will be held at The Knolls Golf Course. Join us for a day filled with golf, fun, and friends.

Wednesday, May 22: Please consider participating in Omaha Gives! This is Omaha’s 24-hour charitable challenge. The minimum gift is $10 with no maximum limit. Donations for SPSL may be made at www.omahagives.org.

Saturday, June 1: SPSL Alumni are invited to the 2nd Annual SPSL All School Alumni Reunion Event! This over-21 event will start at 6:30 pm and include live music by SPSL alum Jack McLaughlin (2014) and alum J. Aguilar (1987) will be selling Prairie Fire Pizza. RSVP to Michaela Smith at michaela.smith@spsl.net or 402-551-6667.

Sunday, June 2: Join in some family friendly fun at the St. Pius X Summer Festival from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The festival will feature food, music, games, raffles, and silent auction items.

Saturday, October 26: Save the date for the 2019 SPSL Fall Fundraiser which will be held at Creighton Prep. SPSL Alumni are invited to join in a fun evening benefiting our fantastic school. Email Michaela Smith at michaela.smith@spsl.net for information and reservations.

For more information on all our upcoming events, please visit the St. Pius X / St. Leo School website at www.spsl.net.

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SPSL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE We are excited to introduce Bernadette Martens Chapman (1991) as the new Major Gifts Director for St. Pius X / St. Leo School. In this role, Bernadette will help advance our school mission by matching our community’s charitable interests and passions with the needs of our school. Bernadette’s experience as co-owner with her husband, Clayton, of The Grey Plume restaurant lends itself to the importance of advancing a mission. In 2010, The Grey Plume opened its doors as the Greenest Restaurant in America and it continues to showcase food as an agent of change toward a more sustainable and just future.

Bernadette is not a stranger to the halls of SPSL; she is a proud graduate who comes from a long line of SPSL Alumni spanning 50 years. She and Clayton are also the parents of two current SPSL students, Hudson (3rd grade) and Scarlet (Pre-K). We are embarking

on new initiatives for our school community that are sure to propel our students and school mission forward. It is an exciting time here at SPSL! Please help us welcome Bernadette.

Bernadette Martens Chapman with her children, Hudson and

Scarlett

FUTURE SPSL ALUMS

Do you have a Future SPSL Alum? Submit information regarding your new little one to the SPSL Alumni Director (michaela.smith@spsl.net) within one year of birth and we will send you a “Future Panther” t-shirt or onesie and publish the good news in an upcoming SPSL Alumni Newsletter.

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ALUMNI - TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

We want to hear from you! Is there any interesting news or events that have happened recently in your life? Did you get a new job or a promotion? Have you recently been married or added a new member to your family? Have you moved? We encourage you to share your news with us and your fellow alums.

Name (Maiden and Married) _______________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip

E-mail Address _____________________________________________________________________

Phone (___)______________________ St. Pius X /St. Leo Class of __________________________

High School Attended ____________________________________ Year of Graduation ___________

Sibling’s Names _________________________________________ Spouse’s Name ______________

Name and Ages of Your Children _______________________________________________________

Business _________________________________ Position _________________________________

School Currently Attending ________________________________ State _______________________

News for Our Alumni Newsletter ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please mail to: St. Pius X/ St. Leo School, 6905 Blondo Street, Omaha NE 68104-4600 Attention: Alumni NewsPlease email to: michaela.smith@spsl.netOr visit www.spsl.net/alumni-profile to update your contact information online.

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