Read the Summer 2013 Issue! - Father Ryan High School

IRISH AYES
Summer 2013 Volume XL Number 2
A SHOT AT CHANGE
Three Courageous Men and A Proud Community.
FEATURE STORIES
Remembering Willie Brown
A Bagpiper Salute
85 Years on Stage
World Financial Voice Comes Home
www.fatherryan.org
®

SAVE THE DATES
It’s going to be an exciting and busy fall at Father Ryan and you will want to make
every event. Circle these dates on your calendar, and then check the website or look
for email announcements for more information on a memorable Irish fall.
Board of trustees
Executive Committee
Judy Komisky Orr ’75, Chair
David Glascoe, Vice-Chair
Robert J. Mendes, Finance Committee Chair
Betty Lou Burnett, Membership Chair
sePtember 6
Opening School Mass
Football Home Opener vs. BA,
saluting Coach Bill Derrick ’48 and
the family of Willie Brown ‘65
sePtember 11
9/11 Memorial Service
sePtember 13
Home Game vs. Hillwood
sePtember 27
Homecoming vs. Stratford. BBQ
Contest, Parochial Night and a kickoff
to Reunion celebrations
october 5
Relay for Life
october 11
Home Game vs. MBA
october 17
Ryan Connections
october 19
Parochial League Championships at
Father Ryan
october 20
Open House
november 1
All School Mass
Senior Night vs. Baylor
november 8
Veterans Day Breakfast
november 9
Veterans Pride 5K
november 21-23
Purple Masque Players—Fall Play
december 17
Young Alumni & Senior Lunch
december 26-28
Christmas Basketball Classic
January 16
Ryan Connections
February 1
35 th Annual Legacy Gala
Omni Hotel-Downtown
Committee Chairs
Brett Wesnofske ’88,
Facilities Committee Chair
John Siedlecki,
Advancement Committee Chair
e x- o fficio members
Most Rev. David R. Choby ’65
James A. McIntyre
Dr. Therese Williams
Board members
Rev. Mark Beckman
David Bohan ’66
Tommy Bradley ’81
Mary Brennan
Warner C. Hassell
Judith E. Hoover
Steven Janicak
Rev. Patrick J. Kibby ’73
Dr. Robert Labadie
Philip M. Mattingly, Sr. ’69
Robert J. Mendes
Patrick J. Nolan, III ’69
Rick Olszewski
Ralph J. Schulz, Jr.
William R. Stejskal III ’79
David Tehle
Life Trustees
Thomas G. Connor, Sr. ’60
William H. Farmer ’65
Edward B. Gore
J. Terry Hunter
Vincent T. Phillips
John C. Shea ’51
William F. Smith
Edward A. Stack
Administration
James A. McIntyre, President
Paul Davis ’81, Principal
Sara Hayes, Vice Principal and Academic Dean
Michael La Haie, Dean of Students
Tim Forbes ’93, Dean of Campus Ministry
and Student Life
Pat Lawson ’93, Athletic Director
Connie Steinmetz, Chief Financial Officer
A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service
©2013 FRHS 19946

CONTENTS
Summer 2013
Volume XL Number 2
Feature
A SHOT
AT CHANGE
Three Courageous
Men and A Proud
Community.
page 20
Table of Contents
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In the News
World Travelers. Student Honors. New Board Chair. Drumline WOW!
Annual Fund Records. SAIS Praise and Strategic Plan Progress
Graduation
Mr. Kent Honored. First 5 th Generation Grad.
Athletics
Soccer Takes State. ESPN News. Sports Round-up. National Wrestling
Champ. Gala Salute to Wrestling.
A Special Piece of Cloth
Social Justice
Jim Keady Visits.
Legacy
85 Years of Theatre. Alumni Performers Salute Godspell Anniversary.
Cover Story
50 Years of Sports Equality Begins at Father Ryan.
David Darst Visits
Reunions
Class Notes
Weddings
Births/In Memoriam
Irish Flashback
The MOINA was reinvigorated in 1963 and had a banner year. Can you
identify the staff, many of whom became Golden Grads this year?
(Answer on page 28)
1

Summer 2013
¡Hola! from Salamanca
A First-hand report on Spain from Dr. Rob Nasatir
Dr. Rob Nasatir traveled this summer with a group of Father Ryan
students to Spain for a cultural and historical experience.
Everything is fine here in Salamanca. The students are having a great
time. In addition to classes–oh yeah, classes!–the students have toured
the city of Salamanca and learned the legends associated with various
places, enjoyed the amazing local cuisine, had a Flamenco dancing
class, and participated in a scavenger hunt through historic parts of the
city. Earlier, we went to Alba de Tormes, a little pueblo that is famous
for sites associated with Santa Teresa de Jesús, a fortress that belonged
to the Duke of Alba, and an Alfarería, that is, a potter’s workshop
where students got to watch a demonstration of the traditional art.
We attended mass in the New Cathedral of Salamanca—a beautiful
structure built in the 16th century. In other words, we’ve been busy!
We also visited Avila, another beautiful city with a long, long history. In
addition to the Roman ruins and the massive Muralla—the protective
wall (above) that dates back to the 12 th century—the town is famous for
Saint Teresa of Avila (also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus), the Spanish
mystic who founded an order of Carmelite nuns, wrote several books,
and composed some wonderful poetry. The town also has the highest
altitude of any city in Spain, which makes for some incredible views!
Additionally, the students have been keeping busy with Salsa classes,
visits to the cathedrals, a trip to the Tormes River to hear the story
of Lazarillo de Tormes—the Spanish picaresque novel that begins in
Salamanca—and, of course, their daily Spanish classes.
2

Liz Haynes Earns
Princeton Prize in Race Relations
Senior Liz Haynes was the
recipient in April of this
year’s Princeton Prize in Race
Relations for Nashville. Liz
was the president of the Multi-
Cultural Student Union and
has been instrumental over
the last three years in leading
discussions on race relations,
immigration and religious
tolerance. She was cited for
these accomplishments in the Prize Committee’s presentation.
Liz was honored with the $500.00 award and certificate at
a luncheon and presentation hosted by the Princeton Club of
Nashville on April 17 at the Downtown Library. The award
was presented in the Civil Rights Room at the Library. Father
Ryan alumnus George Barrett ’45 (above with Liz), a leading
Nashville attorney and active voice for civil and human rights in
Nashville and across the country throughout his career, was the
event speaker.
The Princeton Prize was created by an alumnus of Princeton
University and is presented by the University to honor high
school students nationwide whose work is having a positive
impact on race relations in their community. Currently, 23
cities across the U.S. present awards each year. Liz is the second
Father Ryan alumnus to win the award in the last three years,
following Herasanna Richards ’11, who was honored her senior
year. Liz will be attending Clemson University in the fall.
Two Father Ryan faculty
to pursue service work Abroad
Father Ryan High School’s motto is “A Tradition
of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” and two faculty
members will embody that statement when they leave
Father Ryan this summer to participate in long-term
service overseas.
Jennifer Sneed, who has taught at
Father Ryan for two years, will spend
two years in the Peace Corps teaching
English in Nicaragua and Paige
Stillwell, who has taught at Father
Ryan for three years, will spend three
years teaching math in South Africa, in an area just
south of one of the country’s three capital cities, Cape
Town.
“I decided to join the Peace Corps because, for the
past year or so, I have felt like it was my calling to
be a servant to those outside of the United States,”
said Sneed, who is a member of the foreign language
department. “We often talk about being a living
example of the gospel, helping others and being
eternally grateful for everything God has given us.
I decided that I would do what I could to be an
example of our mission statement for my students.”
Sneed will spend three months training in Nicaragua
where she will co-teach English with a native
Nicaraguan teacher. Once her training is complete,
she will spend two years teaching English in local
schools. She will also start interest programs, such as
a reading club, for students and will teach English to
community members in her free time.
Stillwell, who is a member of the
math department, will volunteer with
Living Hope, a Christian non-profit
organization that works in South
Africa to help communities overcome
despair and the causes of poverty and
HIV/AIDS through early child education, health care
centers and life skills training.
Alternative Spring Break Makes Difference
for Students and Trappists
In the first week of April, ten students from Father Ryan
participated in an alternative spring break. This is the sixth year
students have given up their vacation to serve. In partnership
with Homeworks for America, students served at Mepkin Abbey
in Moncks Corner, SC., an abbey run by the Trappist brothers.
The average age of the monks is approximately 80 years old.
With their age and dwindling numbers, they have difficulty
maintaining their property.
While at the monestary, the students had the arduous task of
restoring one of the old houses on the property. Their work
included leveling the foundation, putting on a new roof,
restoring the interior, and painting the exterior.
“I decided to move to Cape Town because my heart
was broken for the children there,” she said. “I felt
like moving down there and working with Living
Hope was my next step in obedience to God, and I
was certain my skills as a math teacher could be
used there.”
President McIntyre is proud of the example these
teachers are setting for their students.
“Nothing is more powerful than showing students
to live by Father Ryan’s mission,” he said. “I am
very proud of Jennifer and Paige for making this
commitment and serving as an example of the living
Gospel for us all.”
As Jen and Paige leave, Father Ryan teacher Abby
Irvine is returning this year from service abroad.
Look for her story in the next Irish Ayes.
3

Irish Shine at Youth in Government
Thirteen Father Ryan students participated at the 60 th
Annual Tennessee YMCA Youth in Government (YIG)
Conference with 750+ students from 22 high schools at the
Capitol in Nashville.
At YIG, students took on the role of senator or representative
and presented bills to other delegates with hopes of signing
the bills into law–just like a real congressional session. Father
Ryan was represented well with several students receiving
awards. Several Irish pairs made the docket, but seniors Ryan
Quarles and Victor Pollack succeeded as their bill was signed
into “law” by closing session. Doug Arney and Laura Durr
each received the Outstanding Delegate Award for impressive
leadership in the Senate. Vince Mancuso was elected as the
Red House Clerk for the 2014 YIG Officer Committee.
Rachel Grussing and Emily Kerinuk just after closing session.
Students who participated were Arney, Kelsey Barrett, Brent
Crist, Durr, Claire Goodrum, Rachael Grussing, Emily
Kerinuk, Vince Mancuso, Pollack, Quarles, Grace Quigley,
Riley Randolph, and Ray Rouiller.
Victor Pollack, Doug Arney, and Ryan Quarles outside the Capitol.
Orr Becomes Chairman of Board of Trust
Judy Komisky Orr ’75, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Creative
Services for Vanderbilt
University, became Chairman
of the school’s Board of
Trustees on July 1.
4
Orr has served the school on
the board for the last seven
years and headed up the
strategic planning process
in 2009-10. She is the first
woman chairman of the
Board of Trustees.
In addition, David Glascoe became vice chairman of the
board, Robert Mendes is the new finance chairman and Betty
Lou Burnett continues as membership chairman.
Orr succeeds Patrick J. Nolan, III ’69, who led the 25-person
board for the last four years. That period has seen dramatic
increases in the school’s overall advancement efforts and its
enrollment.
President Jim McIntyre announced Orr as chairman, saying,
“We are fortunate to have Judy leading the board at this
important time in our history. She has been instrumental in
virtually every initiative over the last five years, beginning
with her strong and wise leadership of our strategic planning
process and continuing through our ongoing curricula
expansion and advancement initiatives. She brings the
perspective of a alumna who as a student helped Father
Ryan at a time of great institutional change and who as
a parent and a volunteer has provided her voice to our
ongoing enhancement and growth. I am delighted to have
the opportunity to work with her as our Board Chairman
and know that her tenure will be marked by exceptional
achievement.”
He went on to say, “Judy’s leadership will continue the strong
legacy of Pat Nolan and David Bohan ’66. I particularly
thank Pat for his role these past four years. His love for the
school and his knowledge of its people, its traditions and its
heritage have been invaluable to me as we continue to advance
the mission of Father Ryan and Catholic education.”
Judy has been at Vanderbilt since 1997. She is responsible
for graphic design, editorial services, photography, and for
managing Vanderbilt's branding and trademark licensing
activities. Previously she was director of advertising and
publications for Ingram Book Company. Prior to that Judy
was head of publications for the Country Music Foundation,
parent organization of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She
has over 35 years experience in the communications field.
A Nashville native, Judy graduated from St. Henry in 1971.
She earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Vanderbilt in
1982.
Judy's husband, Jay Orr, is Vice President for Museum
Programs at the Country Music Foundation. They are
members of Christ the King. All three of their sons graduated
from CKS and from Father Ryan: Daniel Green ’98, Patrick
Orr ’05 and Will Orr ’10.
In beginning her tenure Orr said, “This is a remarkable
institution that has given so much to our community and the
world, both in terms of its alumni and its spirit. It’s a privilege
to have this opportunity to participate in the continued
advancement of this school.”

Drumline Brings Crowd to Feet in
Electrifying 3rd Place Finish at Worlds
Academic Night Salutes
Scholars throughout the School
Remember Macy’s? Remember Far Rockaway? Remember the
applause and the cheers and the goodwill our band musicians
engendered last November? Well, it’s time to add this year’s Winter
Drumline’s performance to that remarkable list.
In a performance of musical talent, showmanship, inventiveness and
heart-pumping, uplifting bravado, the Winter Drumline took their
“Don’t Try This at Home” show to the World Championships in
Dayton and came home 3 rd in the world. With only two perennial
Los Angeles powerhouses ahead of them (and first place was just
one point away) this ranks as one of the most remarkable and
accomplished drumlines in Father Ryan’s long history at WGI.
Director Jeff Schletzer said the group performed just OK in the
preliminaries, and he was a bit worried if the finals would be a
letdown. The Drumline made sure that didn’t happen. Rocking
the arena from their very arrival on the stage, the enthusiasm built
throughout the six-minute show, reaching a crescendo in the last 30
seconds as drummers, lying on their backs and strapped to eightfoot
diameter platforms, were lifted to vertical and spun head over
heels from one side of the floor to the other, playing their drums
throughout. The house was on its feet the entire time and the
online announcers were predicting high honors and “Fan Favorite”
award…they were right. The latter award and third place trophy
provided tangible evidence of a show that only Father Ryan would
try…in anyone’s home.
New Inductees to St. Vincent de Paul Society
The commitment to service runs throughout the Father Ryan community
and is evidenced by the 21 students inducted into the St.
Vincent de Paul Society. Requirements for the society include going
above and beyond in service to the poor or the marginalized. This
year students volunteered at an array of locations including Catholic
Refugee Resettlement, Room in the Inn and Olancho Aid in Honduras.
There is one member of the society who was inducted last year:
Kara Anton. She is joined this year by the following:
John Bakewell
Shea Bradley
Joseph Butler
Grace Farone
Elena Ferguson
Erin Ferguson
Genevieve Hargrove
James Hausman
Elizabeth Haynes
Caroline Herrman
Sarah Grace Jones
Claire Lumm
Francesca Mancuso
Nora Melton
MacKenzie Morales
Erin Mulloy
Thomas Novelly
Mary Margaret Payne
Marc Quitalig
A. Parker Staley
Madeline Walters
Clockwise from top left: Sharber and McCluney share
Spirit of Mike Award; Kim receives Miller Scholarship;
Tela is congratulated on Abbey Scholarship; Guidry
receives Strobel Award.
Students, parents, faculty and staff gathered in the
Center for the Arts to celebrate the end of a school
year and the hard work of all Father Ryan students.
Students were recognized for their academic success
and leadership on campus.
The Alfred E. Abbey Jr. ’72 Memorial Scholarship
was presented to Wabi Tela ’14 because of his
friendly personality and entrepreneurial success with
his charity, Kemi’s Friends.
Madie Bellante ’15 received the Father Pat Connor ’53
Scholarship Award for her strong character and
appreciation of Father Ryan.
The 2013 Purchase Award winners were Genevieve
Hargrove ’13 in photography and Cecilia Kim ’14
in art. Cecilia Kim also received the Will Miller ’61
Award for Excellence for her passion for the arts.
Kate Guidry ’13 received the Bertie Strobel Award
for her beautiful voice and engaging personality.
The Michael Mayer ’96 Award was presented to
Joseph McCluney ’13 and Caleb Sharber ’13 for their
leadership and commitment to the Father Ryan band
program.
Abby Grover ’14 was awarded the Jack Long ’69
Scholarship for her balanced approach to her
educational experience.
Jessica Diaz ’16 received the Father James Black ’64
Award as she is a person of faith, displays academic
excellence and is actively involved in many facets of
school life.
Congratulations, students!
5

Father Ryan Excels—Past, Present and Future
-Both the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board hit the
100% participation number again.
-And the number of donors increased by 8% as alumni
continued their strong record of giving with over
11% participation.
New Record! Parents Chair Sandy Guidry pulls off the final sticker.
Annual Fund Sets New Record
for Dollars, Participation
With a strong push in the final month and with broadened
participation across all giving groups, Father Ryan’s Annual
Fund established a new record this year, raising $556,489. The
total topped last year’s record of $522,847, a 6.4% increase in
total dollars.
The participation totals reflected strong support from
throughout the community.
-Every member of the faculty and staff—100%—made a gift
this year, the fourth straight year of this level of leadership.
-Parents obliterated last year’s record of 50% participation,
exceeding 60% overall. The freshman class led the way
with 66% participation, followed by the senior class at 58%.
Senior parents Gary and Sandy Guidry served as Parent
AF Chairs.
The national average for alumni giving among diocesan
high schools is 17%, and the Class Rep program continues
to produce marked improvement toward that goal. We have
30 classes with class reps and in many of those classes,
participation is far out-pacing the overall alumni average. The
Class of 1967, headed by Paul Rohling and Tommy Ducklo,
topped this list for the second consecutive year, hitting a
remarkable 49.48% participation level, a new record by a wide
margin. The Class of 1985 hit 30.7%, a new record for them
and the Classes of 1975 and 1970 followed with 23% and 22%
participation, respectively.
Jim McIntyre announced the results and expressed his gratitude
for this generosity, “I am humbled each year by the results of
our Annual Fund. I have called this our ‘living endowment,’
as it produces for us the equivalent return on a $10 million
endowment total; that support funds tuition assistance,
classroom enhancement and overall campus activities that
enrich our entire community. I am grateful to Anna Beth
Godfrey, our Annual Fund director, all of the volunteers
and every donor whose commitment to this school and its
mission is reflected in every Annual Fund dollar raised. Thank
you to everyone.”
SAIS Affirms Father Ryan’s Strengths
In 2005, Father Ryan received accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and in doing so made
some history. That accreditation made Father Ryan the first school in the state of Tennessee to hold accreditation from both SAIS
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). These two respected accrediting organizations are focused on
helping their schools improve their programs, enhance overall education and effect leadership and innovation in the classroom.
This past spring Father Ryan received its report from SAIS, which was high in its praise of the school for its environment, message
and mission. As President McIntyre, said, “it is an affirmation of our goals, to be the national standard in Catholic education.”
Here are some excerpts:
The goals and metrics of the [strategic] plan serve to align the school’s path with accepted best practices and 21 st century learning
goals, while still maintaining the unique character and vision of the school community…
The vision statement of Father Ryan High School lays the foundation for a culture of excellence that permeates the environment
of the school, evidenced most clearly in the students themselves…Students and their parents are upbeat and positive about their
school, particularly appreciative of two values of the school: the cultivation of faith development and the commitment of the
school to ‘You will be known. You will be loved…’
Father Ryan students continue to carry the torch for the School’s stated mission that has served them well for almost ninety years:
these students experience the Gospel on a daily basis and are challenged to reach their full potential intellectually, socially, and
spiritually…A sense of community is pervasive at Father Ryan, and the level of collaboration among stakeholders is not only
impressive, but also surely responsible for the School’s overwhelmingly positive reputation in the Nashville community.
6

Strategic Plan On Schedule at Half-Way Point
Back in 2009-2010 an assemblage of Father Ryan
administrators, faculty, parents, board and friends began a
strategic planning process that produced specific goals and
initiatives, all designed to strengthen Father Ryan’s position as it
approached its 90 th Anniversary in 2015. At the halfway point
the plan’s goals are all well within reach.
Incoming Board Chairman Judy Orr ’75 led the process and
reports that the plan—Creating a New Standard in Catholic
Education—is already having an impact on the school’s
programs and performance. Orr, who became Father Ryan’s
first female board chairman on July 1, said the purpose of the
planning process was to ensure the vitality of this school for the
next generations of students and faculty.
“Not very many institutions can claim an 85-year history,
particularly one as vital and influential as Father Ryan’s,” Orr
stated. “However, just being 85 years old doesn’t guarantee
continued growth and success. In fact, in our own history there
have been periods when our future was questioned. That’s why
the Board and the administration felt it critical to embark on
this strategic planning process. Through it we have identified
opportunities, engaged our community and planned for our
future, with the goal of presenting another group of leaders, a
generation from now, with a stronger Father Ryan High School
for them to enhance. Some of the goals may prove challenging
in the short term, but all are worthwhile, and I am confident
they will be attained in the coming years.”
Here are the goals, all of which are on target and many of
which are already met.
• Every student will have required
and defined international cultural
experiences.
• Father Ryan will serve as a model
resource for the community and the
Diocese of Nashville.
• Father Ryan High School will
utilize the best technology to enable
our students to succeed and expect
our faculty and staff to be skilled in
the use of this technology.
• The administration, in consultation
with faculty, will have developed
a system of annual recognition of
individual faculty and staff as they
carry out the Father Ryan High
School mission.
• Father Ryan High School will
coordinate and consolidate financial
support for all athletic teams and
performance grooups to provide an
exceptional experience for the student
athlete, to limit parent and donor
fatigue, engender more volunteerism
and place coaches in the best position
to mentor and coach.
• In outreach, business and
community relations, Father Ryan
High School will be known as
a model of inclusiveness among
Catholic schools.
• Father Ryan will provide a
minimum of 10 full need-based
scholarships for socioeconomic
disadvantaged students.
• Board of Trust members, faculty,
staff, administration, coaches and
moderators will be living examples of
the Gospels through faith, knowledge
and service.
• Father Ryan will raise awareness
of the entire donor community of the
critical importance of philanthropy.
• Father Ryan will be known for
having the most ethnically and
racially diverse student and faculty
bodies among Middle Tennessee
Catholic schools.
• Father Ryan will be recognized for
annual growth in innovation and
distinction in academics, athletics and
the arts.
• Father Ryan will have full
participation of students in
understanding and living the Catholic
faith in a Christ-like manner.
• Father Ryan will be known for the
spiritual life of its alumni and their
uniquely continuous relationship with
the Father Ryan community.
• Father Ryan will serve the
community and the Diocese of
Nashville as the model for community
service among schools—in terms
of the quality of the experience and
the impact on the student within the
Catholic tradition.
• All Father Ryan faculty will be
compensated with a total salary and
clearly defined benefits package that
is competitive with a designated set of
peer institutions.
• Eighty percent of the Father Ryan
High School faculty will have a
master’s degree or above from an
accredited institution or will be in
pursuit of a master’s degree.
• Will create an environment,
structure and programs to elevate
Father Ryan to the top ranks
of diocesan Catholic schools
nationwide, recognized for excellence
in giving, volunteerism and alumni,
parent and faculty participation.
7

Graduation
Summer 2013
Class of 2013’s Big Day
The 226 members of the Class of 2013 took those 250
steps from their seats in the Curb Center across the stage
on Mother’s Day this year, returning with diploma in hand
and the proud gaze of families, friends, faculty and alumni
upon them. This is an historic class whose accomplishments
demonstrate their character and commitment and reflect the
work and support of teachers throughout their lives.
-Eight members of the class were named Finalists by the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a record for the
school and one of the highest totals in the state. Two other
members of the class received Commended Scholar honors.
-The class led another record total for Relay for Life,
raising the highest dollar amount in the nation for any
student-run Relay for Life. This class has now been
involved in setting that record three straight years.
-One member of the Class will be attending West Point,
extending to 23 the total number of military academy
appointments since 2000.
-The class was part of nine state championships—and
finished second an additional nine times—during their
Father Ryan careers.
-Among the colleges they are attending—including Notre
Dame, Vanderbilt, University of Virginia, College of
Wooster, Grambling, Clemson University—are more than
20 Catholic colleges and universities. The class earned over
$19 million in scholarships.
It was an exceptional year by an exceptional class.
8

Pickney, PatterSon anD mr. kent HonoreD
cole Pickney
Valedictorian
At a time when so many
students are looking for a
welcome respite from the
classroom, such as Fall
Break, Cole decided that
there was something more
to do. He continued work
on a special project he was conducting at Vanderbilt to study
obesity, particularly the effects of our brain neurons on obese
individuals. It is this type of curiosity and the eagerness to
pursue these questions outside of the classroom that have
characterized Cole’s studies at Father Ryan. He has taken ten
Advanced Placement courses, is a National Merit Finalist,
and a member of the Cardinal Newman Society and Cum
Laude. He is also an athlete, playing on the Varsity Lacrosse
team as a midfielder, and is the President of the Student Body.
Where will his interests take him? Very close. He’s headed to
Vanderbilt to begin his college career.
ransoM Patterson
Salutatorian
It seems that whatever
opportunity presented itself
at Father Ryan, Ransom
Patterson was eager to try
it. Band? Of course, playing
his bass saxophone all four
years and marching in
New York for the Macy’s
Parade. Service? He’s one of the leaders of the Multi-
Cultural Student Union, adding his voice to the discussion
of immigration, both in the classroom and in the editorial
pages of The Tennessean. Acting? You could spot him in
the cast of Godspell, dancing and singing to every tune. It’s
not surprising that this curiosity has energized his studies.
He’s taken six A.P. courses and is a member of Cum Laude,
the Cardinal Newman Society and was one of Father
Ryan’s record number of National Merit Finalists this year.
Ransom’s intellect, spirit and smile will be filling the halls
next at The College of Wooster and reminding his classmates
there of the impact he had at Father Ryan.
roBert kent cHoSen aS teacHer of tHe year
How important is teaching at Father
Ryan to Mr. Robert Kent ‘74. Listen
to his words.
“I tell my students, I would not be
the person I am if I did not teach
at Father Ryan. It is a part of who
I am.”
This year, who Robert Kent is
became even more entwined with
Father Ryan. In an announcement
that was greeted with loud applause
and universal approval, Father Ryan’s Principal Paul Davis ’81
introduced Robert at Baccalaureate as the 2013 Teacher of the
Year. Robert is a faculty member in the English department
and has been at Father Ryan since 1980. He is also the head
coach for the girls cross country and track teams. Honors
include the 2009 “A Teacher Who Made a Difference” award
from the University of Kentucky, the 2006 WSMV & U.S.
Bank “High School Star” award, two Gatorade “Coaches
Care” awards as well as 16 Cross Country Coach of the
Year awards. He earned his associates degree from Aquinas
College, his bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University, and
his masters degree from Belmont University.
BranDon Jarrett ’13—connecteD to fatHer ryan’S BeginningS
This year’s graduation produced some history for the
school. Brandon Jarrett not only had the eyes of his proud
parents and grandparents on him but also the eyes of two
more generations as he accepted his diploma as the first 5 th
generation graduate of Father Ryan.
Here’s the lineage, left to right:
His mother is Michele Mullins Jarrett, Class of 1991.
His grandfather is Charles V. Mullins, Jr., Class of 1971.
His great-grandfather is Charles V. Mullins, Sr., Class of 1949.
And his great-great-grandfather comes from Father Ryan’s
first graduating class, Charles Joseph "Pug" Johnson, Class of
1927. He was all-city football in 1926.
Brandon will be attending UT-Chattanooga in the fall.
9

Athletics
Summer 2013
Soccer Sets State
Standard in 2012-2013
The kick seemed innocent enough, with none of the
expectation of its finality and certainly no concept of a shot
that would end up viewed by of millions nationwide.
The kick, the one that earned ESPN SportsCenter’s Plays
of the Week, was taken from just inside midfield with 54.9
seconds left in the second five-minute overtime of the 2013
Division II-AA state championship match. The boys had
already played a full game, 10-minute OT, and now were
almost done with the second sudden-death overtime. Junior
Luke Strebel had a free kick and just about everyone at Siegel
Soccer Complex for the TSSAA Division II-AA state title game
was certain that it was going to take penalty kicks to settle the
match between the Irish and their long-time rival, MBA. But
as players from both sides began to cluster near the net like
so many fireflies chasing a summer porch light, each looking
for the break or the bounce or the carom that would present
the scoring chance, something strange happened. No one
touched the ball! It floated and floated, directly on line, until
at the moment the Big Red goalkeeper was setting himself up
to make the save, a Father Ryan player flew by in a missed
opportunity for a header. In that instant of flight, he took
away the goalie’s eyes, and Luke’s magical kick found its way
to the back of the net, giving Father Ryan a 2-1 win and its
fifth boys state championship.
But the image and impact of The Kick didn’t end there. After
stunning the Big Red and sending the Irish players and fans
into a swirl of celebration at midfield, the kick kept traveling,
landing on ESPN’s Sportscenter on Monday, May 27, as #9
on the channel’s “Plays of the Week” Countdown.
The championship and the attention the game garnered were
appropriate capstones to the season, one that was reflective
of Coach Robin Dieterich’s approach…a tough off-season
program to develop endurance…a line-up of strong opponents
throughout the season to harden the team for the state run…
and a focused, committed push in the playoffs, built on
defense and pressure. The Irish topped BGA in the semis to set
up the match with MBA, unbeaten on the season and victors
over the Irish by a 2-0 score just two weeks earlier.
With the girls championship in the fall, Father Ryan claimed
a rare double—girls and boys titles in the same school year,
another salute to the soccer program at
Father Ryan.
To see the winning kick
scan the QR code:
Wrestling Correction
In the last Irish Ayes we inadvertently left out one Irish wrestler in our list of three-time state champions. Aaron Bateman ’07
claimed the state individual championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007, joining Raymond Dunning ’03, Whitt Dunning ’05 and
Wes Wesley ’10 as three-time champs.
Irish Ayes apologizes for the error and salutes Aaron for this special accomplishment.
10

Wrestling made the finals of the state Duals and battled
hard at the state championships, but finished second this year in
both competitions to a senior-laden Christian Brothers team. In
addition to Mark Marchetti’s state title, Trey Chalifoux, Patrick
Cosgrove, Hal Fisher, John Hagey and James Simpson finished
2nd, and Mike Akers, Michael Eckhart, Kirby Simpson and
Ben Stacey finished 3rd. Houston Hooker earned a 4th.
Basketball featured a deep run in the state for the boys,
who came up just short against Briarcrest in the semifinals of
the Final Four. The girls’ season was marked by injuries that
threw the team a bit off stride mid-season, but they rallied down
the stretch to deliver some big wins for the Irish.
Hockey saw its season end with a tough, 3-2 loss to
Ravenwood, keeping them out of the Final Four. But it’s a
young team with strong prospects for 2013-14.
Track saw five runners and field athletes qualify for the state.
Swimming produced state competitors in several strokes,
producing three wins, a second and a fifth in a strong showing
at regionals.
Baseball’s and Softball’s results were about putting
both parts of the game together…strong outings at the plate
were combined with struggles on the mound….but when the
pitching was strong, as it often was, the bats turned quiet. But
a good season for both teams.
Lacrosse continues to get stronger as both the boys
and girls teams registered big wins during the season. The
expectation of a state tournament run next year is a real
possibility for both squads.
Rugby was strong again, going through an 11-2-1 record
but fell to South Doyle 26-22 in the Semis to miss out on
the state title.
Looking Toward The Coming Season
Volleyball is just a few weeks away and anticipation is high.
Here’s a report on one of the Irish leaders who was named to
Prepvolleyball’s Soph 79 listing.
Maggie Mullins, 5-9 RS, Father Ryan (Nashville, Tennessee)
• A beast at the net, Mullins sent opposing hitters packing
67 times in the 2012 season. Mullins also added 451 kills,
274 digs, 166 assists, and 30 aces. Contributing all season
long, Mullins was named to the Class A Division II
All-State Team.
11

Six Honored as Swim Coach
Academic All-Americans
Congratulations to our newest NISCA (National
Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association) Academic All
Americans: Conor O’Bryan, Carmyn Cook, Sydney Stein,
Shea Holmes and Conlon Griesmer. Over 300,000 students
are involved in aquatics at the high school level in over 14,946
programs for boys and girls. Approximately 2% of these
students are recognized as high school All Americans. To
achieve this honor, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.75
or better for seven semesters.
In addition to academic prowess, the Irish swimmers were
strong in the water. The Irish traveled to Knoxville this winter
for the State Championships where 118 teams and over 900
athletes participated, and where the entire state team had
lifetime best swims and dives!
Honorable Mention goes to Cooper Hodge for his 4 th place
finish in the 200 IM and becoming a swimming All-American.
He also placed 4 th in 100 breast. Honorable mention also to
Logan Johnstone for the 5 th place finish in the 50 freestyle and
to the men’s 400 Freestyle Relay (Hodge, O’Bryan, Neuser,
Johnstone) for finishing 12 th .
(left to right) Conor O’Bryan, Carmyn Cook, Sydney Stein, Shea
Holmes and Conlon Griesmer
MVP goes to the Men’s 200 Freestyle relay team (Hodge,
O’Bryan, Donnelly, Johnstone) for BREAKING the Irish
record! They bettered the old record by .18.
The Combined team finished 11 th and the men’s team finished
13 th . The Irish Nation wants to say a special thank you to the
parents, alumni and Mr. Lawson for attending the meet.
National Title for Irish Wrestler
Senior Mark Marchetti put a bow on the year-long celebration of 50 Years of Wrestling at Father Ryan by claiming the national
wrestling title at the annual NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach, VA, in
April. NHSCA hosts a tournament for Seniors only with the top eight being named High School All-Americans. By winning this
tournament, Mark became just the third Tennessean to ever win the Senior Nationals tournament and only the fifth to ever make it
to the finals. Mark dominated the 138 lb field during the tournament before capturing a very competitive Semi-Final win and then
an exciting 1 point win in overtime in the Finals.
In winning the championship, Mark became the first Irish wrestler to win a national title. The achievement came on the heels of
his state championship in February, his 167 th win as an Irish grappler, breaking the record for career Irish wins set last year by
Cole Moseley ’12. Mark is headed to the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY, where he will continue not only his
wrestling career but that of his family’s—brother Patrick Marchetti ’09 graduated this past May from West Point after a four-year
career on their wrestling team.
At Home…on the Diamond, the Court and
at the Keyboard
Sophomore Taryn Richter has passed many a test on the
diamond. From tricky grounders to laser line drives to sliding
runners, she’s demonstrated her talent for fielding the shortshop
position and anchoring the Irish’s infield defense. She’s shown
the same cool under pressure as point guard for the Lady
Irish basketball team. But this spring, all of those talents came
together in a perfect day with her instrument…the piano.
Taryn, who was also inducted into the Father Black Honor
Society, competed at a Piano Guild Competition this spring,
performing five memorized songs along with scales and chords.
The judges approved, awarding her a perfect score. It was
like a 4 for 4 day at the plate or a 5 for 5 night from the line.
Perfection in a performance. Congratulations to Taryn for
making music in every endeavor.
Four Irish Athletes Sign to Play College Sports
A number of Father Ryan’s top athletes will be continuing their athletic
careers in college as four seniors signed letters this year.
Mark Marchetti will build on his record-breaking high school
performance by wrestling at the United States Military Academy.
JamontÉ Graham signed to continue his basketball career in front of
his hometown fans at Tennessee State University.
Andrew Towns will be pitching at Walters State Community College.
Will Rutledge will do the same for Christian Brothers University.
12

A night of celebration: 50 years of wrestling and Coach Simpson ’74, above with wife, Stephanie ’90.
Gala Celebration Generates Record Results for Father Ryan
It only seemed fitting that in the year that the Legacy Gala
honored the school’s most decorated program the event would
produce a record result for the school.
The 34 th Legacy Gala, saluting Pat Simpson ’74 and the 50 th
Year of the Wrestling program, delivered that record and
enhanced the tuition assistance program for Father Ryan
students. More than 615 people attended the evening, the
second straight sell-out and the earliest sell-out in the event’s
history; a record number of sponsors provided a record level of
sponsorship money; and everyone bid and enjoyed an evening
in celebration of Father Ryan.
Pat Simpson, a man who readily admitted to being a “man
of few words,” decided to use a career’s worth of words and
delivered an address that was eloquent, touching and perfect in
its tone and its timbre. The audience stood in honoring Coaches
Simpson, Bobby Garmon ’65 and Joe Drennan ’57—whose
wife, Rose, stood on the stage to accept the plaudits and tearful
salute in his memory. And they continued to stand until the
Gala attendees had committed in excess of $46,000 for tuition
assistance.
It was a night of achievements that the wrestling coaches
would have embraced, and it made for a Legacy Gala to
be remembered.
13

When you look out on the field at about 6:58 on Friday nights
this fall, you’ll notice something new about our traditional
bagpiper’s attire. But what’s
new is only part of the story…
and that part is only part of
another story…all threads in
a tale that ties and binds and
heals across the entire Father
Ryan community.
The story begins here in
Nashville, but its telling
takes us to the British Isles,
to Mexico, to a restaurant in
Cool Springs and back home
to Norwood, each part of
the story producing tears of
sadness and hurt, tears of
celebration and joy.
It begins with Julian Gomez
’86, that bagpiper. He took
over the responsibility last
year for leading the team onto
the field, carrying a beautiful
bagpipe and wearing none
of the bagpiper’s clothes. He
wanted to add the traditional
bagpiper’s uniform to the job,
adding that special touch to
elevate the game experience
and honor our heritage. What
a nice idea…and what a
significant expense, one that
seemed out of the realm of
possibility. But something was
in the works, something no
one knew, just yet. And that is
only part of the story.
Julian will tell you that
wearing the clothes became an
opportunity to honor Kevin
Davis ’09, a young man he’d
never met but to whom he
was now intimately linked.
Kevin, the son of our principal
Paul Davis ’81 and Teresa
Sharp Davis ’81, and brother
of Philip Davis ’08. Kevin,
so full of life and questions
and smiles and energy, who
had a knack for bringing
people together, was killed
in an accident in Mexico
while there on spring break
in March 2012. A loss that
broke the hearts of his family
and pulled together a whole community in a hug of support and
love. It was on the morning of Kevin’s celebration of life Mass
that Julian learned of this unique young man. When the family
Half a
million
threads,
each
Kevin-Sent
The bagpiper, Julian Gomez ‘85 and Kevin Davis ‘09. The Double
Davidson kilt connects them both.
expressed a longing for the bagpiper’s mournful melody to carry
Kevin home, Julian answered the call on a moment’s notice,
literally. That spring morning,
standing in the pouring
rain at Kevin’s graveside,
he witnessed firsthand the
community coming together
in an extraordinary way to say
goodbye to this remarkable
young man. So the kilt, for
Julian, became more than a
bagpiper’s dress; it became a
salute to someone special and,
by extension, to the entire
Father Ryan community. Now
that’s a lovely and touching
story…but even that isn’t the
whole story.
Paul, Teresa and Philip will
tell you that the outpouring
of support, the prayers, the
letters, the hugs, the tears have
buoyed them throughout the
past year. They’ve been moved
by the many gifts to the Kevin
Paul Davis ’09 Scholarship,
which is now endowed and
was presented this year for the
first time (see sidebar). How
it touched them to see Kevin’s
name remembered and a
Father Ryan student benefiting
from this tragedy. They also
talk about the many moments
that happened—continue to
happen—that are hard to
explain. Moments of grace
and beauty; moments that
have changed lives in little
ways; moments some would
call coincidences, but family
and friends recognize as
“Kevin-sents”, events that they
believe are divinely sent. Now
we are getting to the heart of
that story and the threads of
that kilt.
Julian talked to the kilt maker,
Mr. Alan Trivett at the House
of Tartan in Scotland, and
put in his order, asking for the
Davis clan tartan. Mr. Trivett
knew the Davis clan was from
the House of Davidson and
the tartan’s colors were green,
blue, red and white. Perfect,
except for that blue—“could it be purple?”, Julian asked,
wishing to tie it even more closely to Kevin and to Father Ryan.
“No” was the first response, but the rest of the story was still
14

eing written. The Davis family, touched
by Julian’s playing for Kevin, had sent
the Mass program to Mr. Trivett. Now
this kilt-maker knew that the threads of
every tartan carry a family’s story, and
being a good kilt-maker meant he was
fascinated with stories. The program
touched him. Julian told him more of
Kevin’s story and how it touched the
Father Ryan community. He told him
how the kilt was going to dress him for
an important part of the Father Ryan
experience. The purple Double Davidson
was born, one of a kind, just like Kevin.
The outfit needed to be complete, offered
the kilt-maker, but Julian knew that the
budget wouldn’t allow for more than the
kilt and some socks. But the story had
wrapped itself around the kilt-maker
and those close to Kevin, caught them all
in its threads and warmed their souls. “Don’t worry about the
rest,” the kilt-maker told Julian. The funds had been provided.
Which brings us to a restaurant in Cool Springs. Julian met
with the Davis family to show the uniform, which he had just
received, to tell them about the kilt-maker, and to let them know
what this meant to him. It was a night tailor-made for Kevinsent
moments.
Was it ever! As Julian told the story about the “Double”
Davidson, Paul interrupted to tell everyone that Kevin’s favorite
number was two, the deuce. He wore it on every uniform.
“The Deuce.” Kevin sporting his favorite number.
It was something Julian and the kiltmaker
didn’t know. Then, up walked a
Father Ryan alumnus and good friend
of the Davises to stop and say hello. Paul
sat down and said, “that man gave me
the rosary in my pocket as a memory
of Kevin.” And then he looked up and
standing at the hostess table was a young
woman—Kevin’s SEARCH leader. Chills
on every arm, each Kevin-sent.
How many threads are there in a kilt,
a jacket, knee socks? Half a million? A
million? Each holds the next one together,
connecting them until they form a whole.
Those threads can stitch together hearts,
helping them to heal, and it seems this kilt
has that power in it. Kevin is smiling, still
bringing people together.
So this fall, when you see Julian take the field and you hear the
tones of his lone bagpipe, you’ll know the whole story. You’ll
feel the pride that Julian feels. You’ll feel the gratitude that the
Davis family feels. And you just might feel the power of those
threads, touching us all in a moment, unique to Father Ryan,
unique to this community, reminding us all that we are known
and we are loved.
Kevin Paul Davis ’09 Scholarship Presented
On May 2, 2013, the first Kevin Paul Davis ’09 Scholarship
was awarded as a way to remember Kevin and extend his
giving spirit to others at Father Ryan. The scholarship, which
is now endowed, comes from the generous gifts made in his
name.
In a touching and tearful moment at Academic Night this
spring, and with the assembly on its feet in support, Paul
and Teresa Davis ’81 presented the Scholarship to Chandler
Carney ’14 (right), who accepted the award by giving Paul
and Teresa a hug. Chandler was cited for his strong faith, his
openess to new experiences and his sense of loyalty to those
around him, all characteristics of Kevin Davis.
The Davis family is grateful for the generosity of many and
desires to see the scholarship continue to grow in order
to assist more students in need of financial assistance, to
provide the opportunity for others to walk the same halls as
both of their sons and to feel the love their family has been so
blessed to experience.
Contact Brooke Reusch, Director of Advancement, at reuschb@fatherryan.org for information on this endowment or other
ways to help students in need of tuition assistance.
15

Social Justice
Summer 2013
Just doinG it
THE RIGHT WAY
International workers’ rights advocate
Jim Keady is striving to have an impact
wherever he goes. He certainly had one
at Father Ryan.
As a result of his presentation on
workers conditions at Nike plants
in many parts of Asia, Father Ryan
High School has decided to revamp
its uniform and branded apparel
purchasing standards and will no
longer display manufacturer’s logos on
its athletic uniforms from companies
whose labor practices don’t conform
with Catholic social teaching.
Keady is a nationally renowned
educator and speaker on social justice
issues who discussed Nike’s use of
Indonesian sweatshops as part of Father
Ryan High School’s Theology Speaker
Series on Feb. 20 in the school’s Center
for the Arts.
The decision was an easy one,
according to Tim Forbes ’93, Dean of
Campus Ministry and Student Life.
“We are an institution that believes
in the fundamental principles of
social justice and the preferential role
of the poor. Once we learned how
manufacturers such as Nike take
advantage of workers in their plants—
paying them less per day than it costs
for a family to eat, depriving them
of any rights to organize and protest,
and damaging the environment with
their manufacturing practices—we
felt that we could not support these
activities with our advertising.”
Taking this stand was the right and
natural thing to do, Forbes said, but
finding a practical uniform solution
that gave our athletes the equipment
they need to compete was not so easy.
The school is purchasing its uniforms
from another manufacturer and is
placing Jerusalem cross patches over
any manufacturer’s logo.
President Jim McIntyre said that all of
the major manufacturers are guilty of
operating plants that are unacceptable
sources. “While we support the value of
economic growth and development, we
do not wish to support companies that
achieve their success through abusive
labor practices, and who continue to
employ those practices after they have
been condemned by rights groups
around the world. We don’t expect
our single action to change the minds
of athletic manufacturers, but we do
believe we must act. It is in keeping
with the teachings of the Catholic
church and the traditions of social
justice on this campus, and we hope
we can inspire other schools to follow
our action. If so, perhaps we can, as
a group, have the kind of impact that
Jim Keady works for so tirelessly. We
appreciate his efforts for this cause
and are working with him on ways our
community can help effect change.”
The memorable presentation, “Behind
the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social
Justice,” is the culmination of work
Keady undertook after he was forced
to resign his job as soccer coach at St.
John’s University in New York in 1997
for refusing to support Nike products
at the college, a decision based on his
research into the living conditions
of Nike’s workers. In the summer
of 2000, Keady lived with factory
workers in the Indonesian slums on 23
cents/hour, the wage of a sweatshop
worker. He documented the experience
in an independent documentary
“SWEAT” and subsequently founded
Team Sweat, a coalition of
consumers, investors and
workers committed
to improving the
conditions in these
Nike sweatshops.
Keady has shared
his experience
with audiences
across the world
and with members
of the U.S. Congress.
The story has also
been featured on CBS, NBC, Fox,
ABC, MSNBC, CNN, HBO Sports,
ESPN, ABC, the BBC, NPR, WBAI,
as well as in the NY Times, Newsday,
Sports Illustrated, the Daily News, and
countless other local radio programs
and print outlets.
Keady, a theologian, activist, educator,
and elected official, is the founding
director of Educating for Justice, Inc.
In 2001, the Mario Savio Foundation
(CA) recognized and honored his work
for justice, naming him the “Young
Activist of the Year.” He has also been
involved in electoral politics and from
2005-2008 served as a Councilman in
the City of Asbury Park, NJ.
He will return to Father Ryan in
September as part of our Theology
Speaker Series.
16

Legacy
Summer 2013
TODAY
1929
tHeatre sHines
liGHt on stUdents’
manY talents
As the oldest fine arts program at Father Ryan, theatre comes
with a naturally storied yet mysterious history that traces its
roots to the first graduating class in 1927. Seeing a need for
an arts program, a small group of students formed the Purple
Masque Players, a performance troupe led by Father Leppert.
Over the years, the Purple Masque Players has performed
dozens of plays and perfected the art of improvisation—
improvising venues, costumes, props and whatever else they
needed. The Players was a popular program in the 1950s and
early 1960s under the leadership of Father Angelo Nobile.
Long before coeducation in 1970, some of the students would
play the female roles. Later on girls from St. Bernard Academy
or St. Cecilia Academy would take the stage, and in turn, the
boys would perform in their productions.
At the Elliston Campus, performances were held on the stage
in the old gym, sharing space with athletic teams and other
student organizations. When the school moved to Oak Hill,
the Purple Masque Players used the Dining Hall as its acting
stage. Finally in 2003, after 12 years at Norwood Drive, Father
Ryan began construction for the Center for the Arts. The new
building would house the theatre program including a stateof-the-art
auditorium, fully equipped lighting system, sound
booth, dance studio, choir room and dressing rooms.
The opening of the new facility was Kelli McClendon’s first
year as Father Ryan’s full-time theatre director. Under her
direction, the program grew from one theatre class to four
classes, including Acting, Musical Theatre and Technical
Design. Two major productions are held each year, a play in
the fall and a musical in the spring. Special performances are
also held for parochial schools.
“The arts provide a voice and an outlet for students who might
not have one in another avenue,” says McClendon. “They’re
able to express their creativity in a supportive atmosphere—
that’s the goal.”
More than 100 students participate in Purple Masque Players
each year, which can prove difficult to manage during the final
weeks of performance preparation. Despite this, McClendon
17

has delegated responsibilities like make-up, costumes, set
construction and even directing to her students, some of whom
are more interested in behind-the-curtain action and might not
otherwise have joined the theatre program.
“The program has become a true cross-section in
participation,” says McClendon. Football players, Student
Council members, swimmers, cheerleaders and band members
have all participated in theatre. That’s how she chooses the
shows, with inclusivity in mind.
It’s not tough to see why theatre is such a retreat for hundreds
of Father Ryan students. And while she aims to have a polished
and profitable show, as a teacher, she wants to prepare her
students for life after high school. “When they go out into the
real world, having these experiences under their belts makes
the transition a little easier,” she says.
Father Ryan’s theatre
program has allowed
many to find their own
niche in high school.
Father Ryan’s theatre program has allowed many to find their
own niche in high school. Some go so far as to call it a family.
That experience has inspired a number of students to pursue
careers in the arts, like Shaun Hart ’05, Jessica Giannone ’05,
Allison Calhoun ’05, Katie Conway ’04, Patrick Benneyworth
‘04 and Lisa Duke ’07.
From Cinderella to Midsummer Night’s Dream to Godspell,
the Purple Masque Players has performed a wide range of
shows from the popular to the more obscure. One consistent
theme has been each show’s positive message. “The kind of
stories I like are ones of unconditional and supportive love, and
that’s the environment we’re trying to foster—a supportive,
artistic environment. That’s what the ‘known and loved’ aspect
of Father Ryan is all about,” says McClendon.
With the popularity of the theatre program, it seems there is
no stopping the growing talent pool that Father Ryan produces
each year.
18

Godspell Earns Standing Ovation
In April the Purple Masque Players combined show-stopping
singing and enthusiastic performances that honored the best
of the Irish theatre in a three-day run of the musical Godspell
that wrapped up the celebration of 85 years of the Purple
Masque Players.
Performing before the members of the cast of the 2003
Godspell production, which opened the new Center for the
Arts on the Father Ryan campus, this year’s ensemble was a
hit. Philip Burns, Drew Davis and Colin Carswell headlined
the cast in a series of productions that filled the Center for the
Arts to capacity. The performances included a special matinee
for area parochial schools that brought over 200 students and
teachers to the campus.
The 2003 cast and other theatre alumni made it a full day on
campus with an alumni review of music and readings in the
theater, part of the Theatre Reunion Celebration. More than
50 alumni attended and reconnected with their fellow actors.
Randy Lancaster ’83, Michael Oystern ’04, Ryan Duke ’04,
Paula Bagley ’11, Tyler Brown ’09 and Kate Daugherty ’11
were among the alumni to participate.
The celebration moved to the Neuhoff Library for a
reception that was marked by shrieks of recognition, stories
of productions and reenactments of past scenes. Theatre
director Kelli McClendon was on hand for every hug and
every recollection, and she was joined by her musical director,
Chrissie Walsh, who made Godspell her going-away party;
she is retiring after 10 years of musical theatre work with the
Players. Both she and Kelli received keepsake quilts (above,
center) from the theatre parents, with t-shirts from each of the
school musicals serving as the fabric.
19

Cover Story
Summer2013
1 st
in a series
20

every one of those words was uttered 50
years ago. the authors—george wallace, Dr.
martin luther king, Jr., walter cronkite–painted
pictures—plain, poignant and painful—that
crystallized the fire that had been brewing for
centuries. they spoke to wounds that were never
allowed to heal. it was a time of great strife and
heated divisions that split the nation and forced
the South to confront its unsettled history. it
was 1963. civil rights. fire hoses. Police dogs.
21

In the midst of it all one determined and vocal basketball
coach and one talented 16-year-old basketball player
found a way to change minds in Nashville and the South
by just playing ball.
“Willie could play, and I didn’t understand why we
shouldn’t give him the opportunity to play.”
Bill Derrick ‘48’s voice, always ready to climb to a higher
pitch and intensity, says these words with a combination
of enthusiasm and disbelief. For this 33-year-old dervish,
there was a player who could help his team…goodness,
could help his school…compete. Where everyone saw an
African-American, Bill Derrick saw a basketball player.
But wait a minute. Wallace, King, Cronkite, Derrick. But
who’s Willie? What was he like?
Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Willie Earl Brown ’65,
the fi rst African-American in the South—hear those words
again—the fi rst African-American in the South to play a
sport for a predominantly white team at a predominantly
white school. Do you remember him? Do you remember
that night? Were you there when history was made?
It begins before that night. It begins back at St. Vincent in
1961. Willie had graduated from that school and had some
choices. His basketball skills were well known throughout
the African-American community. He could go to Pearl
and showcase those skills to a proud and appreciative
community. Or he could go to Father Ryan, where he
would be a student, a part of the community and forever
unable to play his sport. The Tennessee State Scholastic
Athletic Association (TSSAA)’s bylaws and the “rules” of
Nashville sports said he couldn’t play for Father Ryan. Not
a black man. So what did his family decide?
You see, Father Ryan’s faculty was made up of many a
son of the South, but southern sons who had spent time
in the East, educated at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore,
where the idea of integration was real and for whom
the concept of social justice was...well, just. Fr. James
Hitchcock ’39, the principal, Fr. Allen Cunningham, Fr.
Robert Hofstetter ’46, Fr. Alex Maxwell, Fr. Ed Johnston
and many more. A number of them had been part of the
transformation at Father Ryan from all-white to integrated,
the fi rst school in the state, along with Cathedral High
School, to integrate after the landmark Supreme Court
decision Brown v. Board of Education. With leadership like
that, it’s no wonder that Bill Derrick’s recognition of Willie’s
talent would reach receptive ears. By his junior year,
with the words of Gov. Wallace and Dr. King and others
dominating the Civil Rights discussion, Willie Brown
became part of the team at Father Ryan and changed the
discussion in Nashville.
The connections and insights of Mr. Brown pointed
to other connections, realized much later. He was an
experienced tile man and stone craftsman, who worked
on some projects at Father Ryan. You know the mosaic
crest that sits in the touchstone, the one that graced
the fl oor at Elliston Place? He made it. So there were
foundations laid long before Willie came to Father Ryan
that made that night possible.
Willie’s father, Elton Brown, in a conversation at Father
Ryan this summer, just six weeks before his death,
remembered it well. He had heard about Father Ryan
from a man at work. While Mr. Brown was a non-Catholic
himself, his children were all Catholic, and he had liked
what St. Vincent had provided them. Father Ryan made
sense. “Willie came to me and said he wanted to go to
Pearl where he could play ball. I looked at him and said
‘Over my dead body. You’re going to Father Ryan.’”
Willie’s sister, Ann Brown Beatty, a graduate of Cathedral
High School in 1968, remembered her brother protesting
to their mother, explaining that he wanted to play ball. “My
mother told him ‘then you’d better convince those priests
and coaches to fi nd a way to let you play, because you’re
going to Father Ryan.’ Our mother knew the importance of
a Catholic education, and she wasn’t going to let a sport
get in the way.”
So Willie came to Elliston Place, putting his basketball
future into a locked cabinet, stored away, never to be
opened, at least for his school.
Except, he went to Father Ryan, and that made all the
difference.
The 1963-64 team (bottom) was the result of Bill Derrick ’48’s
coaching and the leadership of principal Fr. James Hitchcock ’39
and Faculty.
22

That was a special night in a diffi cult and dramatic year.
President Kennedy had been shot and killed just weeks
before. Father Ryan’s ’63 football team had won the
Clinic Bowl only a few days earlier. Willie Brown and
Jesse Porter ’64—another African-American to make the
team–joined a proven group of Irish basketballers. They
won that night—of course they did, topping Peabody 51-
43—and in doing so, they did something more important...
they made history, history for themselves, history for so
many others. They changed a sport and in many ways
changed a city.
Willie as a Father Ryan senior;
(top) Willie’s sister, Ann
Brown Beatty, and father,
Elton Brown, visit the campus
and Willie’s plaque this
summer. Mr. Brown passed
away only six weeks after this
photo was taken.
Remember that night? December 1963. It was before
the historic victory over Pearl at Municipal Auditorium
in front of a record crowd of 8,300. Before a deep run
in the state tournament, back when there was only one
state champion, and that team had to beat all comers,
no matter the size. Before Willie integrated the Ohio
Valley Conference and Middle Tennessee State College
as the school’s fi rst African-American signee. Before
his career record there was established and his degree
earned. Before he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks
but decided a a life dedicated to law enforcement was his
calling. Before his career as a policeman and a family
with a wife and a son and a horrible motorcycle accident
that ended that life too early, in 1975 at the age of 28.
Before all of that, 50 years ago, Willie Brown stepped
on the court.
Mr. Brown and Ann Brown Beatty remembered that
time as so welcoming. “Father Ryan embraced us
and made us feel so welcome in the school and in the
community,” Ann said. Mr. Brown spoke with pride of the
way the school acted during these times. “I remember that
fi rst season Father Ryan was scheduled to play one of the
Nashville high schools and Coach Derrick got a call from
their coach saying, ‘we’ll play you, but only your white
players.’ Coach Derrick—and it says a lot about him and
Father Ryan—told him ‘you’ll play the entire Father Ryan
team or you won’t play us at all.’”
It’s a story of triumph and sadness and inspiration and
courage and change. It’s also one about family and the
trust that one family had in their son’s school. As Mr.
Brown said, between tears, “The last words Willie told
me, just a week before he was killed, was “Dad, I’m glad
you gave me hell when I was young. It made me the man I
am today. I love you.”
A father, a family, a school–making a man and changing
the world.
to be continued…
a continuinG series…a continuinG celebration
This article is the first in a series of articles and events over the next two years that will showcase the roles our Father Ryan
faculty and students played in the struggle for equality in sports and life.
Father Ryan will honor Coach Derrick and the Brown family at its home football opener on September 6. In addition, we are
renaming the Christmas Basketball Tournament in Willie Brown’s name and are working with the TSSAA and the Nashville
Sports Council on some other salutes and features during 2014 and 2015, the latter marking the Golden Grad
year of the Class of 1965. Check our website and announcements for more details on these events.
1 st
in a series
We’ll also be looking at other aspects of this historic period. In future issues of
Irish Ayes, you’ll see
stories on the period of integration, on Father Ryan’s Jesse Porter ’64, who joined Willie on that
first team, and the impact of this period on Father Ryan’s African-American students and athletes
and on the Nashville community.
It was a momentous period, one to celebrate and remember.
23

International Investment Strategist Visits Alma Mater
When David M. Darst, a member of
the Class of 1965, came to Father Ryan
as a freshman in the fall of 1961, he
brought with him a noble goal. Drawing
inspiration from Robert E. Lee’s record
of never receiving a demerit during his
entire West Point years, David—known
as Marty then—decided to do the same.
He almost made it…then school began.
At the first assembly, he found himself
making a smart-aleck remark back to
the principal Msgr. (then-Fr.) James
Hitchcock ’39 and a few paddles—
and a demerit—resulted.
He told this story as he introduced
himself to the alumni—and the ones
from the Class of 1965 could attest to
the story—and friends gathered for Ryan
Connections. But he also talked about
winning a math medal as a freshmen—
the first to do so—and presenting it to
Msgr. Hitchcock that same day. And the
pride grew as he told about visiting Msgr.
Hitchcock about ten years ago and seeing
the medal, framed and kept in a place of
honor in Msgr. Hitchcock’s house. As he
told the audience, “you never know the
impact you might have on someone else
with a simple gesture.” He had made a
mark on Father Ryan, and Father Ryan,
it is clear, left a powerful mark on him.
David is now the Managing Director
and Chief Investment Strategist
for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
worldwide, and his message of work,
honor and remembering others framed
24
his talk as he returned to Father Ryan
on April 19 to dedicate a study room in
his parents honor and to speak to the
community about investment strategies
and long-range market trends. He also
emphasized the important role Father
Ryan, its faculty, his classmates and the
school’s teachings played in his success.
David, who attended Father Ryan as
a freshman and sophomore before
graduating from Exeter in 1965, Yale
University in 1969, and Harvard Business
School in 1972, was joined by his brother
Dan, Class of 1970, for the dedication of
the study room in the Neuhoff Library
in honor of their parents Susan and
Guy Darst. Mrs. Darst was a teacher
throughout her life. The room was
funded by generous gifts from David
and Dan and the other Darst brothers—
Guy and Chuck (Class of 1967)—and
from “adoring fans everywhere”, as the
plaque stated.
While on campus, David signed several
of his books for donation to the library
and spent time talking about his
experiences with Mr. Bontrager’s AP
Calculus B/C class. David’s wit and
insights proved both charming and
educational for the entire community.
He struck a chord with the students and
many visitors who heard his talk about
a late night dinner with clients from out
of the country. He took them back to his
office around midnight and introduced
them to the security guard, then to the
cleaning lady, doing so with detailed
information about the guard and the
lady’s lives and families. His message
was instructional…”everyone is
important, everyone is worth knowing,
so make a point to do just that.”
At Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, David
is responsible for asset allocation and
investment strategy, and he was the
founding president of the Morgan Stanley
Investment Group. He joined Morgan
Stanley in 1996 from Goldman Sachs,
where he held senior management posts
within the equities division and earlier,
for six years as resident manager of the
company’s private bank in Zurich.
He is the author of seven books, including
The Complete Bond Book (McGraw-
Hill, 1975), The Handbook of the Bond
and Money Markets (McGraw-Hill,
1975), The Little Book That Saves Your
Assets (John Wiley & Sons, McGraw-
Hill, 2008),Voyager 3: Fifty-Four Phases
of Feeling, which contains his creative
writing.His financial works have been
translated into Chinese, Japanese,
Russian, German, Korean, Italian,
Indonesian, Norwegian and Vietnamese.
(Clockwise, above): Darst speaks at Ryan
Connections; the Darst boys-Dan ‘70 and
David-dedicate the study room; speaking
to students; connecting with ‘65 classmates
Jimmy Lawson, Pat Sanders, Herb Sharbel,
Darst, Bobby Garmon, Johnny Molteni and
Ted Hampel.

Reunion Weekend…It was the best of times…it was the BEST of times.
Reunions Weekend 2013 was a study in contrasts, and also
a study in consistency. It was a weekend to celebrate the old
and the new…the Golden Grads and the recent grads…the
golfers and the hackers…the long-distance travelers and the
neighborhood alumni…all united in their memories of and
love for Father Ryan.
The Class parties took place throughout the city, with four
using the campus as their venue. The Lou Graham Alumni
Golf Tournament brought out a full contingent of golfers to
swap memories with Lou Graham ’56 himself, who greeted
every player and offered tips and stories to each one.
But the highlight each year is the Golden Grad Mass and
Brunch. This year meant the induction of the Class of 1963
as Golden Grads, with names like Leaver and Thompson and
Johnston and Saad and Benedict joining the illustrious group
of men who have graduated from Father Ryan 50 or more
years ago. The touching Mass and induction ceremony and
the joyous gathering at brunch afterwards reminded everyone
of the unbreakable Irish connections.
(Clockwise from top:) Fr. Mike Johnston ’63 delivers sermon at Golden Grad Mass; Bishop Choby presents Golden Grad certificate to
Joe Cook ’63; The Golden Grad Class of 1963; Golden Grads catch up; 1963 grads receive Lifetime Passes.
25

Reunions W
Reunions weekend included a reception for all
alumni with Jeff Schletzer’s Jazz Band performing;
reunion parties fincluding celebrations by 1988
(left), 2003 (below) and 1973 (bottom) a triumphant
alumni golf team–Blake Emerson ’99, Graham
26

eekend 2013
Austin, Ryan Nicolson ’99 and Tyler Emerson ’04
hoisting the trophy for the Lou Graham Alumni
Tournament with the host. The Lou Graham
Alumni Golf Tournament was another sellout and
raised more than $17,000 for Tuition Assistance.
27

Class Notes
Summer2013
Two Father Ryan Grads
Receive College Honors
Kate Loftis Riley ’91
and Rachel Hunkler ’09,
were recently honored
by Xavier University
and the University of
Alabama, respectively.
Riley, who is the Head
of School at Holy Trinity Montessori School in
Nashville, the only Christian Montessori school
in Nashville, was awarded the Xavier University
Magis Award during the school’s commencement
ceremony in Cincinnati, OH. The award honors
alumni who have achieved a high degree of
excellence within 15 years of graduation and
embody Jesuit morals and ethical values in his or
her life.
Hunkler graduated from
the University of Alabama
in April and was named
Valedictorian of the
College of Education. She
also received a Fulbright
Program Grant to teach
English in Spain.
“I have continued to feel the
support of the Father Ryan
family and the Nashville Catholic community since
my graduation in 2009, and still keep in touch with
many of my teachers and classmates,” she said. “I
am so thankful to Father Ryan High School for
giving me the spiritual and academic foundations I
needed to be successful and to achieve my dreams.”
Hunkler will work as a teaching assistant for 10
months, from September 2013 to June 2014.
Answer to our Irish Flashback: Standing, from
left–Jerry Bush, Jim Cunningham, Jim Burke, Jim
Dooley, Father John Henrick, Tom White, Jarvis
Carden and Jim Black. Seated, from left–Jerry
Dooley, Marty Darst, Joe Benedict, Martin
McLean, Mike Johnston, Charlie Formosa, John
Andrews, George Frazier. Staffers John Kidwell
and John Nichols missed the photo.
1945 George E. Barrett gave the commencement address
at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL on May 4, 2013. George,
a prominent civil rights attorney and a 1952 graduate of Spring
Hill, also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from
the school. He is a founding partner in Barrett Johnston, LLC
in Nashville.
1945 Not to be outdone by his friend and classmate, George
Barrett, John Seigenthaler received an Honorary Doctor
of Laws degree and spoke at the College of Law commencement
from the University of Tennessee Law School on May 10, 2013.
This was only the fifth honorary degree given by UT-K. John
worked at The Tennessean for 43 years, moving up the ranks
from reporter to editor, publisher, and CEO. He founded the
First Amendment Center in 1991 to create national discussion,
dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
1966 David Bohan's company, BOHAN Advertising l
Marketing was named to the Nashville Business Journal's 2013
Best Places to Work. BOHAN, established in 1990, is a fullservice
advertising and marketing agency. It has major clients in
tourism, healthcare, retail and consumer goods. David serves on
Father Ryan's Board of Trustees and is a former Board Chair.
1968 Phillip Hirst is retired from the Department of
Homeland Security, TSA at the Nashville Airport where he
worked for nearly 11 years. He tells us that, “The Class of 1968
had a great reunion as did Vandy baseball.”
1978 Tom Kelly and his
wife, Meg, recently celebrated
their 30 th wedding anniversary
in July. The Kellys live in
Asheville, NC where Tom
is a captain with the West
Buncombe Fire Department.
1977 Bill Brunner and
his wife, Lynn, visited former
student Randy Wagner '86
and his wife, Tanya, while on
a trip to Northern California.
Randy is a supervisor of
federal DEA agents, and his
wife is a police officer. The
four are pictured on their visit to the Coppola Vineyards.
1979 Bill Breen won the 2013 Senior State Open at
Stonehenge Golf Course in
Crossville, TN. During round
two, the pro from Nashville
carded four birdies and fired
a three-under-par 33 (-3)
on the back nine to shoot
the only under par round
of the tournament, a twounder
70. His clutch sand save on the final hole captured the
championship, although he had to sweat out a 10 foot birdie
putt for the tie by amateur Paul Korth from Cookeville. Bill
finished with a two day total of 76-70-146 to beat out Korth
(74-73-147).
28

1981 Joe Lofaro, a reporter at the Weakley County Press
in Martin, TN, won two first-place accolades in the 2012-13
CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America)
Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest. Joe won first-place honors
in District 4, which includes Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky,
Ohio and Michigan. His story titled, “Former AD Leads
Movement to Eliminate Pacifier: First Signee Understands
How Monumental Title IX Was,” won first place in coach/
administrator profile and historical feature, while his story
titled: “UT Martin Women’s Basketball Team Not After
Perfection, But Being the Best They Can Be,” won first place in
Season Preview/Recap. Joe was the sports information director
at UT Martin from February 2002 until March 5, 2013.
1986 Megan Griffin is the Director of
Development for Idaho Public Television,
a statewide PBS affiliate. She manages the
membership, major gifts and corporate
sponsorship teams. Megan recently
finished the station’s annual on-air
fundraiser, which raised more than $1
million in 16 days to support quality TV
programming and services.
1986 Chip Saltsman has joined Tennessee State Rep.
Joe Carr's congressional bid as its campaign director. He is
the former Tennessee Republican Party chairman and manager
of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s presidential
campaign.
1995 Cruz Contreras and his band The Black Lillies
continue to receive accolades for the new album RUNAWAY
FREEWAY BLUES. The band’s video for the single “The Fall”
is featured in Entertainment Weekly.
1996 Alex Brandau was named one of Nashville Business
Journal's 2013 40 Under 40 honorees. The honorees were
selected by past 40 Under 40 winners as someone making a
difference in their companies and communities. Alex is a realtor
and principal with Alexander Brandau Real Estate Partners.
1996 Claudia Lombardo had a photograph published in
the February 25, 2013 edition of Sports Illustrated. The picture
is of the Heritage High School (Maryville, TN) wrestler who
saved a fan’s life at the state wrestling tournament. Claudia is
the owner of Smilestone Photographers.
1996 Alex Rose, UT-K ’02,
graduated from George Washington
University Nursing School, December
8, 2012. Alex’s nursing career began
in February at Vanderbilt University
Hospital. He is shown with parents
Nick Rose ’61 and Becky Hellerson
after the pinning ceremony.
1996 Kacey Hicks Wilcoxson and her family have been
transferred to South Florida. She tells us that her daughter
completed her first year of high school but misses her friends at
Ryan. Luckily, the family is blessed to have great jobs that allow
them to come back to Nashville as often as possible.
1999 Glenn Adkins was named 2013 Special Olympics
Nashville Coach of the Year. The award was given to Glen and
Ed McClarty, swimming coach of the Nashville Dolphins. Glen
does a great deal to help individuals with special needs and was
truly worthy of the honor.
1999 Megan Stack was named one of Nashville Business
Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees. The honorees were selected
First Young Alumni Gathering Attracts a Crowd
It began as a simple idea.
With so many young alumni
in the area, why only wait
for Father Ryan events and
Reunions to get together? So
with that question asked, the
answer came together quickly
in the form of the first Young
Alumni Gathering.
Spearheaded by Alumni
Board Vice-Chair Billy Haley
’01, the event was staged at
the Yazoo Brewery in Nashville and opened to all alumni
ages 21-40 and younger. Special Father Ryan glasses were
provided to each attendee and the nominal entry price of $20
earned each alum a couple of Yazoo’s offerings and a meal
from a local food truck.
To say it was a hit is an
understatement. Over 100
guests turned out for the
evening and the majority
stayed well past the stated
8:30 end time, visiting with
classmates, catching up
with friends and talking
with several teachers, like
Jason Erwin ’87 and Randy
Lancaster ’83. Mr. Lancaster
added his musical talent to
the evening’s event as the featured entertainer.
Billy was thrilled. “It did all we had hoped for, attracting
alumni in a relaxed setting and celebrating Father Ryan. We
see this as the first of a regular series of gatherings in the
coming year.”
29

y past 40 Under 40 winners as someone
who is making a difference in their
companies and communities. Megan
is director of family assistance and
community employment for Catholic
Charities of Tennessee.
Allison Proctor was awarded the Paul Beavin Award at St.
Matthew School’s Athletic Awards Night. The award honors
the legacy of Coach Paul Beavin ’01 and was presented this
year by his brother, John, a
classmate of Allison’s. John
and Allison will be freshman
at Father Ryan this year where
Allison will play basketball.
She is the daughter of Kim
(Vaughn) ’91 and Mark ’91
Proctor. Pictured in the photo
are Paul, Sr. ’77, John, Mary Ann (Miller) ’77, Allison Proctor,
Susan and Will ’03 Beavin.
2004 tyler eMerson was named Nurse of the Year by
Baptist Hospital. He is a Charge Nurse in the Expedited Care
Unit and was awarded the inaugural Rookie of the Year award.
Tyler says, “In nursing, the problems are not always medical
dilemmas but also psychosocial and spiritual. I enjoy helping
to improve the lives of others through medicine and through
helping meet their needs.”
2004 PaMela Galvin is on a missionary trip through
The World Race, an 11-month Christian Mission Trip to 11
countries. Her trip began in January, and she will be traveling to
China, Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Albania,
Romania, India, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to minister to
the poor, sick, orphans and even counsel women/girls who have
been trapped within the sex slave industry. You can follow her
adventures at pamelagalvin.theworldrace.org.
2006 taBor duGGer graduated from The Sam M. Walton
College of Business at the University of Arkansas with his
MBA, focusing in Supply Chain Management, in May, 2013.
Tabor is employed with Reckitt Benckiser in Rogers, AR where
his work centers on collaborative planning, forecasting, and
replenishment for Reckitt’s largest customer, Wal-Mart.
While attending the university, he was a committee member
for the UofA chapter of Ducks Unlimited, was a member
of the UofA Trap and Skeet team, and coached the NW
Arkansas High School Lacrosse Club to an undefeated JV
Championship season.
2007 annie Pace spent the last year as a production assistant
for the CBS show Person of Interest. Her next project is
directing and filming a documentary, Bike America, about a
veteran biking across the country to find the beauty in America
she had lost since the Iraq War and to raise awareness for
Student Veterans of America. Visit indiegogo.com/projects/bikeamerica
for more details on Annie’s film project.
2009 sean conway and courtney ryMer graduated
from Western Kentucky University in May. Sean received a
Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Courtney
earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. The
30
two have been classmates since
kindergarten at St. Henry
School. Sean will continue his
education at WKU in the fall
where he will play his final
year of football as center for
the Hilltoppers. Courtney is
an event planner at Gaylord
Opryland Hotel.
2010 ellen Mullins was chosen to participate in the Senior
A2 Team Program and as a result made the A-2 National team.
Ellen, a rising senior for the Lady Vols, has been a leading figure
for the University of Tennessee Women’s Volleyball Team,
earning All-SEC honors this past year.
2011 Mary Pat conway
President of Delta Zeta
Sorority University of
Tennessee-Knoxville with past
President caitlin Mulloy
’09 are photographed (left) at
the DZ house dedication.
2011 eMily younG has been elected
Student Body Vice President at Belmont
University for the 2013-2014 school year.
2012 zach enGel has been accepted
in The National Society of Collegiate
Scholars (NSCS). NSCS is the nation’s
only interdisciplinary honors organization for first-year and
second-year college students. Zach attends the University of
Tennessee-Knoxville.
2013 Paul thoMas Mitchell’s singing, songwriting and
guitar-playing earned him a shot for the big prize on America’s
Got Talent, and he parlayed that chance into successful
auditions that took him all the way to Las Vegas. While that
proved the last stop, it was a journey filled with excitement for
this talented young man. He earned the praise and approval
of four judges and the admiration of a large national audience.
Congratulations, Paul.
wilSon grouP
The Wilson Group Real Estate
Services founded by Hal
Wilson ’62, and now owned
and managed by his daughter,
Christie Wilson ’85, is one
of Nashville’s most respected
and successful real estate firms
and employs numerous Father
Ryan alums, including Julie
(Shaninger) Norfleet ’88, Angela
(Pickney) O’Neil ’88, Pat Kelley
’64, Theresa (Luckett) Burdge
’84, Kimberly Cunliffe ’94, in
addition to 19 other realtors.
The Wilson Group Real Estate
(left to right): Colleen McCormick
Metzger; Cindy Crocker
(mother of Cole Crocker, a
Father Ryan sophomore); Josie
Cox (mother of Andrew Cox,
who will be a senior this year;
Christie Wilson ‘85; Pat Kelly
class of ‘63; Julie Norfleet ‘88.
Services is also proud to have Julie (Shaninger) Norfleet ’88,
serving on the Father Ryan Alumni Board.

Career of Service Leads
to Leadership Post
Michele
Johnson ’87
has been
actively
involved with
service to
the poor and
underserved
since her days
at Father
Ryan, and that commitment has resulted
in a major position for this Irish alumna.
The Tennessee Justice Center announced
this spring that Johnson, the Center’s
managing attorney, will succeed Gordon
Bonnyman as executive director at the
end of this year.
Michele co-founded the public interest
law and advocacy nonprofit with Mr.
Bonnyman 17 years ago to advocate
for Tennessee’s vulnerable populations,
particularly those struggling to find
access to health care.
Michele is nationally known for her legal
work with children who have special
health care needs. As managing attorney,
she represents uninsured children in
working families and TennCare patients
who are denied care by their HMO.
But her work doesn’t stop there. She
is president of the board of Tennessee
Voices for Children (TVC) and serves
on the Board of Tennessee Alliance
for Legal Services and the Nashville
Bar Association Board of Directors.
She was recently awarded the Lifetime
Achievement Award for advocacy by
Tennessee Voices for Children.
“I am excited that Michele will assume
full leadership of the organization that
she has already helped make an effective
voice for Tennesseans in need,” Mr.
Bonnyman said in a release. “For the
past 17 years, Michele has demonstrated
time and again a relentless passion for
justice and unyielding support for those
in need. Her creative leadership will
ensure that TJC continues to have an
outsized influence in making this state
we both love more just, humane and
inclusive for all Tennesseans.”
Everyone in the Irish Nation heartily
agrees.
Weddings
Stephanie Stamps ’05 and
Frank Mondelli, Jr. ’04
Katie Warren ’00 and
Jay Franklin
Aria Cavaliere ’99 and
Danny Negri ’00
Rebecca Leigh Hassell ‘01 and
Patrick Brian Newsom
Elizabeth Spitznagel and
Kirk Rose ’06
Summer2013
Aria Cavaliere ’99 and Danny
Negri ’00 were married at the Cathedral
of the Incarnation on August 18, 2012.
The couple lives in Brentwood, TN.
Katie Lewis ’04 and Brian Laczko
’04 were married on October 7, 2012.
Katie is a freelance writer and works at
Emma, Inc. Brian works at the Tennessee
Performing Arts Center.
Stephanie Stamps ’05 and Frank
Mondelli, Jr. ’04 were married on
November 10, 2012 at the St. Philip’s
Chapel in Franklin, TN.
Ashley Cravens and Jordan
Stamps ’03 were married on December
29, 2012 at the Cathedral of the
Incarnation with the Rev. Edward Steiner
officiating.
Katie Warren ’00 and Jay
Franklin were married on April 6,
2013.
Sarah Gordon and Pat McKenzie
’96 were married at Camp Marymount in
Fairview, TN in April 2013.
Clare Simpson and C. Patrick
Marchetti, Jr. ’09 were married at the
Cathedral of the Incarnation on June 15,
2013.
Rebecca Leigh Hassell ‘01 and
Patrick Brian Newsom were
married May 11, 2013 at Christ the
King by Reverend Joseph V. McMahon.
Rebecca is Customer Relations Support
Manager at Caterpillar Financial. Patrick
is in private law practice. They live in
Nashville.
Elizabeth Spitznagel and Kirk
Rose ’06 were married on November 17,
2012 at St. Henry Catholic Church. The
couple lives in Nashville.
31

Births
Summer2013
In Memoriam
Summer2013
Mia Helen Barranco
Walden Kenneth
McCullough
Adrian Dieu
Patrick Joseph Moss
Jack Benjamin Seele
Grady Elizabeth
Johnson
Peyton Passmore
Mulloy
Mia Helen to Mary Katherine (Martin) ’02 and Joey Barranco
born on February 17, 2013.
Elizabeth Mary-Jean to Laura (Wilson) Cordell ’02 and Brian
Cordell born on February 15, 2013.
Adrian to Lonie and Andre’ Dieu ’01, born on March 9, 2013. The family
lives in Las Vegas, NV.
Grady Elizabeth to Sarah (Smith) Johnson ’00 and Dr. Paul
Johnson on December 27, 2012. The Johnson family, including big brother
Henry, lives in Durham, NC where Paul is a first-year cardiology fellow at UNC
Health Care.
Walden Kenneth to Jennifer (Sledge) ’03 and Adam McCullough
born on January 30, 2013.
Patrick Joseph to LYNNE (MULLINS) ’01 and CHAD MOSS ’01 on July 20,
2012. He has a big sister, Ellie Marie. The family lives in Johnson City while
Chad finishes his surgery residency at ETSU.
Peyton Passmore to Minje and Michael Mulloy ’01, born on March 28,
2013. Peyton joins big brother, Patrick.
Jack Benjamin to Jenny and Louis Seele ’96 born on December 12, 2012.
He joins big brother David who is two years old. The family lives in Carmel, IN
where Louis practices medicine.
John Victor to Brent Elliott ’09 and Tarryn Matthews, born on
June 17, 2013.
FR. EDWARD ALBERTS–Pastor of Holy
Family Catholic Church.
JOHN W. “JACK” ALLARDICE ’41–
Father of John W. Allardice, Jr. ’73,
Whannel Flanary (deceased), Monica
Davis (deceased) and Amedee Allardice
(deceased).
JOHN P. BALTZ, JR. ’75–Son of the
late John “Jack” P. Baltz, Sr. ’50 and
brother of Jerry Baltz ’77, Janice
Meacham ’82, Joe Baltz and the late
Jo Anne Herndon ’80.
WILLIAM H. “BILL” BARDILL ‘71–
Brother of Kathy Vaughan ‘73, Pat, Dan,
Mary ‘74 and Karen ‘75 Bardill, Theresa
Adkins ‘76, Angela Bardill ‘78 (deceased),
Anne McIntire ‘79, Joe ‘80 and Maureen
‘82 Bardill, Renesa Davis and John
Gupton IV.
JAMES R. BARNES–Father of Lydia
Reed, Anne Smith, James ’73, Edward
and Martin Barnes.
THOMAS JOSEPH BATEY, JR. ’54.
ROBERT J. “BUZZ” BAYUZICK–Father
of Carrie Hargis and Kellie Kidd ’89.
EVERETT A. BILLS, SR.–Father of
Yasmin ‘01 and Everett Bills, Jr. ‘03.
SELENIA C. “IRISH” BIRMINGHAM–
Mother of Nancy Reed (deceased), Kim
Ingle, Tisha Stanley, Shane Birmingham,
Terri Davis ’86, Carol Jasien, Erin Wolf
and Tim Birmingham.
FRANCIS X. “FRANK” BISCEGLIA–
Father of Jeremy Bisceglia ’93 and Megan
Broadway ’94.
DENNIS J. BLACK ’58–Brother of Father
James A. Black ’64 (deceased), Don Black
’67 and Margaret Smith.
DENISE BOWDEN ’73–Sister of Diane
Lawrence ’75, Rusty Bowden ’77, Danita
Selikoff ’79 and Tom Bowden.
JAMES M. BRADLEY ’70–Brother of
Gena Rose Gaffney (deceased), Patrick ’72
and Tim Bradley.
ROBERT J. “BOB” BURNS, JR. ’44–
Brother of James T. Burns ’42 (deceased)
and John G. Burns ’44.
JOHN A. CALVO, JR.–Father of John A.
Calvo III ’84.
MARY SUE CHEEK–Wife of the late Joel
O. Cheek III ’36.
LAWRENCE L. CHILTON, JR. ’37.
32

JAMES H. “JIM” COSMAN ’60.
JANET MANNERS NOLL–Mother of
Robert Manners, Pam Curran ’79 and
Sheri Tidwell ’80.
ROBERT “BOB” DAVID ’49.
Neil J. Devine–Father of Katie
Dunigan ’77, Juliana Devine, Kara
Devening and Brian Devine ’80.
PAUL JOSEPH DICKMAN ’58–Brother
of Ray ’56, Ron ’62 and Jim ’64 Dickman.
ROSEMARY WILLIAMS DUCKLO–
Mother of Pat Gorham Heckman, Dr.
Bob Ducklo, Jr. ’59, Kathy Nourse,
Rosemary Sexton, Dr. Tommy Ducklo ’67
and Dr. Jim Ducklo ’79.
ROBERT “BOB” PATERSON–Father of
Cheryl Edelen (Faculty), Terri Woods ’78,
Robin Figlio ’79 and Denise Thomas ’82.
JEAN COFFMAN ELCAN–Mother of
Rhea Forte, Dan Elcan, Claire Gillespie,
Joe Elcan, Mary May, Chuck Elcan ’82,
Tricia Healy, Susan Farrell, Cal Elcan and
Lisa Bruner (deceased).
STEPHEN R. FAHEY, JR.–Brother of
Pat Fahey ’59, Michael Fahey ’61, Frances
Pickney and Margaret Wolf.
CYNTHIA “CINDY” FLUM–Mother of
Mark ’91 and Bryan ’94 Flum.
JAMES S. “BOOTY” FREY ’50.
GERALD “JERRY” FRIDRICH—Father
of Howard, Steve ’75 and Chip Fridrich
and Lisa Grayson.
DIANE D. GANNON–Mother of Polly,
John, Lanie ’77 and Jamie Gannon.
BARBARA ADAMS GOODRICH–
Wife of Dr. Robert Goodrich ’49 and
mother of Paula Goodrich, Lori Reddick,
Rob Goodrich, Jr. ’80 and Adam
Goodrich ’83.
BARBARA HIGDON “BOBBIE”
GELDRICH–Wife of James H.
Geldrich ’43.
FLORENCE “SNOOKEY” HAYES–
Mother of Rod, Randy ’75, Ricky ’76,
Rusty ’81, Robbie ’82 and Roland ’84
Hayes.
RONALD K. HEBERT–Father of
Kevin ’99 and Keith ’99 Hebert and
Erin Booker.
GRACE “PAT” HIMMELBERG–
Mother of Michael, Steve ’78 and Don
’80 Himmelberg, Janet Shaffer, Linda
Jordan, Mary Price, Patty Himmelberg
and Peggy McAleer ’75.
DOROTHY P. LUTER–Mother of
Andy ’66 (deceased), Godfrey (deceased),
Charlie ’69 and Bobby Hostettler and
Barbara Creel ’71.
BARBARA ANN KELLY HUNT–
Mother of Austin ’76, Scott ’78, Kelly ’83
and Britt ’87 Hunt.
TERESA H. ITIN–Mother of Jerry ’57,
James ’66 and Robert ’72 Itin.
SYLVIA A. HOSTETTLER–Mother of
Terri Jaquette ’73, Jimmy Hostettler ’74,
Tommy Hostettler ’76, Kathy Adams ’78,
Katie Manley ’78, Jerry Hostettler and
Pat Hostettler ’82.
CHARLENE JOHNSON–Daughter of
the late Charles Johnson ’27.
ANNA M. ROTIER JOHNSON–Mother
of Roy F. Johnson, Jr. ’59 (deceased) and
Bob C. Johnson ’68. Mother-in-law of
Regina Johnson (Staff).
JIM JOHNSTON–Father of Ashley
Johnston (Staff).
BETTY ANN JONES–Sister of Pat
Curran ‘68, Karen Timmons ‘72, Hailey
‘73, Rosie, Michael, Tina, Gina and
Cathy Curran.
MICHAEL P. JOYCE ’65.
CAROL ANN KELSO–Mother of
Andrew ’96 and Lori ’00 Kelso.
RACHAEL FRISBIE MAIDENS ’96–
Sister of Brent Frisbie ’95.
COLONEL JAMES W. “JIM”
MCKINEY ’60.
JOHN P. MULLOY, SR. ’46–Father of
Kathleen (deceased), Pat ’76, Mike ’76,
Tim ’79 and Paul ’84 Mulloy, Geraldine
King, Mary Golden and Nora Boyte.
BETTY J. NACARATO–
Mother of Mary Daily, Valerie Daley,
Mike Nacarato, Jr., Lisa Curtis, Joe
Nacarato ‘78, Ruthie Green ‘80 and
Tom Nacarato ‘82.
BETTY ANN NEELY–Wife of Paul E.
Neely, Sr. ’49.
ANN MARY PACKARD–Mother of
Peter, John, Richard, Robert, Louis and
Bill ’78 Packard.
THOMAS G. PARKER ’41.
MAHLON PEDEN–Father of Steve
Peden (Faculty).
LOIS ANN POOLE–Mother of Mary,
John, Jr. and Brian ’89 Poole.
JOSEPH P. SBUTTONI, SR. ’39–Father
of the late Joseph Sbuttoni, Jr. ’62.
JAMES D. SCHENK, SR. ’61–Brother of
the late Robert Schenk ’56.
ANGELINA ST. CHARLES SCOTT–
Mother of Vicki Coleman, Larry Scott,
Paulette Nolan ’74, John Scott ’76 and
Charlie Scott ’84.
THOMAS SHARP, SR. ’45–Father of
Julia Ribar, Evelyn Redwine, Cathy
Zoladz, Tom, Jr. ’67, Bob ’68, Joe ’71,
Charles, Andy ’75 and Mark ’81 Sharp.
TYRONE C. SHELTON, SR
’80–Brother of Leo, Kenneth and Aaron
’89 Shelton.
C. MEL SMITH ’48–Father of Roger
Smith ’75, Lisa Frith, Melanie Smith and
Paul Smith ’82; brother of Milton ’50,
James ’51 and Thomas ’55 Smith and
Barbara Labriola.
William K. “Kelly” Sovine ’84–
Son of Bill Sovine ’62 and brother of Kym
Baruzzini ’82, Keith Sovine ’86, Karyn
Green ’87 and Kathy Sovine ’90.
KENNETH W. STEINBRECHER
(Former Faculty)–Father of Chris Melton
’75, Suzie Barry ’78 (Staff) and Jim
Steinbrecher ’86.
CROMWELL B. STEWART, SR.–Father
of LaShaunda Lee, Andrew, Cromwell
’00 and Corry ’06 (Auxiliary Staff)
Stewart.
BENJAMIN D. TODD–Son of Andy
Todd ’77 and brother of Katherine ’95
Piskora, Matt ’04, Andrew and
Samuel Todd.
RICHARD F. TURNER, SR.–Father
of Richard ’74 and Greg ’75 Turner
(deceased).
MARY R. “EVA” VARALLO–Mother
of Frank ’56, Geny Marie, Jim ’71 and
Veronica Varallo.
MAVIS BROWN WATSON (Former
Bowling Coach)–Mother of Michael
Watson ’69 (deceased), Patrick Watson ’69
and Michelle Potter ’75.
WILLIAM G. “BILL” WOMACK–Father
of Bill ’88 and John ’87 Womack and
Anne Kolton ’94.
ELLEN M. SOPER–Mother of Laura
Sharber, Paul Soper and Catherine
Womack (Faculty).
ALEX T. “TOMMY” WARNER, JR.
’68–Brother of Paul Warner ’73, Kathy
Smith, Linda Batts, Alice Warner and
Beth Shearron.
JOHN KENNETH “KEN” WOOD,
JR.–Father of Sandi Elder ’76, Wendy
Turner ’78, Kenneth ’79, Brian ’80, Bill
’82, Charlie ’89 and Al ’90 Wood.
CHARLES T. “CHUCK” YORK ’55–
Bother of Dennis Leon, Rudy ’48 and
James ’50 York.
33

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Save the Dates for A Memorable Homecoming
September 26-27
Homecoming 2013 will be a major event, both for the classes celebrating their Reunions this year—headed by the
Golden Grad Class of 1964—and for everyone who comes out for our match-up against Stratford. Look online for
details on the weekend events, including a BBQ contest, a kids zone, salutes to alumni and class tailgate parties.
It’s Homecoming —Irish style.