Summer 2010 - Cathedral

c a t h e d r a l h i g h s c h o o l
Annual
St. Joseph
Awards Dinner
Pg. 8
THE
CONNEC ION
summer 2010
Graduation 2010
Pg. 3

Summer 2010
THE
CONNEC ION
The Connection is
published two
times per year.
The purpose of the publication is to
provide information about our alumni
and about the school to alumni,
friends, faculty, and current students.
Have A Seat.
With a gift of $250 you will have your name(s) inscribed on our Donor
Recognition Wall in the Auditorium Lobby, and you have the opportunity to have
a small (1” by 3”) plaque affixed to one of the seats in the Auditorium. Because of
the size of the seat plaques there are limitations, so please follow these instructions.
There will be no more than 3 lines of text on the plaque, with a maximum of 20 letters or spaces per line.
All plaques will be centered (left to right and top to bottom). For clarity, please use only UPPER CASE
LETTERS to complete this form, although CHS will use “Sentence Case” letters to engrave the plaques.
Be sure to include spaces between words!
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Principal
John Miller
jmiller@cathedralhigh.org
Associate Principal
William McBride, ’65
wmcbride@cathedralhigh.org
Dean of Students
Christine Judd
cjudd@cathedralhigh.org
Admissions Director
Anne Pellan-Shea
apellan-shea@cathedralhigh.org
Director of Advancement
Ned Hogan
nhogan@cathedralhigh.org
Alumni Director
Terry Cosgriff, ’67
tcosgriff@cathedralhigh.org
Associate Director of Advancement
Ellen Mastroianni Gallivan, ’65
egallivan@cathedralhigh.org
Business Administrator
Stephen Presnal
spresnal@cathedralhigh.org
Director of Guidance
Cheryl DelViscio
cdelviscio@cathedralhigh.org
Designer
Don Forest, ’86
Cathedral High School
260 Surrey Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Phone: (413) 782-5285
Web address:
www.cathedralhigh.org
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 2

Graduation 2010
“We have been given a strong foundation
on which to build our lives. It is our
challenge to build from here, but we
know that Cathedral has given us that
solid foundation,” reflected James
Paleogolopoulos, the Farewell Speaker at
Cathedral’s Graduation Exercises.
On Friday, June 4, 2010 Cathedral
celebrated the 127th Commencement in
the school auditorium with 1000 people
in attendance. The Class of 2010 consists
of 122 students, the smallest graduating
class in more than 80 years, but a class
that will be long remembered for their
accomplishments in the classroom, on
the field of competition, on the stage and
in many areas of service.
Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell,
Bishop of Springfield, presided over the
graduation ceremonies and Dominic J.
Sarno, Mayor of Springfield, shared a
brief reflection with the students and
their families.
Cathedral is proud that 120 members
of The Class of 2010 (or 98%) will be
furthering their education in the fall.
Several student-athletes will be attending
prep schools to strengthen their academic
records and further their pre-college
athletic resumes, but the overwhelming
majority will attend two and four-year
colleges throughout New England and
the Northeast. Among the schools they
have selected to attend are: Elms, AIC,
WNEC, Springfield College, UMass-
Amherst, Holy Cross, Mount Holyoke,
Smith, Boston University, Boston College,
Brown University, Providence College,
Fairfield University and Villanova
University. More than $4,660,000 (an
average of $38,000 per student) has
been awarded in scholarships and tuition
grants for the class to further their
education. The two members of the class
who will not be in school in September
have enlisted for military service, with an
eye to continuing their education later.
Among the accomplishments of the class
are: two National Merit Commended
Scholars, numerous Advanced Placement
Scholars, a State Championship in
Boys’ Ice Hockey, Western Mass
Championships in Golf, Girls’ Soccer
and Cheerleading, and outstanding
performances by many members of the
class in stage presentations, including Ah,
Wilderness, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan,
The Sound of Music, And Then There
Were None and Alice in Wonderland.
Several members of this class have served
for two years on service learning trips
to Mexico and North Carolina, and
have been leaders in local social service
projects.
James Kelliher is the Class Valedictorian
and Therese Schreiner earned the
Salutatorian honors. However, in accord
with a long standing tradition at CHS,
the student speakers at graduation were
selected through a competition before
a panel of faculty and administration
judges. They were Shamoore Simpson of
Springfield, and James Paleologopolous
of Agawam.
Ms. Simpson has been awarded a Gates
Millennium Scholarship, a competitively
awarded scholarship that covers,
tuition, room and board, and fees at a
college of the student’s choosing, and
will underwrite graduate studies in
one of seven academic disciplines. In
addition to the financial assistance, Gates
Millennium Scholars receive mentoring
and leadership training. Shamoore is
one of 1,000 students to win this award
nationwide in 2010, from a pool of more
than 20,000 applicants.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 3

Girls’ Sports at Cathedral High School
In just its second year of competition, the girls’ ice hockey team
advanced to the MIAA Division 1 playoffs this winter. All season
their opponents were from schools in Eastern Massachusetts
where girls’ hockey has been thriving for many years.
Cathedral’s girls’ program is the only girls’ hockey program at
a Catholic or public school in Western Massachusetts – several
area prep schools sponsor a girls’ hockey program, but there
are no other MIAA sanctioned programs in Western Mass. The
success of the program is just the latest success of a sports
program here at Cathedral that boasts many successful teams
and players.
But 50 years ago the only girls’ sport at Cathedral was
gymnastics, a program that was discontinued in the 1970’s.
When stories of Cathedral sports captured the imagination of
youth around Springfield in the 1930’s, ’40’s, ’50’s and ’60’s they
were always the exploits of boys teams.
However, the persistence of some outstanding women,
including Sr. Beverly Rochford, SSJ, Diane Schumacher and
others impressed upon the leadership of the school to launch
a girls’ interscholastic athletic program in the mid-1970’s. And
from the outset girls’ teams from Cathedral began to shine. At
first it was just soccer, basketball and softball, but soon cross
country, field hockey, swimming and track and field were
added. And over the past 35 – 40 years there have been an
amazing number of outstanding young women athletes who
have donned the purple and white.
The women who have been inducted into the Cathedral High
School Sports Hall of Fame include: Diane Schumacher ’71,
Lisa McCarthy Fields ’77, Jackie Gaw, ’79, Mary Fiorentino
Barry ’80, Christine Collins ’87, Katie McMahon Woytowicz.’92,
Sheila Danker Chudzinski ’92, Gina Pantuosco ’97 and Coaches
Cathy Meader and Mary Murray. And there are many more
women who have been nominated for election.
The success of the girls’ hockey program at Cathedral is just
the latest chapter in a proud tradition of girls’ athletics that
have flourished over the past 40 years. We are proud of this
success – success that is also reflected in the classroom, where
over the past several years the list of top ten students has been
dominated by young women who work hard and achieve
excellent results. Go Lady Panthers!
Reunions - Save This Date
65th Class of 1945
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Lido Restaurant
12:30 pm Social, 1:00 pm Luncheon
Contact: Eleanor Manning (413) 598-8801
50th Class of 1961 Columbus Day Weekend 2011
Plans TBA
50th Class of 1960 Sat, October 9, 2010
Cedars Banquet Facility, Island Pond Rd. Springfield
Catered by The Federal
Sunday, October 10, 2010
10:30 Mass at Sacred Heart on Chestnut St in Springfield
Brunch at Longmeadow Country Club
Visit: https://sites.google.com/site/chs1960reunion50/
25th Class of 1985
Class of 1985 Family Day at Six Flags:
Sat, August 28, 2010
Reunion: Fri, November 26, 2010
Elks Lodge, 440 Tiffany St, Springfield
Contact Chair: Brian Fitzgerald (413) 427-1886
Brian.Fitzgerald85@gmail.com, on Facebook
Sue Daniele Prairie (413) 237-1426
jprair@aol.com, on Faceboook
20th Class of 1990 Sat, November 27, 2010
Springfield Marriot
Contacts: Elizabeth Ruetsch: Elizabeth_ruetsch@agilent.com
Lisa Wills: LWills@springfieldcityhall.com
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 4
The Alumni Office is here to aid any class reunion committee with
organization, mailings, and creating a web site. Please call Terry
Cosgriff at (413) 782-5285 or e-mail alumni@cathedralhigh.org

Alumni News Special
Alums with Interesting Jobs that Also Serve
Joe Fitzgerald (formerly Decaro) is a former marine whose
professional background as a crisis/trauma counselor to victims
of natural and man-made disasters and as an assistant to law
enforcement brought him to Haiti this year to lend a hand.
In the 1970’s, while working with youngsters with severe
behavioral problems, Joe began to use trained dogs as a
therapeutic tool. The dog he has been working with for quite a
while is a Golden Retriever named Tejyl. The dog, nicknamed
Tej, has three distinct tasks: personal assistance, “live” search
and rescue, and therapeutic applications in a variety of
environments.
In Haiti, Tej discovered badly injured 15 year old Ruthnie in
the crowded medical tent and the two formed an instant bond.
With the help of C.A.R.E. (Corporate Aviation Responding in
Marcel F. Caron ’84
Marcel has been employed by the Orange County Sheriff’s
Office in Orlando Florida since 1992. He has served in many
different units in the department including 11 years on the
Hostage Negotiation Team. In 2009 Marcel was transferred to
the Criminal Intelligence Unit. Some of the duties of that unit
are domestic/international terrorism, money laundering, and
threats against public officials and dignitaries. One of their
jobs is to work with the United States Secret Service, the State
Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Disney Security and
all hotel/motel security directors.
His special interest is in the Dignitary Protection area. He said
he has always enjoyed watching over and taking care of others.
Marcel has met and protected some interesting people as you
can see in the photos. Recently he was invited to New York to
observe and assist the State Department’s Security Service/NYPD
detail during the visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. He also
assists the owner of Orlando Magic, Rich Devos, with security
when he is in town to watch his team play.
Joseph M. Fitzgerald ’64
her side the entire time to reassure her.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 5
Emergencies), two
governments, four
hospitals, and two fire
departments Joe and
Tej were able on March
3rd to fly Ruthnie from
the terrible devastation
in Haiti to Bellevue
Hospital in New York
where a surgeon
had volunteered his
services. Tej stayed by
Recently Joe founded Kidz-Search (Search, Educate, Assure, &
Rescue Children) to prevent and/or respond to incidents of lost
or missing children and adults who are medically impaired.
The mission of the organization is service (search & rescue);
prevention training for children, parents and educators; and
crisis counseling for family members and first responders. See
his website at kidz-search.org

Panthers Carry On Sports Tradition
2010 Hockey and Baseball Teams Push Into State Playoffs
For more than 80 years Cathedral High School has had a
tradition of excellence in academics and in athletics. Cathedral
teams under Billy Wise in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s were a
powerhouse in Springfield. And the tradition has continued
down to today.
The CHS hockey team has built a strong program over the past
several years under the guidance of Brian Foley (CHS ’82).
Coach Foley has seen his teams qualify for the MIAA Division I
playoffs in three of the past four seasons (when they missed the
playoffs in 2008, they missed by a single point), in 2009 the
team won the Division I State Championship, and in 2010 they
qualified for the Super Eight, a special tournament for the top
eight teams in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The members of the class of 2010 on the hockey team have
been the bedrock for the past four years, led by Austin
Orszulak. This group of seniors has taken the lead in getting
players to workout during the off-season and has been leaders
on the ice. Orszulak tallied more than 140 points in his
four-year varsity career, and Brendan Moore, Sean Pighetti,
Colin Fenton and Eric Charles were integral parts of CHS’s
four-line attack. Nick Catjakis was a stalwart defenseman and
P.J. D’Amario had a superb senior season as the goalie.
The team-members also performed in the classroom with
several of the seniors among the top quintile in their class.
Coach Foley sets high standards for his team in the classroom,
as well as on the ice.
This spring the baseball team has had an equally impressive
run. During the regular season they ran up 14 wins before
losing to East Longmeadow in a close game that was decided in
the bottom of the 7th inning. The team has faced challengers
and stood up to each of them. The best win of the season came
over Amherst Regional on Friday night, May 28. They defeated
Kevin Ziomek, Amherst’s star pitcher who was drafted in the
June amateur draft, but who will attend Vanderbilt in the fall.
In the playoffs the Panthers overwhelmed Taconic High School
in the quarterfinals, 16 – 3. Mother nature was not kind to
CHS when two days of rain pushed the semifinals back to
Friday, June 11, and Ziomek was able to pitch on three days
rest. Amherst defeated CHS, 4 – 1, and went on to defeat East
Longmeadow in the Western Mass final
The baseball program, like the hockey program, is coached
by a CHS alumnus, Pat Moriarty, CHS ’91, who has attracted
a number of quality players at the varsity and JV level. This
year’s squad was especially deep in talent, led by seniors Matt
O’Herron (pitcher and shortstop) and Michael DeSimone
(catcher). Other seniors on the squad include Colin Fenton,
Austin Orszulak and Nicholas Tangredi. There is a solid corps
of returning players for next year, who are committed to going
to the Western Mass final.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 6

Student Profile
Christina Rodriguez, Class of 2011
If you were to spend a little while
talking to Christina Rodriguez you
would soon realize that she is very
bright and deeply spiritual. She said that
her favorite part of the school day is
Morning Prayer. She enjoys the time of
reflection and said it’s wonderful to be
in a Catholic school where she has the
benefit of this privilege. After prayer she
finds herself in a good mood all day.
While it physically impossible to take
part in all that Cathedral has to offer its
students, Chrissy has made the most of
her opportunities. She is an excellent
student and is a member of the National
Honor Society and the Mathletes.
Fine arts are her passion and she is a
member of the Drama Club, Chorale,
and Drumline. Respect for Life Club is
of great importance to her and she has
made the trip to DC for the Pro-Life
March since her freshman year.
This year she made the annual service
trip to Mexico over the February break,
which she said was a lot of hard work,
lots of fun, and very enlightening. She
found the trip to be a culture shock to
see how the villagers lived, sometimes
without running water and yet they
are a happy people. She compared it to
our culture where everyone thinks they
must have the latest electronic gadget or
newest software to be happy.
While Chrissy gives 110% to her
studies, she totally has immersed herself
in Drama Club, her favorite activity.
From the time of her second show as a
freshman, drama teacher John Anziano,
Class of 1991, recognized her talent and
put her in charge of set design for all of
his shows. She said one of her biggest
accomplishments to date was the set of
the Sound of Music last year. She said,
“It was the largest project that I had
ever taken on but it was great to see it
go from an idea in my head to a reality
on the stage. I poured a lot of time and
energy into that set.” John Anziano
said, “Chrissy is the most talented high
school student I have ever seen on set
design and is more talented than most
of the professionals I have worked with.
She has a keen eye and is completely
committed.”
For twelve years Chrissy danced with
The Albany Berkshire Company. She
danced the Nutcracker with them for
seven years at Springfield Symphony
Hall. She didn’t sign up to dance
this year because she did not
have the time to dedicate
to the Company but
went and helped
the show with
instruction and
“behind the
scenes” work
and it was a
lot of fun.
Her plans
for college
are still in
the early
stages. She
would
like to
stay in
the
Northeast to be close enough to come
home as often as she wanted but she
is also considering Notre Dame. Her
dream job would be to become a
professional set designer but she knows
that it is difficult to make a living in
that profession so she plans on studying
architecture or engineering because
those skills would help if ever she does
chase her dream.
One thing she is positive about
– after college she would
like to become a lay
missionary and follow
her role models. Both
of her grandparents,
Josephine and
Paul Sears ’55,
and her mother
Josephine (Sears)
Rodriguez
’84 were
missionaries
after college. Her
parents and all
of her aunts and
uncles have also been
wonderful role models.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 7

St. Joseph Dinner Honors Seven for
Outstanding Service and for Exhibiting
Exemplary Catholic Values
The tenth Annual Dinner was held at
Cathedral on Saturday, May 8, 2010.
Each year we pay tribute to incredibly
inspiring people and this year was no
exception. We honored alumni Sean F.
Cahillane ’69, the late Martin C. Dunn
’77, Josephine R. (Ryan) Sears ’55, Paul
J. Sears ’55, Paul M. Stelzer ’73, and
Daniel V. Walsh ’73. Also honored, as a
friend to the school and the community,
was Jane F. Morrissey, SSJ, Ph.D.
The evening began with a Celebration
of the Liturgy with Bishop Timothy A.
McDonnell as celebrant followed by a
cocktail hour and dinner attended by
240 people. Each Honoree received a
bronze St. Joseph medal on a purple
ribbon – similar to an Olympic medal.
Sean Cahillane cherishes his Catholic
faith and deep sense of service to family
and community. Sean began his service
to his community as the youngest State
Representative in the Massachusetts
legislature followed by many years
working for several non-profit
organizations and in business.
In 1995/1996 while attending the track
meets of his late son Owen ’97, Sean
became friendly with fellow honoree
Coach Dan Walsh. The two had many
discussions about the future of Cathedral
and together with Principal Denise
Granger, SSJ they designed a plan to
insure Cathedral’s future.
Under Sean’s vision, the Cathedral High
School Board of Trustees was formed. He
also worked to enhance and expand the
efforts of the Cathedral Development and
Alumni Offices. He served as Vice Chair
of the Board and as the Development
Director. Sean formulated plans for
events such as the Golden Panther Mass
and Luncheon and The Annual Awards
Dinner and expanded the assistance to
reunion groups. He designed the Annual
Gift Report and the alumni newsletter,
The Connection. Under his direction,
alumni participation rate of giving rose
from less than 1% to 12%.
During his eleven year employment at
CHS Sean had many successes including
securing a significant grant from Western
Mass Electric Co. to update the entire
building with energy efficient lighting.
He also arranged a partnership with
Hampden County Jail to have pre-release
inmates work summers at the school
painting and landscaping. Cathedral is
grateful for his many years of dedicated
service.
Sean feels he has had a rich and
rewarding life thanks to the 29 years
he had with his son Owen, who was
the delight of his life, and the love and
support of his many friends.
Marty Dunn was nominated to be a
recipient of the St. Joseph medal for the
demonstration of courage,
selflessness and humor
he brought to his battle
against Lou Gehrig’s disease
(ALS). We also discovered
what a great husband,
father, Catholic, lawyer,
and US serviceman he
was.
Marty was
diagnosed
with ALS
in 2007
and died
in October
2009. He
did not
live to
receive the
St Joseph
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 8

award; instead his daughter Kellis, 17
and son Ryan, 12 proudly accepted his
medal.
Marty never felt sorry for himself and
tried to raise awareness of ALS in this
country. Not much funding goes into
research since it is a somewhat rare
disease – there are approximately 5,000
new cases a year with an average of
30,000 Americans suffering from the
disease at any given time.
After graduating from American
International College in 1981, Marty
went to Washington as an aide to
Congressman Eddie Boland. That
experience would eventually propel him
into a career in the law. He also joined
the U. S. Naval Reserve, eventually
retiring as Commander.
In 1982 he married Anne Marie Kelliher
’78. He worked in the business world
while studying nights for his law degree
law at Western New England College.
Most recently he was vice-president and
in-house counsel for Turbocare. He served
on numerous boards and committees in
the community.
Balancing family, work and service
seemed to come naturally to Marty. His
wife Anne Marie said, “He was a loving
husband and an amazing father. His kids
were his life. There were trips to Disney,
the Cape, Newport RI, ballgames at
Fenway and the countless hours spent on
the sidelines of athletic contests and in
school auditoriums.”
Marty died as he lived, with hope,
humor and courage. He left behind a
wonderful legacy.
Sr. Jane Morrissey has been a student,
teacher, professor, author, president of the
Sisters of St. Joseph and an impassioned
advocate for peace and justice and for the
poor. After high school at St. Mary’s in
Westfield, Sister graduated from the
Elms College and then worked
for a year in New York. In
1963 she came home
and answered the call
to a vocation that had
been in her mind for
many years. She began
her graduate studies
Sponsors of the
2010 St. Joseph
Dinner
Leadership Benefactors $2,000
The O’Connell Companies, Inc.
Southworth Paper Co.
Since 1883 Benefactors $1,000
The Diocese of Springfield,
Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell
The Family of Martin C. Dunn
Sears Real Estate
Sisters of St. Joseph
Purple Sponsors $500
James F.X. Egan ’61 and Patricia Egan
William A. Collins ’43 and Ruth Collins
Donald D’Amour and Michele (Gaudette
’69) D’Amour
The Elms College
North End Educational Development Fund,
Herberto Flores
Sacred Heart Church, Msgr. George Farland ’60
White Sponsor $250
Costello & Leiter, P.C., Mary (Downey)
Costello ’67
Thomas Ferris ’67 and Regina (Carey)
Ferris ’70
Msgr. Richard S. Sniezyk ’54
Panther Sponsors $100
Rev. Msgr. Christopher Connelly ’84
Matthew Connors ’80 and Paula Connors
John Donnellan ’68
Joyce M. Donohue
Attorney Henry M. Downey
Richard Dudley and Kay T. Dudley ’54
Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C.
Fallon Law Office, LLC, Joseph Fallon ’64
Vincent A. Guardione ’55 and Joan A.
(Gelinas) Guardione ’56
Brian Hoar ’95 and Karen (Guilmette)
Hoar ’95
Ned Hogan and Cathi Coridan
Lawrence R. Kulig ’77
Martin J. Pion ’68
Rev. Mark Stelzer ’75
Thomas H. Thompson ’54
Valley Communications, Bob Tremble ’55
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 9

at UMASS in 1967. From 1972-1976,
she studied full time and earned both a
master’s and doctorate.
When she was assigned to Cathedral
from 1969-1972 she learned much from
her students. They were questioning
the Vietnam War at the same time that
she was examining her own conscience
on the subject. Her first walk for peace
was with some of her students to the
gates of Westover Air Force Base. This
was the first of a lifetime of walks that
would eventually become acts of civil
disobedience.
In 1976, after the many years spent in
academia, Sister longed to work with
the poor. She moved to Sheldon St. in
the heart of the North End. She walked
to work at the Elms every day so that
she could meet and interact with her
neighbors. In 1980 the Sisters bought
the burned out property at 22 Sheldon
St., rehabilitated it and opened Gray
House, which offers services to provide
civic, social and educational needs to the
people in the neighborhood. Sr. Jane still
lives there.
In 1989 Sister received a fellowship from
the University of Missouri for a project
collecting oral traditions in Guatemala.
The project took seven years and many
trips back and forth from the States. The
result was a book by Sr. Jane and her
co-editor Maria Christina Canales called
Gracias, Matiox, Thanks Hermano Pedro.
Hermano Pedro was the first canonized
saint in Central America. During this
period she saw the poverty and civil
rights abuses that were occurring
throughout Central and Latin America
and began twenty years of protesting in
every way that she knows how.
Sister’s latest project has been Homework
House in Holyoke, which she founded with
Sr. Maureen Broughton. After three years
in operation they tutor over
125 children at two locations
with 180 volunteers from the
local colleges. The children’s
grades have blossomed. Next
year they hope to open a site
in Springfield.
We are grateful to Sr. Jane Morrissey for her
dedication to the poor and her struggle for
peace and justice in this world.
Josephine Sears is a remarkable woman.
Her devotion as a wife and mother,
her service to the community and her
Church and her contributions to the
sacredness of life has made her someone
Cathedral is proud to recognize.
After graduating from Cathedral in 1955
Jo earned a BS in nursing from Boston
College. She was working in labor and
delivery at Wesson Women’s Hospital
when a talk by Dr. Thomas Dooley, a
lay missionary in Laos, changed Jo’s
path in life. She arranged with Fr. James
Flanagan of the Society of Our Lady
of the Most Holy Trinity to join their
mission. She traveled to New Mexico
where she worked as a nurse in the
Society’s clinic and taught in its schools.
She did anything that was asked of her.
After two years in New Mexico, Jo
came home to help care for her dying
father. At this time she reconnected with
classmate Paul Sears – one month after
their first date they were engaged. After
they married Paul joined Jo in returning
to work for the Society and they spent
one year in New Mexico and one year in
inner-city Kansas City MO where their
first child, Josephine was born.
After coming home they began to take
in pregnant girls who had nowhere to
go. The girls stayed with the
Sears family through their
pregnancy and delivery
until they felt ready
to go home. They
were able to
help twelve
girls
through the years. Along with three other
couples they also formed Birth Right of
Pioneer Valley and joined Mass Citizen’s
for Life.
Throughout the years she and Paul raised
a family of six while Jo earned a master’s
in education and had a twenty-year
career as a nursing instructor at STCC.
She loved this career because much of
the course work was on the hospital
floor and so while teaching, she could
continue bedside nursing, which is what
she truly loved.
Retired now, Jo is very active in many
capacities at her Holy Name parish
and is enjoying her children and 16
grandchildren.
Paul Sears said that his biggest
accomplishment was to raise, with
Josephine, his six children who are now
all productive citizens with families of
their own. And while that is notable,
Paul has accomplished much more.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 10

After graduating from Holy Name
Grammar, Cathedral High, and earning
a BS in chemistry at Providence College
he continued his education at Yale
University where he earned his master’s
in industrial administration.
While working as a stock broker in
Hartford Paul’s mother died and at
her wake he had the occasion to see
Josephine Ryan again. A little more than
a month after their first date they were
engaged and Paul’s career path completely
changed. Jo was working as a lay
missionary in New Mexico for the Society
of Our Lady of the most Holy Trinity.
Paul asked Jo if she minded beginning
their married life as lay missionaries and
of course, she was thrilled.
They spent two years working with the
Society, one in New Mexico and one in
inner-city Kansas City MO. Paul taught
and managed the business affairs of the
mission in New Mexico and then taught
at Avilla College and again handled the
Society’s business in Kansas City.
Upon returning to Springfield Paul
became the director of the Micah Corp.,
named for the prophet Micah. Micah’s
goal was to buy and renovate homes
in the inner city to allow low income
families to become home owners. The
families helped in the renovation every
step of the way. In the next six years 60
to 100 homes were renovated and Micah
also built several elderly housing projects
The work for Micah was a natural segue
for Paul into his own real estate business,
Sears Reality, which has been in business
for forty years. . Paul also served on four
two-year terms on the Springfield City
Council. He loves work and continues to
work every day.
Along with Jo, Paul has been very active
in Birth Right, Citizen’s for Life and Holy
Name Parish. During the years that Paul
and Josephine took pregnant girls into
their home and family, Paul was a very
supportive figure in those girls’ lives.
Individually Paul and Josephine Sears
have done tremendous good and as a
team they are dynamic. We are proud to
honor both of them.
Paul Stelzer grew up in a family with a
faith based value system in and around
the family. The most important value
instilled by his parents and grandparents
was integrity followed by character.
Most of Paul’s memories as a student
at Cathedral revolve around sports
where he displayed the values learned
in the family. Paul was an All American
soccer player and an ice hockey star.
Paul earned his bachelor’s degree at the
University of New Hampshire and his
MBA at New Hampshire College in 1979.
The passion he developed for hockey at
CHS has led him to a career in coaching
for over twenty years. He holds the
USA Hockey Masters Level Coaching
Certificate and currently teaches other
coaches statewide. He regards coaching
young athletes and helping them
get into college as one of his biggest
accomplishments in life.
Another big accomplishment has been
Paul’s success in business. For fifteen years
he has been the president of Appleton
Corporation, which is a diversified
Property and Asset Management Firm and
a subsidiary of O’Connell Companies,
Inc. of Holyoke, MA. Notable for Paul
has been the management of the new
Basketball Hall of Fame complex, the
STCC Technology Park, and the Mont
Marie Senior Residence. He is justifiably
proud of the growth of the company
under his leadership.
Paul has been a member of many boards
in the region, too numerous to mention,
and Cathedral is tremendously grateful
to have had his advice and counsel on
our Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2009.
From 2007-2009 Paul served tirelessly as
chairperson of the board.
He and his wife Donna had much joy in
raising their son Ryan who just graduated
from Boston University this year and
will attend the University of Chicago
Divinity School for graduate studies in
the fall. Paul also said, “I am grateful
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 11

and profoundly moved by the successes
of my two brothers, Fr, Mark Stelzer ’75
who is on the faculty of the Elms and
Tom Stelzer ’82 who teaches and coaches
at Cathedral and of my very close
relationship with them.”
Our last recipient, Dan Walsh, has had a
continuous association with Cathedral for
41 years. Graduating in 1973 he began
his college career at Springfield College.
Almost immediately he received a
request from Cathedral’s track coach Paul
Whitlock to be his assistant.
After graduating from Springfield
College, Dan married his high school
sweetheart, Coleen Shea ’73. When
they started their family Dan, who was
teaching at OLSH, did the unusual. He
became a stay-at-home Dad for seven
years. He did maintain his coaching job
at Cathedral.
Dan said he lives by the “Golden Rule”,
he treats everyone the same – with
courtesy and respect. Explaining his
philosophy of coaching, Dan said,
“I’m not coaching good runners; I’m
coaching good people. I teach them
to be dedicated, set goals, and respect
everyone. If they do those things then the
running improves as well as the rest of
the student’s life. I tell my kids, ’I don’t
care if you came in first or thirtieth – as
long as you did the best that you can.’
They know I am keeping an equal watch
on all of them.”
Former CHS principal, Denise Granger,
SSJ said, “Dan’s great perspective on life,
education, and sports convinced me that
Cathedral had a really great asset in Dan.
He coached through encouragement and
example as well as through a remarkable
ability to develop skills in his athletes.
A quick study, adept at relationship
building, Dan Walsh is a truly gentle man
whose genuine concern comes from a
great and generous heart.”
From 1996-2006 Dan was also
Cathedral’s Athletic Director. In 1996
Dan began to get more concerned about
the financial shape of the school. He got
together with Sean Cahillane ’69 and Sr.
Denise Granger to talk about a new form
of governance at the school. What came
out of those meetings were the Board of
Nominations for
Cathedral’s Annual Awards
You are the best source to let us know whose lives have been inspirational.
All nominations are kept on file in the Advancement Office.
Your nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Excelled in professional life
• Exemplified Catholic values in their life
• Made a commitment to community service
• Displayed good citizenship
• Made an outstanding commitment to Cathedral High School
I Nominate:_________________________________________ Class Year:__________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________
Phone:_____________________ Email:__________________ Parish:_____________________
Employer:__________________________________________ Title:_ _____________________
My Name:__________________________________________ Class Year:__________________
My Phone:_____________________________________________________________________
State why you think this person deserves to be honored:
Send nominations to Alumni Director Terry Cosgriff,
Cathedral High School,
260 Surrey Road, Springfield, MA 01118
or email Terry at alumni@cathedralhigh.org
(You may also nominate online www.cathedralhigh.org/alumni/nominate.htm)
Trustees and an enhanced Development/
Alumni office.
The biggest accomplishment in Dan’s
and Coleen’s lives has been raising three
wonderful kids, all Cathedral grads.
All three of them have a well-rounded
view of life. Tom ’02 is out of college
and teaching, Kristin’04 is in a threeyear
masters program and David ’06
graduated from college this May.
Currently Dan is the campaign manager
for Mike Kogut who is running for
Hampden County District Attorney and
he continues to coach at CHS.
If you know of anyone who deserves
to be honored by Cathedral please
submit the Nomination Form on this
page or email Terry Cosgriff at alumni@
cathedralhigh.org. The next St. Joseph
dinner will be on Saturday, March 5,
2011. Go to www.cathedrlhigh.org/alumni/
events.htm for more information over the
summer.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 12

Alum Notes
1951 Theresa J. Tremble Cavanaugh
writes that the weather in Florida agrees with
her and her husband. There are many folks
from Western Mass living in the Vero Beach
area – a few years ago Theresa organized a
reunion and about 100 people attended. She is
retired now from her last job, which was nine
years at local golf course in the snack bar. They
are enjoying retirement and as Theresa looks
back on her days at Cathedral she has happy
memories – only the years have gone by too
fast. She said God Bless to everyone.
1958 Jim Moran, the long-time
announcer/publicist for Vernon Downs
received a gold ring from Jason Settlemoir,
vice-president of racing operations for the
Vernon harness track and Tioga Downs, after
being recognized as a new member of the
Communicators Corner of the Sport’s Hall of
Fame at the United States Harness Writers
Assoc. He received the ring at the annual
awards banquet held Sunday (Feb. 28) at
Yonkers Raceway. Jim will be inducted into
the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of
Fame at Goshen on July 4.
1958 Barbara Jean Olson Leavitt’s
husband organized a ’Fifty is Nifty” party for
their Golden Anniversary. Bob was Jean’s high
school steady and 1958 prom date. They were
told that they were too young to get married.
They “grew up” in 1959 and have been
married ever since. The party was wonderful,
the band played their ’Happy Days” music and
family and friends attended. Barbara and Bob
have been retired for several years and live
in White Springs FL across from the Stephen
Foster Memorial Park (“Way Down Upon
The Swanee River”). They love the park and
museum and the history of the area and are
enjoying restoring their Victorian home.
1960 Pauline B. LaBelle Sawyer officially
retired December 2007 but continues to work
per diem as a medical technologist at Baystate
Medical Center. She also has three grandsons,
all four-years old, to keep her busy.
1962 Pam Robbins has written a book,
“Abiding Sorrow: A Daughter’s Account of
Loss and Grief”. Begun as a recorded journal,
the paperback recounts the experiences that
forged the bond between her and her mother,
and chronicles her struggles in later years
as sole caregiver and survivor. Her goal is
to remind people that while grief endures,
so does love. The book is available from the
publisher at www.lulu.com.
1963 Dr. Gail A. Kennedy now works for
the Red Sox at their Spring training camp,
along with fellow alum, Msgr. Richard
Sniezyk, Class of 1954. Stop in and visit
next year – Go Sox!
1964 Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart
Sawicki, O.P. (formerly Kathryn Sawicki)
has published a book entitled “Celebration
With Surprises”. For purchases see Amazon.
com and Barnes and Noble. The book
is available in paperback or hard cover.
Books are also available at the Dominican
Monastery in West Springfield.
1965 Linda Poehler Lake has been
working as a nurse anesthetist since 1971.
Linda has a 29 year old son and a 14 year old
daughter. Her daughter found our web site
online thereby reconnecting Linda to CHS.
1966 Rocco L. Brunelle retired from Eli
Lilly & Co. as a research scientist in statistics
and started a consulting firm five years ago.
Rocco has been married for 35 years and has
two children and two grandchildren.
1966 Peter Discenza is retiring from
Northwest Airlines (now Delta) on June 30,
2010. He has been with the airline since
May of 1985 flying the Boeing 727, 757 and
DC10 in various crew positions. For the past
dozen years Peter has been privileged to be
captain of all these aircraft, operating within
the US, to Europe and along the western
Pacific Rim out of Tokyo. Previously he was a
corporate pilot after leaving the US Air Force
active duty (including one tour in Southeast
Asia). He retired from the USAF Reserves as
a Lt. Colonel. After almost 40 years of flying
and traveling for a paycheck he is looking
forward to spending more time at home and
on the family sailboat.
1970 Ann DeLucci Macey hosts a
cooking show on LCTV (Longmeadow). Six
episodes are currently airing on Mondays at
5:00 p.m. and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. Ann also
Tell us What’s New
Please fill out the information below to help us keep our alumni database current or update online at www.cathedralhigh.org/alumni/.
Send news of yourself or other alumni for future newsletters. (Please check appropriate box)
g Change of Address g News for Alumni News g Addresses of alumni you know that may have
lost contact with Cathedral.
Name____________________________________________________________________________________________
Last First MI Maiden
Address__________________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip_____________________________________________________________________________________
Phone_ ___________________________________________ Email________________________ Class Year__________
News about yourself, family or other alum_ _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Return to: Cathedral High School, Alumni Office, 260 Surrey Road, Springfield, MA 01118
Fax: (413) 782-5065, or Email: alumni@cathedralhigh.org
Please visit our website to help us find our missing alumni! http://www.cathedralhigh.org/alumni/miss1.htm
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 13

has a self-published cookbook entitled “Ann’s
Table for Two”. See Ann’s website for more
information www.annstablefortwo.com.
1975 Deborah Faucette has moved to St.
Petersburg FL. Her Dad, Mom and brother
Mark live nearby. A licensed pharmacist,
Deb currently works as a consultant in the
healthcare industry in addition to serving
on the Advisory Board at the University of
Connecticut School of Pharmacy.
1977 Stephen J. Caldeira has been
named President and CEO of International
Franchise Association. IFA is the largest and
oldest organization representing franchising
worldwide. He previously served as Executive
Vice President of Global Communications
and Chief Public Affairs Officer of Dunkin
Brands, Inc. Stephen starts his new position
on June 15th.
1985 Lt. Colonel Ronald J. Bashista
recently retired from the United States Army
after twenty years of service as a tank officer.
His final duty position was the Deputy
Director, Department of Military Instruction,
United States Military Academy, West Point.
1985 Amy Donovan has completed work
for a master’s degree in Math Education
Leadership from George Mason University. She
is a special education teacher in Reston Va.
1988 Ernie Hadley, Jr. and his wife
Michelle recently welcomed the birth of their
triplet boys on June 29, 2009. Jayden, Ethan,
and Adam Hadley were welcomed by their
parents and older brothers, Michael (15)
and Christian (11). Ernie and Michelle have
been married for over 16 years. Ernie is the
Director of Music for St. Mary’s Cathedral and
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
in Upstate New York.
1991 Patricia A. Curran Clark and her
husband, Edward, welcomed their second
child, Colleen Patricia, on August 12, 2008.
She joins big brother Ryan who was born
on July 6, 2005. Patricia is an optometrist at
Springfield Eye Associates. The family resides
in East Longmeadow.
1991 Melissa M. Bermudez Lizardi
married Jason Lizardi in 2003. They have two
children, Logan, born September 19, 2006
and Lacey, born September 17, 2008.
1997 Erin I. Williams and Jonathan
Landry celebrated the birth of their first child,
Ashlyn Irene Landry. Born on April 11, 2010
at 1:23 a.m., she is a beautiful baby who
weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 20 inches long.
1998 Colette J. Lefebvre-Davis and her
husband Tim are pleased to announce the birth
of their twins on February 5, 2010. Wyatt J.
Davis and Violette E. Davis join big brother
Wesley J. Davis, who was born in 2008.
1998 Laura Maynard and Adam
Dalessio, Class of 1998 have one son,
Jackson Owen Dalessio, born July 11, 2009
2000 Brendan P. Farrell, son of Mr. and
Mrs. William Farrell and brother of Meghan,
Rory and Moira Farrell of Westfield, received
a Ph.D. in chemistry at commencement
exercises on May 8, 2010 at Clarkson
University in Potsdam NY. Brendan is
published and holds patents in the area of
fine metallic particles. He has accepted a
position in research and development at
Metalor, USA in Attleboro MA.
2000 Allison Wagner Raabe married
David Raabe of Bethel CT on July 8, 2009.
Kerry Weber ’00 was the bride’s maid of
honor. The couple is currently living in West
Roxbury MA where Allison teaches first grade
at The Park School.
2002 James D. Falcetti received his
M.A. degree at the 164th commencement
exercises at the University of Notre Dame. He
has accepted a faculty position at a private
academy in Atlanta GA.
CHS Faculty
Member Honored
Mr. Robert Brodeur
Biology and Aquaculture
Robert Brodeur was announced as a 2010 recipient of the
Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. The award is
made in conjunction with the Harold Grinspoon Charitable
Foundation.
He was cited for his more than 35 years of committed
professionalism in the classroom and his dedication to
the students in their intellectual, spiritual, and personal
development throughout his long career at Cathedral.
The award was presented at the Log Cabin on April 29, 2010.
We feel sure that all of his former students join Cathedral in
applauding this award recipient.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 14

Support For CHS Over the Ages
Cathedral High School has learned that one of our alumni,
Francis B. O’Brien, Class of 1938, determined that Cathedral
had made such a difference in his life that the school would be
the beneficiary of a significant portion of his estate. He died in
February of 2009. He also wanted his bequest to be in memory
of his brother, Joseph A. O’Brien, Class of 1935 who died
in the service during the WWII era. In the coming months
Cathedral will receive more than $170,000 from this bequest.
It is the largest individual bequest the school has ever received.
We are very grateful to this gentleman who has helped ensure
that CHS will be able to continue to offer the same quality
education that we have provided over many years.
Additionally, Cathedral has recently received a generous gift to
establish the Jane G. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship Fund,
which will provide $2,000 in tuition assistance funds for the
next 15–20 years. This gift comes from Alfred J. McCarthy,
CHS ’53, who wrote, “Education is ‘where it’s at.’ With this gift,
I want to help do what’s right by the Cathedral family.”
A bequest is a simple way to help ensure that the great
education you received will be available for the next generation
of Springfield youth. When discussing this with your estate
attorney, ask the attorney to contact Cathedral for the
appropriate language, so that your gift can make a difference
for others.
Remembered In Prayer
Since the last publication of the newsletter the Alumni Office has been notified of the deaths of the
following alumni. If a loved one or friend passes away, please notify Cathedral so that their classmates
may remember them in prayer.
Joseph A. Auth ’30
Marion H. Kennedy Sheehan ’33
Jerome F. Trehey ’34
Mary M. Russell French ’36
C. Marguerite Hurley ’36
Walter J. Hussey ’36
Margaret M. Sullivan ’37
Helen R. Curley Vadnais ’37
Margaret M. Martin Daley ’38
Dorothy O. Higgins McHugh ’39
Mary A. Scanlon Raymond ’39
Joseph M. Duffy ’40
Nora T. Cosgrove Hughes ’40
Mirelle A. Dupuis Demers ’41
Donald J. Dowd ’41
Douglas B. Footit ’41
Janine A. Lemery Lafreniere ’41
Eugene J. McCarthy ’41
Cornelius J. Reardon ’41
Shirley E. Dion Day ’42
Francis X. Kennedy ’42
Helen Hubbard Thivierge Paradis ’42
Mildred R. Burns Hartman ’43
James M. Leahy ’43
Leona L. Mireault White ’43
Mary S. Salzano Delivorias ’44
John J. Dineen, Jr. ’44
Raymond J. Pion ’44
James B. Stephenson ’44
Jane A. Hughes Cooley ’45
Clarence E. Hanna ’45
Ann F. Carrigan Padghan ’45
George E. Bickford ’47
Anne Marie McCormack Medeiros ’47
Mary P. Gill Roverse ’47
Barbara H. Healy Buckley ’48
Marie J. Parent Fleming ’48
John P Burke ’49
Gerald C. Cavanaugh ’49
Joseph B. Powers ’49
Frederick A. Karam ’50
Frances M. Weldon Shea ’50
Bertha E. Hurley Williams ’50
Barbara J. Cirillo Jamiel ’51
Thomas J. Gallagher ’52
Lawrence G. Carlson ’53
Thomas B. Cavanaugh ’53
Richard J. Lech ’53
Michael J. Kane ’55
Carol A. Geoffrion MacLeod ’55
Carol A. Bewsee Denno ’57
Carleen M. Papageorge ’57
Eric A. Racine ’61
Eugene G. Barrette ’62
Francis J. Lafayette ’62
William R. Clifford ’63
Albert A. Vivenzio ’63
Jeanne M. Ferland Fekeris ’64
Gerald E. Lacosse ’64
William J.M. Hurley ’65
Cynthia M. Callahan Belair ’67
Joan F. Hennessy Budny ’68
John M. Stahle ’68
James V. Ward ’69
James G. Dillon ’71
John F. Shea ’71
Catherine V. Hess Evitts ’72
Loraine L. Cote ’73
Alice M. Connors ’76
Deirdre D. Shea Gogel ’77
William H. Vevier ’80
Michael B. Courtney ’82
Paul Gorter ’82
Ann M. Cochrane Rintala ’90
Our apologies to Susan R. Scanlon ’73
who was erroneously listed with the
deceased in the Winter 2010 Connection.
Cathedral High School • Alumni News • page 15

Love to Golf Love to spend time with old friends
It’s not too late to sign up for the
21st Cathedral Annual Golf Classic
September 10, 2010
at Franconia Golf Course or Veterans Memorial Golf Course
Get some friends together for a foursome and join the fun.
All proceeds will benefit Cathedral students with tuition assistance.
Contact Ellen Gallivan at (413) 782-5285 or egallivan@cathedralhigh.org
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