Being Xaverian - Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Being Xaverian
“Falling in love with the service of God.”
A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School l www.olgchs.org l Winter 2013

Dear Friends,
A publication of
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School
17301 Old Vic Boulevard, Olney, MD 20832
240.283.3200 • www.olgchs.org
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
PRESIDENT
Paul G. Barker, Ed.D.
PRINCIPAL
Patrick Bates ’70
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman: Mr. Hank Deily ’72
Mr. Robert Alesi
Dr. Paul Barker
Mr. Bradlee Bolino ’71
Mr. Michael Devlin ’77
Mr. Robert Dickman
Bro. Edward Driscoll, CFX
Sr. Patricia Ells, CND
Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick ’96
Mr. Dan Gillespie ’70
Mr. Robert Hass
Mr. Matthew Jeanneret ’85
Ms. Katherine Liola ’97
Mr. Andrew Maurano ’97
Mr. Kevin McCormack ’86
Mr. Charles J. Morton ’83
Ms. Rita O’Donnell
Mr. Stephen Richter ’75
Sr. Sharon Slear, SSND
Mrs. Susan Splendido
Mr. Martin Stanislav ’82
Dr. Patricia A. Thomas ’93
Mrs. Beverly Wharton-Lake
Ms. Nancy Wheeler
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE STAFF:
EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PR
Stephanie Wilson
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Jane DiGirolamo
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND
FOUNDATION RELATIONS
Adam Trice
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
Monica Augustyn ’06
DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING
Ann Kerrigan
ADVANCEMENT MANAGER
Debbie McKinney
MARKETING AND PR ASSISTANT
Ali Kelley
PRESIDENT’S ASSISTANT
Jeanette McCarthy
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joe Cabigas ’82 I Mitchell Layton
Submit comments, contributions and
address updates to wilson@olgchs.org.
.
Sponsored Schools
We work hard at being Xaverian. Back in August
we asked our student leaders to pick a Xaverian
value for special emphasis this school year. e
students chose zeal. at single-minded devotion,
ardent enthusiasm, and intense drive is what we
wish for all our students – in the classroom, on the
stage, in service, and on the sports field.
In articles featuring alumni from across the decades, this issue of e Counselor
highlights the zeal that goes to the heart of what it means to be Xaverian.
e core values which took root in some cases more than half a century ago
continue to bear fruit long after graduation from Our Lady of Good Counsel
High School.
Two alumni, from the Class of 1962, Br. Bill Griffin and Br. Mike McCarthy
have recently celebrated 50 years in the Congregation of the Xaverian Brothers.
eir work with orphans and school children in the highlands of Haiti is a
beautiful expression of their zeal for the Xaverian way of life. ey manifest
God’s care and compassionate love through a life lived in solidarity with and
availability to the poor and marginalized. is Easter, eight Good Counsel
students will spend a week with the Brothers in Haiti.
Closer to home, Andy Collins, Class of 1982 has earned well-deserved
recognition as the 2012 Ryken Award winner. Andy has worked at Good
Counsel since graduating from Harvard in 1986. e Ryken Award, equivalent
to a teacher of the year award, is an apt recognition not only of Andy’s
exceptional talent as an English teacher but also his sustained commitment to
peace and justice. Andy’s initiative has resulted in the coming together of our
first ever alumni service trip to El Salvador in the New Year.
And, by no means the least of our stories, we are in the 25th year of having
female students on the Good Counsel campus. e folks who have been here a
long time tell me there was some trepidation in opening the doors of the school
to girls back in the fall of 1988. A quarter century later, we have the gift of
hindsight and full knowledge that our school is the stronger for having become
co-educational.
Warmly,
Paul G. Barker, Ed.D.
President
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED...
The Counselor is now published two times a year. This decision reflects
our ongoing objective to reduce costs and promote greening efforts at
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Please watch for a new online
publication filled with news, events, photos, videos and more.

Student artwork by
sophomore Shaelyn Harris.
IN THIS ISSUE
Being Xaverian 2
25 Years of Girls at GC 21
Reunion Weekend 24
www.olgchs.org

Being
averian
“Falling in love with the service of God.”
We are Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. We are a Xaverian Brothers
sponsored school. We are Xaverians.
Students learn it and understand it. Alumni know it and live it. Our faculty and
staff communicate it and demonstrate it. But does anyone outside of our campus
truly understand what it means to be a Xaverian
To comprehend the importance, the distinctiveness and the honor of being among
this exclusive group of Catholic schools, you first need to learn what it means
to be a Xaverian.
History
Our school, along with 13 others, is rooted from the history of the Congregation of
Saint Francis Xavier, which has shaped the unique character of Xaverian education
today. Overcoming adversity, recognizing the limitations of humanity and utilizing
the power of enduring relationships, the Xaverian Congregation lives its motto,
“In harmony small things grow.”
This congregation of lay religious brothers was founded in Bruges, Belgium, in
1839 by Theodore James Ryken. The first Xaverian Brothers in America arrived
at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1854. There they taught in parish schools and, in 1864,
established the first Xaverian secondary school in America, beginning a long and
distinguished history of Xaverian education that would quickly expand in the
United States and complement the congregation’s work throughout the world.
Today the number of Xaverian brothers is in a significant decline. The Congregation
underwent many changes in response to the developments stemming from the
second Vatican Council. Membership decreased in Europe and the United States,
but forms of ministerial activity and geographic dispersion increased greatly.
At Good Counsel, we have not had any Xaverian Brothers on staff for several
years. The last Xaverian Brother at our school was Br. Bob Arrowsmith ’63, who
left in 2009 and is now the director of the Ryken House—a home for retired
Xaverian Brothers located in Louisville, KY. Brothers who are familiar to many of
our alumni include: Br. Bill Griffin ’62, Br. Mike McCarthy ’62, Br. Ivo, Br. Tom Murphy,
Br. Bonaventure, Br. Anthony, Br. Greg Turlick and Br. Charles Wintergerst. Tales of
these Brothers are part of our oral traditions, and continue to help us understand
what it means to be Xaverian and why it matters.
In these times, our hope is that the simplicity, humility and intentionally
unpretentious, non-hierarchical nature of the Brothers will appeal to those who
seek a vocation to serve the poor and marginalized, while living a prayerful and
supportive community life. With the passion of our founders and a Xaverian
Brothers history going back almost 175 years, Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School is unwavering in its commitment to continue the legacy of the Xaverian
Brothers.
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Beliefs
Rooted in the rich traditions of Roman Catholic education, the mission of the
Xaverian schools is to foster the moral and spiritual development of young people.
The goal of each school is to prepare students not only for success in college and
in life, but also for meaningful lives in the service of God. Along with the faculty
and staff, students are provided time and space for reflection, prayer and the
sharing of faith, and are supported as they integrate their personal faith with the
teachings of Jesus Christ.
Beyond our Catholic faith, we also share a uniquely Xaverian perspective and
approach to education. Theodore James Ryken, founder of the Congregation of the
Brothers of St. Francis Xavier, described his personal commitment to his ministry as
“falling in love with the service of God.”
That same atmosphere of joyful and vibrant spirituality is alive at Good Counsel and
in the hallways of each Xaverian school today, fueled by the enthusiasm with which
each school embraces the core spiritual values of the Brothers—simplicity, humility,
compassion, zeal, and trust. With a deep commitment to our faith, we accept our
personal limitations and understand that all we have comes from God.
Education
The heart of a Xaverian education is our commitment to the full development of
each person. Realizing that each student enters with a unique set of talents and
interests, our academic offerings and the teaching/learning process are structured
to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to allow students to explore
areas of study that engage and excite their individual interests. The Xaverian focus
on building enduring relationships allows us to cultivate outstanding achievement in
students with a broad range of abilities. Teachers take the time to know each of their
students, while guiding them to make the most of their talents and encouraging
them to persevere and learn from challenges.
We sustain the Xaverian educational tradition while preparing our students for
careers and lives in the twenty-first century. School leaders join together for
collaborative planning; teachers and administrators meet for continuing education
and the sharing of ideas; students connect with a diverse network of peers to
support one another in their academic and Christian development. The diversity
and geographic breadth of the Xaverian network offers our school an extraordinary
range of professional resources and access to the best practices and emerging
thought in education nationally, in the context of one of the most distinguished,
continuous traditions of Catholic education in America.
Like the philosophy of Ryken, we are advocates for the education of everyone.
True to this mission, Good Counsel is nationally recognized for its offerings of a
strong college preparatory curriculum, the rigors of the Advanced Placement and
International Baccalaureate programs for high achieving students, and the Ryken
Program for students with mild, learning differences.
Good Counsel families understand that the values formed by a Xaverian education—
responsibility for the welfare of others, stewardship for the natural world, a rejection
of success that is quick and easy—are essential to our survival as a society. Xaverian
schools educate the whole student—academically, morally, ethically, spiritually and
physically. Our students will graduate into a world that is increasingly global, diverse
and continually changing. It is a world in which the Xaverian approach to education
is more relevant than ever. Our Lady of Good Counsel High School provides the
groundwork to prepare our students to lead the way. ✦
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I’m
averian
I’M XAVERIAN | Michelle Odonkor ’14
Excerpt om a speech at the St. Francis Xavier Society Dinner (p.29). Michelle is member of the KEY Club,
the Speech team, the Debate team, the track team (hurdler), and is a Xaverian leader.
“Good Counsel has opened doors for me that I can foresee as having been critical to
the advancement of my goals. As a result of the values Good Counsel stresses and
emphasizes, I am an improved person—compassionately extending my hands to those
in need, humbly putting others before myself, simply empathizing with the plights of
others, trustingly reserving my judgment and permitting the benefit of the doubt, and
zealously stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people and make the world a
better place for all mankind.
These are all principles that Good Counsel has succeeded in instilling in me and that
have now become my new personal standards.” ✦
I’M XAVERIAN | Antonio Pino ’13
Excerpt om a speech to the
student body at the St. Francis
Xavier Mass on December 3.
Antonio is a Xaverian leader,
a student ambassador and
a member of the baseball team.
“I understand the
importance of [the Xaverian
value] compassion very well.
When I was in 8th grade, I
was stricken with a disease
that became worse in high
school. The compassion
from my friends and family meant the world to me.
I’m thankful for my friends who texted me constantly to
see how I was doing and gave up a lot of time to visit
me. I’m thankful that they prayed for me every night so
that I would feel better. It would have been much harder
to get through my illness without them.
The word compassion is defined as ‘a feeling of deep
sympathy and sorrow for another person who is
stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire
to alleviate the suffering.’ For me, that is only half of
what compassion is. I believe if you are a ompassionate
person, you care about people all the time—every day.
Compassion can be shown [to your fellow students] in
the hallways just by asking them how they are doing,
or just saying ‘hi.’ They will be touched that you went
out of your way to care about them. And when those
people are in a real time of need, that's when you
sacrifice everything for them.” ✦
I’M XAVERIAN | Tom Kolar, Social Studies Teacher
since 1965
“During the early years at Our Lady of Good Counsel,
the Xaverian Brothers were everywhere and did
everything. They were great men who were dedicated
to our school and incredibly generous with their time.
Although there were few lay teachers at the time, the
brothers were always very good to us and our families.
The brothers lived very simple lives. They had very
small living quarters (two to a room) on the second
story of the Wheaton building. They had a television
and delicious food, but aside from that, they lived very
humble lives.
The five Xaverian values, although they were not
written on the walls in the Wheaton location, were
taught to all the students and faculty during those early
days through the actions of the brothers. Those values
are all-encompassing and
are the basis to leading a
good life. The brothers
personified that. Through
their example, they
inspired us to do more
than we may have done
otherwise.” ✦
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I’M XAVERIAN | Peg Weidner, Chair, Religion Department
(since 2001), religious studies teacher (since 1990), XB (Xaverian Brothers)
Associate, IB curriculum expert for world religions
“As an XB Associate, I have pledged my commitment to journey with the Xaverian
Brothers in a closer relationship of prayer, outreach and communion with the
brothers. Being an associate fits in with so much of not only what I do, but also
of who I am.
The marks of the Xaverian guiding principles include living simply and taking a
contemplative stance in the world. This philosophy supports my belief of ‘everything
with God, nothing without Him.’ Taking a contemplative stance is a wakeup call that makes each one of us ask:
‘What have I done today Did I just put one foot in front of the other and go with the flow, or did I deliberately
accomplish something that served your community Did I fulfill your responsibilities in a way that was
memorable Did I touch somebody else’s life’ Being an associate gives me a chance, in a very deliberate way,
to do things that are reflective of how I want to live now. As I consider these questions, I also have a responsibility
to teach our young men and women to contemplate the impact of their own actions as well.
At Good Counsel, we educate our students to understand very important Catholic and Xaverian social teachings,
including showing solidarity—the idea that we are all brothers and sisters from one human family. We encourage
our students to be ‘their brother’s keeper.’ Through our commitment to serving the poor and marginalized and
living out the Xaverian belief of being fully present with others, students live this philosophy.
We believe that exposing our students to service should be natural—they can’t approach service with ‘holier than
thou’ attitudes, self-righteousness or egos when they meet and put a face on the people that they are providing
service to. This solidarity that is established between our students and to those they serve becomes affection.
They understand that their efforts make
a difference when they are part of
a worldwide family.
I’M XAVERIAN | Sylvia Serefino,
Math Teacher since 1974
“The Xaverian charism that we speak
so highly of now—simplicity, humility,
compassion, zeal and trust—was always
present during the days when the brothers
led our school. When the brothers were
here, we were able to witness the charism
every day. You didn’t have to look far for
an example of any of our values. Today,
we have to think about the values. Occasionally, I find myself singing
the Xaverian song and thinking about the words in the songs while I
match them to the various brothers of our past.
Simplicity, solidarity and living in
community—the characteristics of the
Xaverians—is very evident in our
community. We teach the Xaverian way
every day. Knowing our mission and
living it helps our students determine
their path in life, and keeps them
connected here.” ✦
How do we tell people what it means to be Xaverian How do
we explain who we are And can we really do that without the
brothers being physically present Although they are no longer
here, I can say with certainty, that the Xaverian way is vibrant and
alive in our school. Having been involved with the XBSS since the
very beginning of its formation, I know that those who attend our
school truly understand what it means to be Xaverian.” ✦
on campus 5

“[e Xaverian Brothers’] example is inspiring. My hope is to make real progress in
educating our school community about the story of plodding and persistent eodore
James Ryken and to be faithful to his vision. I feel like a ‘guardian of the flame,’
responsible for something precious, something that our world and, in particular, our
young people in the XBSS high schools, can learn om.”
–President, Dr. Paul Barker, upon his return
from Xaverian Assembly 2012 in Brugge, Belgium
BEING XAVERIAN 101:
1. Falling in love with the service of God.
2. Remembering the five Xaverian values:
living simply, remaining humble, showing
compassion, being zealous in actions,
and trusting in God and humanity.
3. Being approachable and available.
4. Standing in solidarity with those who
get pushed to the margins.
5. Seeking the harmony of a life that
balances service and prayer.
6. Paying attention to what goes on in the
common, the ordinary, and the everyday.
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HAITI
Students Gain a Greater Awareness of Self and the Importance of Helping Others in Need
Reading and playing games
with orphans, comforting
infants and children at
rehabilitation centers,
gathering supplies for
schools with minimal
resources, these are just a
few of the deeds performed
by our students during
service learning and
immersion trips organized
this past spring and summer.
Every year Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
students search for opportunities to live out the Xaverian
mission and make a difference for the less fortunate.
The campus ministry does an amazing job developing
and planning opportunities for students to have an
impact, not only on the local community, but also all
around the world.
Last spring, students and faculty members spent one
week in Hinche, a city located in central Haiti that is one
of the poorest areas in the western hemisphere. Junior,
Daniel Weidner, one of six students on the trip, noted the
extreme difference in environment – disheveled markets,
meat and fruit laying on the ground, a little girl trotting
on an old mule. Even more surprising to Weidner, nothing
was “one-sided”– it was just as important for the locals
to get to know us as it was for our group to get to know
them. When asked to describe how this experience
impacted his life, Weidner reflected, “perspective,
motivation, and happiness to serve.”
“The main difference between the Haiti trip and the other
service trips is that we did not go to build things. This trip
is all about being with the people of the country and
understanding their daily struggles,” said ana Lopez, a
long-time teacher of Good Counsel and trip chaperone.
She continued, “and because of that, the trip was an
extremely emotional experience for everyone who went.”
While in Haiti, the group stayed with Xaverian Brothers
Mike McCarthy ’62, Bill Griffin ’62 and Harry Eccles at
Maison Fortuné, their orphanage in the city of Hinche.
The group spent the week interacting with the 250
orphans at Maison Fortuné and visiting the Azil, a
rehabilitation center and hospice. At the Azil, the group
aided The Little Sisters of the Poor in feeding and caring
for the infants and children there.
“The standard of living is so different. Things as simple
as sewers are taken for granted in America,” commented
audrey Fangmeyer ’13, a senior who was part of the
group.
Lopez was also amazed by the selflessness of the people
of Haiti. She explains, “The city was in shambles. People
don’t have enough to eat…but each person’s faith and
willingness to give of oneself was truly an eye-opening
experience that I will never forget.” ✦
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st. Gabriel’s middle-High school
By student Daniel Weidner ’13
Pierre-Louis Joizil, a Haitian native educated by the
Xaverian Brothers, was sponsored to go to college by
the Xaverians and attended school in Port-au-Prince until
the devastating earthquake in 2010. The Xaverians made
it possible for Mr. Joizil to attend Siena College in New
York to finish his education after the earthquake damaged
the Sant (the home provided by the Xaverians for their
sponsored students). After his college graduation,
Mr. Joizil made the commitment to return to Haiti and
build the first middle-high school in his home province
of Fontaine.
In October, Mr. Joizil visited Good Counsel for the third
time. On each of his visits, he spoke to students in
religion classes about St. Gabriel’s and his gratitude for
our community’s assistance. The first time he visited,
he talked about his dream of building a school. The
second time he visited, he updated us about a leased
property and the two classes held there. This third visit,
Mr. Joizil shared stories and pictures of the newly built
four-classroom school that opened this past Fall.
The school was built because of Mr. Joizil’s dedication
and the support of the Xaverian Brothers, Christ Our
Light Catholic Church in Virginia, and Our Lady of Good
Counsel High School. Good Counsel raised $5,000 last
spring to provide scholarships for ten students (a yearly
commitment from Good Counsel) and to help fund
teacher salaries. Our school will once again have a
fundraiser this Spring 2013 to raise funds for these
efforts. Mr. Joizil is an example of living the Xaverian
values: compassion, humility, simplicity, trust, and zeal;
Bro. Mike McCarthy
and Pierre-Louis Joizil
— a young man who
was sponsored for
college by the
Xaverian Brothers
and has now returned
to his home in Haiti to
build a middle-high
school.
the embodiment of “falling in love with service to God
and his people.” He is an inspiration and, because I
participated in the Haiti mission/retreat trip last year,
Mr. Joizil has become my friend. ✦
camden
Students and faculty provided similar outreach in Camden, NJ, this
past July sending six groups of fourteen students each for service
projects through Romero Center Ministries Urban Challenge
Program. The program is a service-learning, immersion experience
rooted in
the Catholic faith tradition. Students cleaned local neighborhoods,
served the hungry at food banks, and spent time with people at
nursing homes and homeless shelters.
While service is a key part of both trips, students were equally
impacted by the exposure to the challenges and circumstances of
everyday life for the people living in impoverished areas around the world.
The Good Counsel Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team went as a group on the Camden trip. sam Richardson ’13
and Garrett Brower ’13 emphasized that the service project had forced them out of their comfort zone
and helped them to grow and appreciate all of the small things in life. “When working at the Abigail House,
I was able to form relationships with many of the recovering patients,” mike Becraft ’13 said.
David Lobosco ’13 worked with children at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and remembers, “Even the kids
who didn’t have much seemed happy, which made me happy to be there.” ✦
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Missionary Brother Michael McCarthy
Celebrates
50Years of Service
Ihad the opportunity to sit down with Br. Mike
McCarthy ’62 to discuss Xaverian values and what it
means to be a Xaverian in today’s world. This year,
Br. Mike celebrates his 50th year of service as a Xaverian
Brother and his fifth year of living and ministering at
Maison Fortuné Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti.
Let our agenda go with our shoes.
—Brother Michael McCarthy ’62
Bro. Harry Eccles, Bro. Bill Griffin ’62 and
Bro. Mike McCarthy ’62 in Hinche, Haiti
Br. Mike, what drew you to becoming a Xaverian Brother
and what inspires you to serve
After graduating from Good Counsel back in 1962,
I had the call to go. I was inspired by the Brothers
teaching me in high school and their dedication to
service. They were the men who helped form me.
Living and serving in a fifth world country, like Haiti,
the needs are more basic, more obvious than in more
developed areas of the world. The material needs
stand out more. I’m healthy, naturally adventuresome,
and there is a certain freedom for me that comes with
doing service in areas where others don’t want to go.
What does it mean to be Xaverian
Service and living a life of simplicity.
Why, more than ever, is it important to live out the values
of the Xaverian Brothers
There is so much disparity in this world today.
Especially in such a materialistic world, we need to
continue to emphasize the values of social justice
outreach and formation in our students. A key to this
formation is the requirement of our students to
complete 100 hours of service prior to graduation.
What can our community (students, parents, alumni)
take away from your work and the work of the Xaverian
Brothers
The community needs to assist the Xaverian Brothers
and Good Counsel to be agents of transformation.
For my work in Hinche, we need to empower people
to provide Haitians with greater opportunities for
education, healthcare, and economic growth.
Don’t bring your own agenda to a country, take
off your shoes.
Our Lady of Good Counsel is committed to
making the world a better place, and the
campus ministry works tirelessly to achieve
an impact that can be felt by many in need.
When the students arrived in Haiti, Brother
Michael McCarthy ’62 gave them each a
prayer card so as to remind them of their
mission’s purpose:
Our first task in approaching
Another people
Another culture
Another Religion
Is to take off our shoes
For the place we are
Approaching is Holy
Else we may find ourselves
Treading on another’s
Dream. More serious
still, we may forget…
That God
Was there before our arrival
—Author Unknown
on campus 9

Andy Collins ’82
receives 2012
eodore James
Ryken Award
Each year, the feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated and is a time when
the Xaverian Brothers and their lay colleagues throughout the world gather
to prayerfully remember and celebrate our patron, Theodore James Ryken.
Ryken, whose inspiration of zeal for souls and dedication to spreading the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, was the founder of the Xaverian Brothers. Ryken would
certainly be pleased that in the present day there are thirteen high schools in
the U.S. sponsored by his Xaverian Brothers and that his vision is carried on by
so many dedicated men and women who devote themselves to thousands of
students in these schools.
The Ryken Award is presented yearly by each Xaverian Brothers Sponsored
School to a member of its faculty or staff who strives to proclaim the Gospel;
to participate in the school’s community of faith and nurture members of its
community; to be committed to academic excellence and recognize the talents
of individuals; to recognize the importance of educating the whole person;
and to fulfill the Gospel call to peace and justice. This year, the award was
presented to Andy Collins ’82, AP/IB Program Coordinator and English teacher.
Dr. Paul Barker, Andy Collins ’82,
Tom Arnold and Pat Bates ’70
At the Mass, Tom Arnold, faculty member and colleague explained, “Serving
as an excellent teacher and advisor to his charges is only a small part of
Mr. Collins’s contributions to the life of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.
Whether spending a week in service and spiritual formation with GC students
in El Salvador, aiding in the spiritual growth of GC students on the countless
retreats he has attended, running the annual Falcon 5k (very slowly, I might add),
working the gate at home football games, hauling goods and materials to
Little Sisters of the Poor after a recent collection drive or helping to feed the
disadvantaged at S.O.M.E., Mr. Collins proclaims the Gospel and, through hard
work and dedication, fulfills the call to peace and justice.” ✦
Honoring Years of Service
Each year during the Francis Xavier
Feast Day Mass, Our Lady of Good
Counsel High School recognizes
members of the faculty and staff for
their years of service to the school.
This year, Good Counsel honors the
following for their dedication and
commitment to the school:
35 Years of Service
Richard Seel
25 Years of Service
Mario Gonzalez, Tom Arnold
20 Years of Service
Amy Prezelski
15 Years of Service
Peter Kotz
10 Years of Service
Juan Carlos Cordero, Catherine Garafalo,
Randy Mazkiewicz, Ivan Palkovic,
Brett Taylor ’93
5 Years of Service
Amanda Kerkhoven, Ben Christian, John Gray ’74
Alison Knotek, Sarah Muller, Kelly Piazza
Patricia Riely, John Sullivan, Ducan Turcan,
John Poulos ’77, Kevin Collins ’84
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Introducing...
Stefanie Morgan-Davis, CPA, was named Chief Financial Officer
for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School this past July. She fills pretty big
shoes after the retirement of her predecessor, longtime employee, Candy Horman.
In her position, Stefanie manages all financial and capital planning matters of the
school, and works closely with the Board of Directors while serving as staff for
the Finance, Audit, Plant, and Investment Committees.
Stefanie has more than 20 years of experience in finance and was most recently
the Controller of Washington Real Estate Investment Trust. Prior to her nine years
at WRIT, she worked for HMSHost and Price Waterhouse. Stefanie also served as a
Finance Committee member for the Board of Trustees for the Woods Academy—
an experience that sparked her desire to work for a mission-driven organization.
Stefanie holds a master’s degree in finance from American University and a
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia.
Already an invaluable asset at our school, Stefanie ensures that all financial policies, protocols and procedures resonate
with the mission, vision and values of Good Counsel as a Catholic school in the Xaverian Brothers tradition. Her immediate
goals include: utilizing our technology more efficiently; providing more transparency to our financial operations by
improving processes; establishing vendor relationships to better manage the school’s resources; and continuing to expand
the financial stewardship of our school.
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Stefanie moved to Mitchellville, Maryland, at age nine and later married Nikel Davis
of Norfolk, Virginia. They are raising three beautiful young boys—Shane, Jaden and Daniel—who keep them very busy. ✦
Superstorm Sandy
a moving charitable Event
Over Thanksgiving break, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School’s new
baseball head coach and World Series champion, Steve Lombardozzi,
and his son, Washington Nationals infielder Steve Lombardozzi, Jr.,
initiated an effort to collect donations in support of relief and recovery
programs in the areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Drop-off
locations for donations were located throughout the Washington
region including Good Counsel. The Nationals and JK Moving Services
donated a 35-foot truck to pick up the items collected over the
previous week. After collecting items at the two other locations, the
truck headed to GC. The abundance of donations collected at our
school required JK Moving Services’ General Manager, alumnus
Tom Grass ’78, to dispatch a tractor trailer to handle the larger than
anticipated load. Members from the GC baseball team, their parents,
friends and family of the Lombardozzis, and staff members from
the Nationals (including the Washington Nationals mascot, Racing
President,Teddy Roosevelt) packed the items, and the truck traveled
north to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey where it was
gratefully received. ✦
a Xaverian call to action
The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy created an opportunity for our community to lend assistance to two of our XBSS
schools who were hit hard in Brooklyn, NY: Nazareth Regional High School and Xaverian High School. Many families lost
everything, their homes totally destroyed—90 families alone at Xaverian. The Good Counsel community responded quickly
by holding a fundraiser which resulted in raising almost $13,000 total for our brother schools. Very generous gifts were
donated from parents and friends of the school, but the bulk of the funds raised came from our students at Good Counsel. ✦
on campus 11

The cast and crew gather together for a
last minute boost before opening night.
The 1940s Radio Hour
The Our Lady of Good Counsel High School’s Fine Arts Department
was pleased to present six performances of the Fall 2012 play, Walton
Jones’ The 1940’s Radio Hour, at the Sandy Spring Friends School
Performing Arts Center in November.
Set in the midst of World War II, The 1940’s Radio Hour is the story
of a rag-tag group of aspiring performers and technicians as they
get ready for and perform a radio broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan
Variety Cavalcade for an overseas broadcast. Despite the best
efforts of the show’s announcer, Cliffton Feddington, many mishaps,
shenanigans and various hi-jinx ensue. The play featured popular
1940s standards including Our Love Is Here to Stay, I Got It Bad and
That Ain’t Good, Blues in the Night, Blue Moon, Strike up the Band
and I’ll Be Seeing You. The 1940’s Radio Hour was a mix of genres,
slapstick comedy, love triangles and a few tear-jerker moments.
Kristina Friedgen, Good Counsel Fine Arts Teacher and dance
instructor, directed and choreographed the show of more than
seventy students. Standout performers included seniors Jimmy Stubbs, playing Neal Tilden; Malcolm Combs, playing
Johnny Cantone; and Michael McCarthy, playing BJ Gibson. Students worked in every capacity including lighting and
sound, props and set design, acting, orchestra, costume design, stage management, sound design, publicity and house
management. Good Counsel Fine Arts Department Chair, Dr. Richard Slocum, conducted the orchestra and also played
the bandleader, Zoot Doublemann. ✦
Be sure to look for the Good Counsel mid-winter productions of Our Town and The Laramie Project in February.
And don’t miss the spring musical, Les Miserables!
12
on campus

WCAC CHAMPS ONCE AGAIN!
Going into the 2012 season, the GC Girls Soccer team
returned 11 starters from a team that lost only one game
in 2011. Knowing that their leading scorer, midge purce ’13
would miss possibly a month of playing time due to playing
in the U17 World Cup for the U.S. National team, the team
was prepared to step it up.
Beginning their season with a scrimmage, the GC Girls’
Soccer team lost starter abby saturni ’14 to a broken
foot that kept her out all season. Going into their regular
season though, the team collected themselves and played
great. They won their first three games by a combined
score of 17-0, as well as capturing a key win against
O’Connell with a 3-1 score.
In a non-league game against Fallston, the team hit
another road bump, powerhouse player Imani Dorsey ’14
went down with a season ending concussion. Since the
U17 US National team did not make it out of the first round
in their tournament, the GC Girls’ Soccer team happily
welcomed Midge back to the playing field.
As the team was reassembling, they pulled out a three
game winning streak and then lost 5-4 against a strong
McDonogh. During a tie against Holy Cross, the team’s real
loss hit when both Kelsey Daly ’13 and Lexy andrews ’15
suffered season ending ACL injuries.
Looking toward their upcoming games, they were now
down four starters and had to re-invent themselves. The
pivotal moment in the season was at Ireton. The girls were
losing 1-0 when a storm delayed the game for 30 minutes.
The coaches changed the formation, and the seniors
changed the teams’ attitude. The girls scored two goals in
the final eight minutes to win 2-1. Over the next six games
the team surrendered one goal and scored 22, with two of
those coming in the championship match with O’Connell.
In the WCAC Championship game, the Falcons were led
by their defense that made stop after stop on a potent
O’Connell attack. They took the lead at the 27 minute
mark when Karli cirovski ’14 crossed a ball in the box and
Midge finished it, 1-0 GC. In the second half, O’Connell was
pressing them and was awarded a penalty kick with about
ten minutes left. O’Connell’s All Conference player lined up
the shot, but megan Hinz ’14 dove to her left and made a
great save. Two minutes later amanda amankwa ’14 flicked
on a ball that Midge took, and buried it in the corner of
O’Connell’s box. The game ended with a 2-0 championship
win—the Falcons’ 8th time taking the WCAC title!
In the season overview, the team scored a total of 64
goals and gave up only ten. midge purce led the way
with 27 goals giving her a total of 101 for her career; a
new GC record. The defense was led by their goalkeeper,
megan Hinz who made 53 saves including two penalty
kicks and was backed up by alicia chavez ’14. caroline
Kimble ’13, Lexy andrews ’15, Karli cirovski ’14 and maddie
pack ’15 started most of the games in defense. sarah
settlemire ’14, madison Hoover ’14 and mandi Wilson ’16
played important relief minutes. The midfield was led by
seniors Hollie Byer ’13, Kelsey Daly ’13 and Jordyn Brock ’13
along with courtney parr ’14 and suzanne Kimble ’15.
Kali amoah ’15 came off the bench to relieve the starters.
The frontrunners were midge purce ’13, nia Dorsey ’16,
amanda amankwa ’14, nicole Bautista ’16, Julia abbott ’16
and maggie Boyd ’13. Jenna Beck ’16 and anais Ventura ’15
were brought up to Varsity and played in several games.
Imani Dorsey ’14 still managed five goals in her limited
season.
“The seniors stepped up in crucial moments and led the
team to a championship. They finished 16-1-2 and their
all-time record was 394-92-47,” said Coach Jim Bruno.
“This was the 25th year of Good Counsel’s Girls’ Soccer
program—and the girls made it a special one.” ✦
aTHLETIcs 13

A dynasty in the making:
GC Football claims 4 th
consecutive WCAC title or
A 4-Peat for GC Football
The 2012 Our Lady of Good Counsel High School football
team entered their season as the three-time defending
WCAC champions and was facing one of the nation’s
toughest schedules. The Class of 2013 had 14 seniors that
were led by U.S. Army All-Americans Dorian o’Daniel and
Kendall Fuller. With a school record of ten seniors rated by
Rivals.com, this class knew they had to be special leaders
to accomplish what was ahead.
The season began on a hot late afternoon in Las Vegas,
Nevada, where they took on national powerhouse Bishop
Gorman in a nationally televised match up on ESPN. Coach
Bob milloy said that neither the distance nor the heat
(100 degrees at kickoff) factored into the rare defeat for
his squad. While his team did rally, scoring 14 points to trim
the lead to five with 2:05 left in the game, Good Counsel
could not finish the comeback, and saw its 18-game
winning streak come to an end against the Gaels, 27-22.
After returning home, the schedule did not get any easier
as Good Counsel took on Baltimore power, and nationally
ranked, Gilman. Dorian o’Daniel finished with 142 rushing
yards and two touchdowns, and Sophomore Bryan
Strittmatter’s game-ending kick provided the difference
in Good Counsel’s 20-19 overtime victory. The Falcons had
rebounded to beat the Baltimore Sun’s top-ranked team.
Next, Good Counsel returned to the United States Naval
Academy football stadium to face another nationally
ranked opponent in St. Joseph’s Regional from New
Jersey. Through the wind and rain, GC prevailed with
a 14-10 victory.
The last non-league game came against D.C.’s H.D.
Woodson. Good Counsel handled them 49-0, to improve
to 3-1 in the season. Holding H.D. Woodson to -2.5 yards
per carry and capturing its first shutout of the year, Virginia
Tech commit Kendall Fuller had three receptions for 96
yards and a touchdown while RB Leo Ekwoge ’14 had
seven carries for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
cJ Jones ’13 had four and a half tackles, one sack and
one interception for a touchdown to lead the defense.
WCAC Conference play began, and Good Counsel was
on a roll, beating Gonzaga; DeMatha in a 13-10 thriller;
McNamara; St. Johns; O’Connell and Carroll.
When the playoffs arrived, Good Counsel was prepared
to face an always talented St. John’s team. Dorian
o’Daniel ’13 rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns to
lead the Falcons back to the Washington Catholic Athletic
Conference final again. The Falcons would face DeMatha
in what was billed as one of the best matchups in the
WCAC Championship in years.
On Sunday November 18, Good Counsel saved its best
game for last. Led by QB Brendan (Whitey) marshall ’13,
who threw three touchdown passes to senior Kendall
Fuller, the Falcons claimed the crown with a score of
26-14 over DeMatha. It marked the top-ranked Falcons’
fourth consecutive WCAC title. Coach Milloy called his
seniors, “probably the nicest group of kids I've ever
coached.” With no time to rest, the team is already
preparing their quest to conquer their opponents again
in the 2013 season. ✦
14
aTHLETIcs

FALL ATHLETIC SEASON WRAP-UP
GIRLs TEnnIs
The 2012 Good
Counsel Girls
Tennis team had a
season that sent
them back to the
drawing board.
After graduating
four seniors last
year and losing
their #1 singles
player; Stephanie Grodecki ’15 to a back injury,
they were looking to fill four starting positions.
All the returning team members showed their
admirable tenacity and even greater team spirit
by playing at higher positions than they did last
year. Stand out players, Alexis Keating ’15 and
Kristin McCawley ’13 rose to the occasion and
played #1 and #2 singles respectively and paired
to play #1 Doubles. Nicole Borzym ’14 (#3),
Ana Matan ’14 (#4), Caraline Donovan ’15 (#5)
and Kerrianne Maloy ’15 (#6) helped round out
the singles starting lineup. The doubles were led
by starters Nicole Borzym ’14, Ana Matan ’14 (#2),
Catie Brown ’13 and Maria Flores ’14 (#3).
Captains Stephanie Grodecki ’15 and Catie
Brown ’13 did a great job of welcoming six
new teammates to the JV team; a group that
included three freshmen and one junior. Also
included in the group were Emily Gates ’13 and
Alissa Rivas-Morello ’13, who were promoted
from last year’s practice squad. Solid support
was provided by Emily Alcorn ’13 as well. Even
though this young team missed their goal of
having a 4-4 season, they finished 3-5 and made
up for it by becoming an amazingly cohesive
supportive team. A team whose motto can only
be, “the best is yet to come.”
BoYs soccER
The 2012 Boys Varsity
Soccer team finished
with an overall record
of 10-5-5, much
improved from the
2011 season, which
saw them finish 6-12-2.
The Falcons had
impressive wins against
ranked area opponents
Georgetown Prep,
Churchill, Paul VI and
St. John’s and finished
4th in the WCAC.
This season also marked the first year of new
varsity Head Coach Dylan Dempsey and
Assistant Coach Sumed Ibrahim. The Falcons
progressed to the WCAC semi-final game, and
had six players selected for the 2012 WCAC
All-Conference Teams; First Team, Anthony
Lozupone '13: Second Team, Thomas Brady '13
and Matt Kirchoff '14 and Honorable Mention,
Alex La Noire '14, Troy Pascoe '14 and Dominic
Duncan '16.
The JV Soccer team showed well this season by
having impressive wins over Bullis and St. John's.
Coaches Edvin Hernandez and Ben Christian
were successful in creating a cohesive team that
worked well together. Coach William Baptista
had a good year of technical development with
the freshmen team as well. Both teams will
continue to feed the future of the program, along
with many talented incoming freshmen. The
future is looking bright for the GC Boys Soccer
program.
cRoss counTRY
As fall quickly turns to
winter, GC’s harriers have
completed another
season of cross country.
After graduating six of
the top seven runners,
the varsity boys came up
a bit short of defending
their 2011 WCAC title.
Finishing in second place,
the Falcons were 10
points behind first place
Gonzaga at the WCAC
Championship.
Nonetheless, led by 2012
WCAC individual champion, Collin Crilly ’14, and
third place finisher, Drew Smith ’13 the varsity
boys completed the season with 144 wins against
33 losses. A highlight of the season and the
team’s strongest efforts came in finishing second
in a field of 27 teams at the Lake Braddock Relays
and as runners-up at the DC/MD Private Schools
State Championship.
The GC Varsity Girls finished 14 points behind
WCAC champion O’Connell at the conference
championship to claim second place, behind
the first place individual finish of GC’s Taylor
Kozam ’15. The girls finished the season having
earned 90 wins against 33 losses while claiming
the team title at the William Tennent Invitational
in PA on October 13.
aTHLETIcs 15

FALL ATHLETIC SEASON WRAP-UP
Junior Dylan Stinner claimed the individual title
at the WCAC Championships while leading the
JV boys team to its second consecutive WCAC title.
Two weeks before, the JV boys claimed their third
consecutive team championship at the State Private
School Championship. At the WCAC championships,
the freshman team was led by individual conference
champion, Kevin McGivern ’16 and claimed their first
WCAC team championship since 2008!
FIELD HocKEY
With a mix of
starters from
all four grades,
the Varsity Field
Hockey team
faced the
challenges of
learning to play
together and
have confidence
in their new
teammates.
Lead by captains Meagh Graham ’13, Kate Kerner ’13
and Becca Stanislav ’13, the Falcons came together
for a stretch of must-win games which put them in
position to compete for the WCAC title for the
fourth straight season. After being defeated by
St. Mary’s Ryken in overtime earlier in the season,
the team played their way into the championship
game with a thrilling 1-0 win during their second
matchup against the Knights. The girls also played
a challenging non-league schedule, including ranked
teams Bullis, Fallston, Georgetown Visitation,
Episcopal and Urbana. The Falcons look forward
to next year as a large group of experienced
underclassmen return to replace their talented
group of graduating seniors.
Congratulations to the following players for their
athletic accomplishments: Angela Pannunzio ’13,
WCAC First Team Offense; Meagh Graham ’13,
WCAC First Team Defense and All-Gazette
Honorable Mention; Caroline Peters ’13, WCAC
Second Team Offense; Lexi Rieu ’16 and Lyndsey
Gerold, WCAC Second Team Defense,’14; Kate
Kerner ’13, Becca Stanislav ’13, Sammi Wilson ’13
and Hailey Giraldi ’14, WCAC Honorable Mention.
VoLLEYBaLL
Ending the season 10-12
the GC volleyball
program turned the
season around after
starting 1-5. The Falcons
battled every match.
Highlights of the season
include a five-set
victory over Bishop
Ireton that was the
turning point in their
season. After the Ireton
win, the squad went on
a five match winning
streak.
Led by five seniors, Jamie Chodnicki, Sydney Dailey,
Samantha Hackman, Emily Samara and Maddie
Talbert the leadership on the court and in the
program will have lasting effects. Only two
players remained in their position from last season,
Emily Samara ’13 as an opposite hitter and Tricia
Kerner ’14 on the outside. Samantha Hackman
worked all season to come back after an early
season injury. Filling out the line-up were Margaret
McAlpin ’14 in the middle, Morgan Keating ’14 as a
setter and hitter and Megan Conger ’16 on the
outside.
The team hosted its third “Dig Pink” event and
raised over $3,500 for breast cancer research.
The funds from the thrilling four-set match against
Centennial High School, was donated to the
Side-Out Foundation, established in 2004 to unite
volleyball players and coaches and to have them
work toward the common goal of furthering breast
cancer awareness, education and patient services.
With the season ending, the GC Falcons faced a loss
to Bishop O’Connell in the quarterfinal round of the
WCAC tournament. “I know that our win-loss record
does not reflect the success and growth we showed
throughout the season, but I couldn’t be more proud
of all of the athletes in the program,” said Coach
Kart. “This season set the tempo and expectations
for the future and these seniors really showed the
newer players what it means to be part of a program
that is defined by hard-work. I can’t wait to see what
they will bring to the court next season.”
16
aTHLETIcs
The junior varsity squad ended the season with
their own successes. With coaching led by Tara
Vaglica ’04 and Jessica Emmanuele ’06, the team
had only a few players with prior playing experience,
but these new athletes held their |own with teams
that field multiple juniors and sophomores as part
of their squads. The highlight of the junior varsity
season was topping Holy Cross in a thrilling threeset
match at home. With a bright future ahead, the
GC volleyball team is ready for next season.

30 Years of Tradition
to Honor steve Dean ’67
The weather on September 13 was 80 degrees, not a cloud
in the sky and the perfect day to celebrate the 30th Annual
Steve Dean Golf Classic. Steve Dean was smiling down upon
the 216 golfers who gathered at Argyle Country Club and
Manor Country Club for a scramble format outing. This year,
each golfer received a personalized scorecard and photo
frame with a picture of their foursome included. The golfers
also received Under Armour wind vests with the school seal
embroidered on the front. After the tournament, Outback
Steakhouse generously catered the awards banquet back at
Good Counsel.
With numerous sponsors and individuals in support, the
golf tournament successfully raised nearly $30,000 for the
Steve Dean Scholarship Fund. In the spring of 2013, Good
Counsel will be able to provide two rising seniors with
$5,000 scholarships from the Steve Dean Fund and also
build the scholarship endowment. The fund was created
30 years ago in honor of Steve Dean ’67, who died due to
complications related to cerebral palsy. The two students
are selected based upon their involvement in academic,
social and athletic programs and who, much like Steve,
exemplify a love of Good Counsel.
The Advancement Office would like to thank the sponsors,
participants and volunteers who continue to make this event
a GC tradition! ✦
The 1967 crew
Class of '83 alumni: James Fangmeyer,
Pete Wilson, Tony Petruccelli and Chris Corcoran
Paul Sexton, Paul Sexton '07, Bill Murphy,
George Walzenbach
“This year was my first time playing in the Steve Dean Golf Classic,
and it was a great experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to
participate in a great fundraising event and to reunite with many of
my classmates. I was able to see teachers and staff who I have not
seen since graduation. It was a great event that I will continue to
sponsor, support and participate in for many years to come!”
—Brian pettit ’07
aLumnI 17

ESPN Nationwide Alumni Viewing Parties
GC v. Bishop Gorman
Varsity football team at Bishop Gorman
This past August, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School varsity
football team had the opportunity to play nationally ranked,
Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although
the Falcons put up a good fight, but came out with a loss,
alumni gathered together in five different cities around the
country to cheer them on and sport their blue and gold attire.
We want to extend many thanks to our alumni hosts who
helped organize the ESPN Viewing Parties. Thank you to the
following people: Josh Alexander ’98, Drew Maurano ’97,
Sean Fitzpatrick ’96 (DC viewing party); Tim Sullivan ’89 and
Josh Ott ’99 (NYC viewing party); Amy Hilton Campbell ’92,
Tom Campbell ’93 and Greg Pfennig ’96 (Atlanta viewing party);
Adam McDonough ’84 (San Francisco viewing party) and
Kevin McCormack ’86 and Matt McCormack ’89 (Las Vegas
alumni reception). There was also a local viewing party at the
Greene Turtle in Olney, MD, attended by close to 100 parents
and alumni. ✦
Las Vegas Alumni Event Hosts:
Kevin McCormack ’86 and Matt McCormack ’89
To view more photos from the event, check out the link in the
Alumni Photo Event Gallery on the Good Counsel website.
San Francisco Viewing Party
Las Vegas Reception
ESPN
18
aLumnI

On July 23, 2012, Denver area alumni
gathered at Wynkoop Brewing Company with
Chief Advancement Officer, Jane DiGirolamo,
for an alumni reception.
Pictured from left: Jim Twark ’65, Eric Marsh ’89,
John Griffin ’72, Ken Clark ’79 and Joe Cruz ’93.
On October 1, GC alumni living in the Philadelphia area
gathered for a reception at The Philadelphia Racquet Club with
Jane DiGirolamo, Chief Advancement Officer and Dr. Paul Barker,
President for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. In addition,
they met with GC Falcons around the city during their two-day visit.
Dr. Paul Barker and Dr. Mitra Taheri ’97
(See related article on page 34.)
Good Counsel will be coming to the Los Angeles, California
area in January and the west coast of Florida in February.
If you are interested in helping to host the alumni event in
your city or region, contact Monica Augustyn ’06, Director of
Alumni Relations at 240-283-3214 | Augustyn@olgchs.org
GC ON THE ROAD
Dr. Paul Barker and Saverio Fato ’84, Assurance
Partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.
Paul with Len Gatti ’79, Vice President of Financial
Reporting for Comcast in Philadelphia, PA, at the top
of the Comcast building.
aLumnI 19

A HIStORICAl ANd
SACRed AddItION
The Kane Center is utilized in so many different
ways—as a game arena, a gym to hold PE classes,
a place to assemble our student body for Large
Community, and a sacred gathering place for
all-school Mass. And while it is a place where
we commune as a school, we realized that there
was nothing on the walls of the Kane Center
representing our Catholic identity.
Longtime plant staff maintenance director, Jorge
Gonzalez, suggested a creative and thoughtful
idea. During the demolition of the old campus in
Wheaton, Jorge salvaged and stored floor planks
from the old gym floor. Utilizing his incredible
creative talents, Jorge built a beautiful new
cross using the old wood.
During a school Mass, and with the assistance of
the students and faculty, the cross was blessed
by our chaplain, Father Barry Gross. It is now
hung in its permanent location on the center
wall of the Kane Center, as a symbolic reminder
of our identity as a Catholic school, while also
reminding us of our roots and extended
community at Our Lady of Good Counsel
High School. ✦
PRESERVING OUR HISTORY
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School is taking a big step towards
documenting its history. Greg Wood, retired Good Counsel French teacher,
is back on campus to help the school preserve its history. Wood is starting
the archives by documenting the names, subjects and years of all of the
faculty and staff who worked at the school. Wood enjoys the challenge,
but archiving 54-years of history is an immense task for one man. Such an
undertaking is daunting, but Wood is a seasoned archivist. He has written two
history books and has documented his own family history, which amasses to
200 pages. Wood also worked at Good Counsel for 37 years starting in 1974.
Greg Wood, former French Teacher
and now GC archivist.
The main issue that Wood is facing in his work relates to one of the traits
that make the Xaverian Brothers so inspiring—they were extremely humble.
During their years shortly after opening of Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School, this humility translated to a lack of documentation until the yearbook
was printed in 1962. Wood is working tirelessly with long-time faculty and
alumni to try to piece together all of the holes in Good Counsel’s history.
His diligent and tenacious efforts will ensure that our history will be
preserved.
If you would like to reach out to Mr. Wood to share stories or other school
history, you can email him at gwood@olgchs.org. ✦
20
aLumnI

25th Anniversary of Girls at GC
On September 6, 1988, a special era began as Our Lady
of Good Counsel High School opened its doors to start
another academic year. It marked the admittance of
female students for the first time in Good Counsel’s
history, making the school the first private, coeducational
high school in Montgomery County.
A large amount of preparation was required for this vast
change in school culture and the influx of female students
that would be added to GC’s ranks. Faculty members
attended seminars to prepare themselves for teaching
female students. The old Falcon Hall was transformed into
a women’s locker room. The male students were prepped
to co-exist with females in an academic setting that had
once been their territory alone. Whether the ladies were
coming for a private, co-educational education that would
better prepare them for college or were seeking a new
home after Holy Names High School was shut down, once
the girls arrived, they were here to stay. The transition was
nearly seamless, and Good Counsel as a whole adapted
quickly to its new identity.
to hear from the first graduating class of male and female
students for all four academic years. Send us your stories,
experiences or photos from your high school years about
the impact made by girls coming to Our Lady of Good
Counsel High School. ✦
To submit, please contact Monica Augustyn,
Director of Alumni Relations at Augustyn@olgchs.org
or 240-283-3214.
This academic year, 2012-2013, marks the 25th anniversary
of female students and “seas of skirts” gracing the halls of
Good Counsel. To celebrate this milestone, we would like
on campus 21

A Tribute to
Outstanding Alumni Athletes
2012 Athletic Hall of Fame
On Friday, October 5, 2012, two alumni and one alumni team were inducted into Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Alumni Cliff Brown ’66, Margaret Curran ’02 and the 1995 Girls’ Basketball Team were
honored at a tribute reception and then recognized in front of GC fans prior to the Homecoming Varsity Football game
against DeMatha.
cliff Brown was a three-sport
athlete while at Our Lady of
Good Counsel High School,
competing as a three-year
baseball athlete, a two-year
football player and a two-year
basketball player.
Cliff, a starting first baseman
for the Good Counsel Falcons,
was named Most Valuable
Player his senior year. Cliff
was among team leaders in
hitting each year. He also
was recognized by the
All-Catholic League.
As a junior, Cliff was an offensive end starter for
the varsity football team and as a senior, and he continued
his success in the position but also started as a defensive
end. He was the second leading receiver his senior year.
The Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Falcons
finished the season with a record of 7-1-1, having lost to
John Carroll, which was ranked #1 by the Washington Post.
In addition to playing baseball and football, Cliff was a
part-time starting forward for the varsity basketball
team his junior year and went on to start his senior year.
Cliff averaged seven points per game.
In 1966, Cliff received the Most Valuable Athlete Award,
and he and Tom Dickerson ’66 received the Best Athlete
awards, as selected by their classmates.
After graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School, Cliff received an athletic scholarship to George
Washington University. As a sophomore, he started as
the first baseman for the Colonials. As a senior, Cliff led
his team in RBIs, including the most game winning RBIs.
Moreover, Cliff was one of three Colonials who was named
as an All-Conference nominee. In 1970, his team won the
Southern Conference Division. Cliff was coached by
Steve Korchek and Chuck Stobbs, both former
Washington Senator’s players.
In 1970, Cliff received his BBA from George Washington
University, and in 1972 he graduated with an MBA from
George Washington University, majoring in finance and
marketing. Cliff has had a 40+ year career in the energy
industry worldwide as an investment analyst, banker,
investment banker, international consultant, executive
manager and principal in
natural gas exploration
and development
companies. Cliff
and his wife, Alicia
Caulfield Brown, reside
in Washington D.C. ✦
Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations
If you would like to submit a nomination for a fellow classmate to be considered for the 2013 Athletic Hall
of Fame, please fill out a nomination form by going to www.olgchs.org/HallofFame. Nominations are due
by February 1, 2013. Applications must be complete to be considered.
22
aLumnI

While a student at Our Lady of
Good Counsel High School,
Meggie Curran was a four-year
starter who played on four WCAC
Championship girls soccer teams.
The Girls Varsity Soccer team
upheld the long-standing tradition
of being dominant in the area.
As a leading scorer, Midfielder
Meggie had 58 goals and 44
assists. The Falcons compiled a
regular season record of 14-2-1.
During her junior and senior year,
Meggie was ranked in the Top 10
for assists per game in the nation.
Meggie was named Third-team WCAC her freshman
year. In 1999 and in 2000, she was Second-team All Met,
Second-team All State and First-team WCAC and
Montgomery County. In 2001, she was named First-team
in the Washington Post, state, county and the league.
In addition to her soccer accolades, Meggie lettered in a
total of four sports: soccer, diving, lacrosse and track.
After graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School, Meggie went on to play soccer at the U.S. Naval
Academy where she became their all-time point leader
(goals and assists combined). In 2006, Meggie was
named a Third-Team All-American by Soccer Buzz.
She was Navy’s first player named to an All-American
team by any organization or media outlet. Meggie was
also awarded the Vice Admiral Lawrence Sword for
Women, which is presented to a woman of the graduating
class who is considered by the Association's Athletic
Council to have personally excelled in women's athletics
during her years of varsity competition. Meggie was the
fourth women's soccer player to win the award. Meggie is
also in the Naval Academy’s Hall of Fame. Currently,
Lieutenant Meggie Curran, USN is a
Naval Flight Officer assigned to
Carrier Airborne Early Warning
Squadron ONE TWO FOUR
(VAW-124) located in Naval
Station Norfolk, VA. ✦
With their season dedicated in memory of the
late Coach Tom Eastman, the 1995 Girls Varsity
Basketball Team fulfilled his dream to go “all the
way” to the City Title game and bring home the
WCAC championship banner. All-Met point guard,
Corey Hewitt ’95, led the team throughout the
season along with the rest of the all-senior starting
line-up—Suzie Miller ’95, Kari Gaskins ’95, Joei
Olson ’95, Suzanne Magnolia ’95, Beth Lodato ’95
and Sandi Hutko ’95.
The highly emotional season climaxed with a victory
over Seton to clinch the WCAC title, and the team
finished with a 66-39 win over Coolidge for the City
Title on March 5, 1995, at the Cole Field House.
The Lady Falcons finished with a 28-3 record and
were ranked #1 in the Washington area. Three members
of the team were named First-Team, All-Met and five
players received Division I scholarships.
The 1995 Girls’ Basketball Team was the first Good
Counsel team to win the WCAC Girls Basketball
Championship and the first Good Counsel team
(girls or boys) to win the City Title Championship. ✦
Members of the 1995 Girls Basketball Team include:
Sarah Diggins ’97, Kari Gaskins ’95, Maggie Gessner ’97,
Corey Hewitt ’95, Katie Hosmer ’96, Sandy Hutko ’95,
Beth Lodato ’95, Caroline Loh ’97,
Suzanne Magnolia ’95, Suzie Miller ’95,
Joei Olson ’95 and Stacy Oristian.
aLumnI 23

Falcon AlumniAre Reunited
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
alumni from the classes ending in “2” and “7”
gathered to reconnect during Reunion Weekend this past October.
With over 400 alumni on campus during Reunion Weekend, many
Falcons were able to join together for numerous activities and
events at the school, catch up with classmates and former teachers.
1992
The weekend kicked off with a guided tour of the Olney campus on
Friday afternoon. For some, this was their first opportunity to see
their high school since the move from Wheaton. The group enjoyed
lunch following the school tour and had an opportunity to chat with
former teachers then. William Wood ’82 came to Reunion Weekend
from Vermont:
I saw a few guys I hadn’t seen in 30 years and others I hadn’t seen in 10
or more years, plus Dick Burns and Barry Fitzpatrick. On the day-time
tour, I saw the incredible new campus and reminisced a bit with Dennis
Essig and Rich Seel. I’m really thankful GC put this event together!
The classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992 and 1997 met up in the
Alumni Gallery and Dining Hall on Friday, October 26 for a cocktail reception.
1962
“I had been looking forward
to seeing all of my classmates
together for a long time, and
the Friday night class
reception was the perfect
opportunity to do so.”
—Chris McKinney ’07.
1967 Crew
1967
24
aLumnI

1972
1977
1982 1987
1992
The class of 2002 held their 10-year reunion at RFD in Washington, D.C., and the
class of 2007 gathered at Union Jack’s in Bethesda to celebrate their 5-year reunion.
1997
Thank you to all of the Reunion Captains who spent
countless hours reaching out to classmates, updating
contact information and helping put together a great
weekend of events!
2002
A special thank you to Tara Katherine Photography
for capturing the memorable moments of the
2012 Reunion Weekend class receptions.
Our 20 year reunion for the class of 1992 had an
unbelievable turnout! Many teachers said it was the
biggest they've ever seen. at in itself tells you something
special about GC. It was wonderful to see everyone—
om best iends to teachers. ank you to all who helped organize and plan and
even those that carried it into the late night aer party. Still didn't get to catch up
with everyone—guess we will have to do it again soon!
Way to go ’92 Falcons...lookin’ good!
—Jennifer Marshall-Workman '92
2007
aLumnI 25

On Saturday, October 27, alumni
gathered in the Kane Center
for a noon tip-off basketball
game, coordinated by Varsity
Boys Basketball Coach,
Blair Mills. As the fourth year
of this event, alumni from all
years come together for this
opportunity to play with former
teammates and Falcon alumni.
Thank you to our alumni who
participated, and to Coach Mills
for putting together another
successful game. Players
and fans, please plan to join us
for the Fifth Annual Alumni
Basketball Game in
October 2013!
2012 Alumni Basketball Participants
ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME
Gini Chukura ’03 I James Evans ’05 I Drew Gloster ’06 I Bradley Hinds ’98
GJ Kissal ’91 I John Lynch ’85 I Paul McDonough’82 I Thomas McMullen’77
Nii Nelson-Richards ’91 I Carlos Smith ’89 I Corey Stevens ’05 I Kevin Thompson ’94
Thomas Treadwell ’93 I Neal Wellington ’02 I Steve Wheeler ’03 I Chris Williams ’72
Alumni, parents
and GC fans fill
the tailgate area
prior to the
7 pm kickoff.
October 27 was a perfect fall evening for a football game! Approximately
175 alumni, family members and friends gathered under a heated tent to
enjoy a catered barbeque meal from Picnics by Gerard (Danny Wallace ’77),
prior to the Good Counsel varsity football game against O’Connell.
Kitty Gardner enjoys watching her first GC
fooball game with her son, Dave Gardner '62
Thank you to the Advancement Staff, John Poulos ’77, members of the Mothers’
and Fathers’ Clubs, and all of the volunteers who made this event a success.
ALUMNI
26 aLumnI
TAILGATE

Class of 1962 Celebrates a Milestone!
On June 10, 1962, 155 boys gathered at St. John the
Evangelist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, for their
commencement ceremony. As the first, four-year
graduating class from Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School, these young men made a mark in the school
history. Many of them embarked upon adventures at
universities, in careers and vocations that scattered them
throughout the country; yet, their bond as Good Counsel
alumni was everlasting.
Fifty-years later, in May of 2012, nearly half of the
surviving members from the Class of 1962 gathered in the
Alumni Gallery at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
in celebration of their 50th Class Reunion. The evening
began with dinner in the Dining Hall, where the classmates
and their spouses and guests reconnected with one
another. For some, this was the first time they had seen
one another since their graduation in 1962. Following the
dinner, each alumnus received a special 50th Reunion pin
and gathered for a class photo.
The following morning, the 1962 classmates boarded a
chartered bus at Good Counsel and traveled down to
the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, D.C., for Our Lady of Good Counsel High
School’s commencement ceremony. The class of 1962
congregated near our 280 seniors in the crypt of the
Shrine. The graduates from the class of 2012 led the
procession into the Shrine at 10:00 a.m., followed by
the 140 members of the faculty and staff and then the
gentlemen from the class of 1962.
Dr. Paul Barker,
president of Our Lady
of Good Counsel High
School, spoke to the
crowd of nearly
2,000 prior to the
announcement of
diplomas and awards,
and emphasized the importance of our Good Counsel
community.
Following the commencement ceremony, the 50th
reunion graduate and their spouses attended a luncheon
at Finemondo Restaurant in Washington, D.C.
In October of 2012, the members from the class of 1962
also joined in on the Reunion Weekend festivities.
Ed Scuillo reflected on the October events: “[Many of us]
met with Greg Wood, the Our Lady of Good Counsel
High School Archivist, to video record fond recollections,
notable situations and reflections of our Xaverian
teachers’ personalities. This video will become an
archival part of the 1962 alumni legacy. The Alumni
Reception followed with alumni colleagues and spouses
sharing 50 years of personal memories and experiences.
We were honored and delighted to socialize with Brother
Gavin (Tom Murphy). Our many thanks to the staff for
coordinating our 50th year reunion and for making this
a most memorable year." ✦
Congratulations to the Class of 1962!
“Many of the Class of 1962 had never set foot on our Olney campus. Others came om as far away as Haiti, Washington
State, and South Dakota. Some had not seen one another in the 50 years since they graduated. What was the attraction
e building they knew no longer stands. Yes, but their school does. ey came home to Good Counsel, a place where they are
bonded and where they belong. No one came back to recall with fondness how to conjugate a verb, dissect a og, write a thesis
paragraph, or solve a quadratic equation. ey returned to celebrate the significance of a part of their identity, their cultural
and spiritual DNA – who they are.”
—Dr. Paul Barker, President
aLumnI
27

CLASS OF 1963
SAVE THE DATE!
attention members from the class of 1963. We invite you to
celebrate your 50th Reunion!
Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, may 22, 2013
The class of 1963 and spouses are invited to a dinner to be held at the school,
followed by a tour of the new school.
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, may 23, 2013
Please join your classmates as you are honored at the Our Lady of Good
Counsel High School graduation ceremony at the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The Alumni Office will coordinate transportation from the Olney campus at
8:00 a.m. to the Shrine. The commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m.
All members of the Class of 1963 and spouses, are invited for a luncheon
celebration downtown D.C. at 1:30 p.m. Transportation will then be provided
for the return trip to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.
We will send future information via email. If you do not
currently receive emails from Good Counsel, please email
us at Augustyn@olgchs.org with your contact information.
Questions Contact Monica Augustyn in the Alumni Office by
email or by phone: Augustyn@olgchs.org or (240)283-3214.
Leading up to the reunion activities in 2013, the Alumni
Office will be printing a 50th reunion newsletter.
This newsletter will provide you with the preliminary
information necessary to make your plans to attend
and to become involved.
Also included in the newsletters will be bios of your
classmates, and we want to hear from YOU! Send in a
few sentences about yourself for the next newsletter.
• Where do you currently reside
• Current occupation
• Family news
• Travel plans
• Favorite GC Memory
28 aLumnI

Saint Francis Xavier Society Dinner
Celebrates ose Who Make a Difference
On October 18, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School held the
St. Francis Xavier Society Celebration to thank donors who gave
$1,000 or more to Good Counsel during the 2011-2012 school
year. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize and celebrate the
philanthropic leadership of those supporting Good Counsel through the
St. Francis Xavier Society. The generous contributions help Good Counsel
to fulfill the potential that Brother Mark and the Xaverians envisioned
back in 1958 when the school was founded. These individuals represent
a growing number of faithful and generous donors who invest in the school.
Nearly 260 people made a St. Francis Xavier Society contribution last year.
Gifts at this level are a testament to the deep commitment the community
has for the school’s mission and its future.
Two special guests were honored during the evening. Richard Urban ’62
received the 1958 Cornerstone Award for his outstanding and thoughtful
generosity to the school. Richard was appointed to the Good Counsel
Board of Directors in August of 2003 and he served through 2009 as
an active member of the Finance and Strategic Planning committees.
He served on the Olney Project Finance Committee and Capital Campaign
Executive Committee. He is a faithful and generous donor to the school
and has been a true leader for the Class of 1962. Richard spearheaded the
planning for the 50th reunion, celebrated this past spring, which marked a
milestone in the school’s history as the first, four-year class to celebrate its
half-century anniversary. Richard proposed to his classmates that they come
together to create a 50th anniversary scholarship and endowment in honor
of the Brothers’ selfless contributions to the school. Called the Xaverian
Brothers Legacy Endowment and Scholarship, under Richard’s leadership,
the Class of ’62 has raised nearly $80,000 toward this fund, which will
provide scholarship support to students with financial need.
Elizabeth “Liz” Lanigan received the Our Lady Award that recognizes an
individual within the community who has provided outstanding volunteer
support and a tremendous commitment to the school. Liz began
volunteering at Good Counsel in 1993 at the GC Book Sale. She also
volunteered to help Ginger Birch in the Snack Shack and supported the
annual antiques show on the Wheaton campus. Liz began volunteering in
the school store on the Olney campus in 2007, and she continues to help
in the store at least one day each week. She also has been involved for
nearly two decades in planning and supporting the Grand Celebration,
Good Counsel’s major fundraising event. Liz has donated countless hours
to Good Counsel at Post Prom events, freshman orientation and book
buy-back days. In the community, Liz volunteers to assist with school
religion classes at St. Peter’s Parish. She cooks chili for So Others May
Eat once a month and wraps Christmas gifts for the needy each year.
Liz is the wife of Frank ’68 and mother of Patrick ’94, Catherine ’98,
Maureen ’00 and Frank ’03.
Under the direction of Director of Choirs, Stan Spottswood ’81, the Good
Counsel Chamber Choir performed three choral pieces and received a
standing ovation. Michelle Odonkor, Class of 2014, provided a student
perspective on the importance of financial support for the school and its
students. Michelle spoke of the importance of volunteering and “being
the change.” She concluded by saying, “This is the school that produces
so many more inspired students who will become our leaders in many
fields and who will shake the world. Your generous donations to Good
Counsel help to positively influence the lives of so many. Thank you for
your support.” ✦
Elizabeth Lanigan, Our Lady Award
beneficiary 2012 and Richard Urban ’62, 1958
Cornerstone Award recipient 2012, share the
evening with Dr. Paul Barker, President.
Saint Francis Xavier Society Donors enjoy
cocktails in the Gallery before dinner.
Richard Urban ’62, 1958 Cornerstone Award
recipient 2012, and family share in the
excitement of the celebration.
John and Andrea Gerold, Shane and Rebecca
Neff, and Dennis and Kecia Kane enjoy
chatting at the Saint Francis Xavier
Society Celebration.
aLumnI
29

ANNuAl FuNd CAmpAIGN
in Full Swing for the 2012-2013 School Year
The Fund for Good Counsel (or Annual Fund)
sustains every student by providing critical resources
for financial assistance, learning enhancements,
extracurricular programs, teacher and staff salaries,
building services and much more. Contributions to the
Fund help Good Counsel offer life-changing experiences
and top quality academics for each of our students.
Support of the Fund for Good Counsel is a vote of
confidence in the school and the students and an
investment in their education.
The Parents Annual Fund campaign is being led by
Dan ’82 and Deb Corr, parents of Katie ’15. Phonathons
and mailings are helping to generate parent support.
Melissa Huey-Burns, English Resource Chair, and Bill
Mooney ’68, Accounts Payable Manager, stepped up
to serve as co-chairs of the faculty/staff campaign.
A number of faculty and staff members wrote
inspirational letters to share why they support the
fund. To date, 62% of faculty and staff have made a
gift or a pledge to the 2012-2013 Fund for GC. Chris
Bowers ’90 and Maria Morris Bowers ’90 are serving
as the alumni chairs for this year’s Annual Fund.
Mailings and phonathons are underway to help increase
the number of alumni who support Good Counsel.
Board Member Nancy Wheeler and her husband Gary,
parents of Gary ’00, Stephen ’03 and Claire ’07, are
encouraging parents of alumni to remain connected
and involved in GC, as our Parents of Alumni Chairs.
Grandparent Chair Frank Lozupone, parent of Michael
’76, Frank ’79 and Joseph ’81 and grandparent of eight
from the classes of ’03, ’06, and ’09, wrote a heart-felt
letter to other grandparents to encourage support for
the Fund for Good Counsel.
If you have not made a gift or pledge to this year’s
campaign, please use the envelope included in the
Counselor or make your donation online by visiting
www.olgchs.org/giving. Questions Call Ann Kerrigan,
Director of Annual Giving at 240 283-3366 or email
her at Kerrigan@olgchs.org. ✦
Ann Kerrigan joined
the Advancement team
at Good Counsel in June
as the Director of Annual
Giving. Ann came to GC
from Don Bosco Cristo
Rey High School in
Takoma Park, MD, where
she was Business
Development Manager.
Don Bosco is a high
school for low income
students that work in
area businesses one day
a week to pay for their
tuition. Ann was responsible for securing funding
from companies to employ the students. She
started her career at Discovery Communications
where she worked for 14 years in business
development. Ann grew up in Montgomery
County and attended Connelly School of the
Holy Child. She graduated from Lynchburg
College in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in
communications and a minor in journalism.
In her role as Director of Annual Giving, Ann is
working on increasing awareness, participation,
and funding for the school’s operating budget.
30 DEVELopmEnT

A Special Thank You
to Our 2012-13 Corporate Partners
Your generous gifts allow us to support:
• Deserving students from lower income families to attend
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
• The retention and continuing professional development of
our faculty – 75% of whom hold advanced degrees
• The opportunity for students to fully participate in mission
and service opportunities locally, nationally and internationally
• The purchase of innovative technologies that will advance
classroom learning
• The continuation and enhancement of our outstanding fine
and performing arts programs, our award-winning speech and
debate teams, our nationally recognized athletics programs
and the many other extracurricular and co-curricular
opportunities we offer.
pLaTInum Falcon partners
The Greene Turtle
RFD
Thomas Northern Insurance Agency (Allstate)
Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Inc.
David L. Higgins, M.D., P.C Maryland Sports Medicine Center
KANE Construction
River Hill Sunoco
GoLD Falcon partners
Gorman’s Garments & Gear
Fall 2012
Alumni
Business Network
at m&t Bank
Introductions at the Business Networking event
Kevin McCormack ’86 hosted the Alumni
Business Network event at M&T Bank in
Rockville, MD, this past September. The event
presented a wonderful opportunity for more
than 50 Good Counsel alumni to swap
business cards, share career updates, and
establish professional connections. Alumni
in attendance ranged from the class of ’62
to the class of ’09.
BLuE Falcon partners
Capital Carpets, Inc.
GrillMarX Steakhouse & Raw Bar
Jostens – Steve Dodd
Flynn & O’Hara Uniforms
McShea & Company, Inc.
Concentric Private Wealth
Toll Brothers
other partners
Putting on the Ritz
O’Connor’s Painting Service
Burt Wealth Advisors
Plumber’s Pride
The GroundsGuys
PostNet
2006 Graduates: Charlotte Higgins, Ashley
Lozupone, Brett Moore and Monica Augustyn
Thank You!
Please support our partners. Visit the official 2012-13
Corporate Partners Program Website: www.olgchs.org/cpp
Brian Pettit ’07, Paul Sexton ’07 and
Katherine Wiggins ’09
DEVELopmEnT
31

TY WEDEKInD ’15 mERRILL spaIn ’14
The Art of Inspiration
Good counsel student drawings
32
caRoLInE pETERs ’13

ALUMNI TODAY
TONY CAPONE ’84
Stan Spottswood ’81
Physical Education
Strengthens the Body,
Math Strengthens
the Mind, but Music
Strengthens the Soul.
An Academic Motto from
Stan Spottswood ’81
Stan Spottswood ’81 has served as the Director of Choral Activities at Good Counsel since
2005, overseeing the chamber choir, honors chorus, men’s chorus, women’s chorus, and
alumni gospel choir. His twin boys, Stanley Jr. and Stephen, graduated from Good Counsel
in 2010, and his son Simeon is a current junior. It seems as if the Spottswoods are truly a
musical family, both he and his boys studying music in college and all having ambitions for
life-long music careers.
Things weren’t always perfect pitch in regards to Good Counsel’s music outlets for
students. When Stan attended Good Counsel in the late 70’s and early 80’s, there was no
formal music program offered. To keep up his chops, Stan studied music outside of school,
played keyboards in the Good Counsel Jazz band, and played a wedding gig from time
to time in a four-piece rock band with three of his classmates. Stan believes that it was the
combination of love from the Xaverian Brothers and the impact of his basketball coaches
that laid the foundation for the next stage of his life. “Good Counsel taught me how to be
a good student and that allowed me to excel in college,” said Stan.
After graduating high school, Stan went on to study music education at University
of Charleston, West Virginia, on a basketball scholarship. He then attended the
University of Huntington, West Virginia for graduate school where he studied music
education with an emphasis on vocal music.
Today, Stan continues to improve upon the Good Counsel choral program and hopes
to attract more and more students who are looking for a high school education that
focuses on the arts.
This past fall, Stan released a new choral album titled, Hallelujah to the King.
The album originated from the musical relationship between Stan and his music
mentor, a current college professor. The album features musical performances and
arrangements by Stan and includes members of college choirs and professional solo
vocalists from around the country. Stan asserts, “This is the best work that I’ve done.
It’s sacred music that focuses on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.”
Hallelujah to the King is offered for $12 at the GC Bookstore and half of all proceeds
from the album will go to support the Good Counsel Choral program. ✦
cLass noTEs 33

ALUMNI TODAY
Good Counsel students
will head to college with
a strong foundation, as I
did — I especially hope
that women graduates
will take a good look
at all the opportunities
open to them.
Dr. Mitra L. Taheri ’97
“Most of my classmates may remember me for jumping out of the window into the
courtyard my freshman year at Good Counsel,” shares Mitra Taheri ’97. Perhaps she didn’t
receive the Senior Superlative for “most likely to succeed” in 1997, but now the Hoeganaes
Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Assistant Dean for Research
of Graduate Studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Taheri is certainly making
her mark. Mitra received all of her degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, where she
dabbled around until she found the right niche for herself in materials science and
engineering. For her, it was a perfect combination of chemistry and physics.
“Two GC science teachers, Mrs. Nichols and Mr. Green, had a strong influence on my career
focus,” she explained. “I guess you could say that running track at Good Counsel had
something to do with my decision, too, since one of the things that drew me to my field
was the ability to design new materials for sports equipment. I had this grand idea of
designing my own running shoes!”
Although she’s not designing shoes in her current position, she finds the work challenging
and exciting. “In my position, you can have an idea, get a grant to work on it, patent that
idea and eventually see it through as a developing technology.” She also is passionate
about her interactions with her students. “To help a student realize his or her dreams, work
on an exciting problem, and to mentor that student, is very rewarding. I try to remind my
students that their contributions can make a difference in the world, and no matter what,
they should find a career that makes them happy and brings out their passion.”
Right now Dr. Taheri is focused on energy production technology (nuclear, wind, solar),
electric and lightweight vehicles and ships, electronic materials and biomaterials. She
admits that it is hard work, but she feels that she is contributing to society. She is married
to Dr. Peter DeCarlo who is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Environmental
Engineering at Drexel and focuses his research on air quality and climate change.
“Good Counsel students will head to college with a strong foundation, as I did,” she adds.
“I especially hope that women graduates will take a good look at all of the opportunities
open to them. I would be lying if I said that my gender was not an obstacle as I pursued
my career (and will continue to be one). But with each step I take, I know that I have
achieved something not just for me, but for all women.” ✦
34
cLass noTEs

cLass noTEs
1964
After graduating from Good Counsel in 1964, Dr. paul
corcoran earned his bachelor’s degree from the
University of Maryland and then went on to graduate
from the University of Maryland Dental School. Since 1980,
Paul has been practicing dentistry and serving on the
medical staff at the hospital in Vail, Colorado. He is also
a published dental author. Paul and his wife, Jean, enjoy
the mountains and endurance athletics. He looks forward
to reconnecting with his classmates from the class of 1964
as they approach their 50th reunion.
1965
Larry Troan worked for IBM for 33
years before retiring and starting
with Red Hat. He has been at Red
Hat for over 10 years. Larry and his
wife visited Maui and Molokai with
one of their sons, daughter-in-law
and three grandchildren in July.
The picture is from the top of the
Haleakala Crater on Maui.
David pollock has worked for Catholic Charities DC since
1996 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He started as a
Program Manager of Bethesda House, a homeless shelter
for adult men with a chronic mental illness. In June 2011,
David became a clinical manager at another Catholic
Charities program, Anchor Mental Health in Washington,
DC. He supervises 10 social workers who work with adults
with a chronic mental illness. On November 30, David
retired from Catholic Charities and continues as a
part-time psychotherapist. The Catholic moral values
of giving shelter to the homeless, feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked and assisting those in jail were
instrumental in his eventual career decision to enter the
field of social work
1966
cliff Brown was inducted into the Our Lady of Good
Counsel Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2012. Cliff was
also named one of six finalists for Field and Stream
Magazine’s “Heroes of Conservation.” Cliff founded the
Maryland Wood Duck Initiative to rehab and maintain
almost 1800 nesting structures on 85 wetland sites
across the Chesapeake Bay area. There are two videos
created by Cliff, which can be viewed at
www.fieldandstream.com/heroes/videos.
1970
Bill Brown and his wife lived and worked in Venezuela
from 1977-1993, first with Maryknoll as Lay Missioners,
and later they worked independently with non-profits in
the area of communication and peace education with
community groups. In 1993, they returned to the
Baltimore area, and Bill has been working in education.
Since 1995, he has been teaching Spanish at the Institute
of Notre Dame, which coincidentally is where Dr. Gail
Donahue came on board as principal after her successful
tenure as the director of staff development at GC. Bill
also collaborates with EBLO (Education Based Latino
Outreach), an organization which works in Baltimore's
Latino community. He has a radio program, "Fiesta
Musical," featuring classic salsa and Latin jazz. To listen to
his program, tune in on Tuesday evenings from 8:30 PM
until midnight on Morgan State University Public Radio,
WEAA 88.9 FM, or live stream the program at
www.weaa.org.
1972
mark Ramsey and his wife, Margo, recently became the
grandparents of Emma Ramsey, who was born on
September 21, 2012. Mark’s son, Steven, and his wife,
Ashley, are the proud parents.
1976
Members from the Class of 1976 gathered in early
December for their annual Christmas get-together at the
Knights of Columbus, Rosensteel in Silver Spring, MD.
1979
Dan Keusal just celebrated his 20th year in private
practice as a psychotherapist.
1981
stan spottswood has recently released a professional CD
of sacred, choral songs. The 14 song collection is entitled,
“Hallelujah to the King” and will be available through all
the available digital outlets, including iTunes. CDs are also
available for sale at the GC Campus Store. (See related
story, page 33.)
1982
Edward schreier graduated from the University of
Maryland with a B.A. Degree in criminal justice. He joined
the Ocean City Police Department in 1989. Edward was
cLass noTEs 35

cLass noTEs
later hired by the Worcester County Sheriff's office in 1993
and has achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He is a Collision
Reconstructionist and teaches Motorcycle Collision
Reconstruction to law enforcement throughout Maryland
and Delaware. Edward is married to Malia Cooper Schreier
and they have two boys, Evan and Declan.
1984
navy Lieutenant Tom Kiss is in command of the guided
missile cruiser Monterey. He will deploy on the Monterey
to the Middle East in spring of 2013.
adam mcDonough and his wife,
Jennifer, are happy to announce the
birth of their first child; a boy named
Zachary Concannon McDonough. He
was born June 21, 2012, and has already
attended his first World Series game.
Jason Hairston married Michelle Hormozdi of Rockville,
MD area on October 6, 2012.
1996
Rolando sanz and his wife,
Jacqueline, recently welcomed their
first baby girl, Luisa Eva, into the
world. Luisa was born on July 28,
2012, at 6 lbs. 5 oz.
1997
Greg pflaum and his wife, Amy,
welcomed their second child, Ethan
Thomas, on September 22, 2012.
Anderson, their first son (age 3), is
thrilled to be a big brother.
1986
William Kistner has been a writer, using the pen-name,
“William K. Elliott.” His current project is called “In the
Company of Devils.” When William is not writing, he
volunteers as a teacher and tutor at a local home-school
co-op; he teaches Sunday school at his church, reads and
enjoys his small collection of cars and motorcycles.
1987
Tom Falcinelli continues his 27th
year of service to Montgomery
County, MD, as a police Sergeant,
currently the overnight patrol
supervisor in the Rockville District.
By day, Tom practices law at Bay
and Falcinelli. In his free time, Tom
works as a head linesman in the
National Football League.
1990
James Beane ’90 and his wife, andrea (Bullis) ’90, just
celebrated the arrival of their third child: Christian Donald
Beane, who arrived on February 21, 2012, just two months
before their 10-year anniversary. Christian joins his older
brother, Brendan (7), and sister, Lexie (6). The Beane
family currently lives in Rockville, MD.
1995
In February 2012, matthew Reed received the Archie
League Medal of Safety Award, Eastern Region, which is
presented by the National Air Traffic Controllers
Association (NATCA).
1998
allison (Daley) Jester and her husband,
Jeremy, welcomed their first child, Dylan
James, on September 2, 2012.
1998
shaun owens married
Kerry O'Neill on April 21,
2012, in Havre de Grace,
Maryland. They reside in
Baltimore, Maryland,
where Shaun is a defense
attorney and Kerry is a
public relations account
representative for a
company in Owings Mills,
Maryland. Shaun's brother,
Christopher Owen ’00,
also married this year.
Brian Daly and his wife, Renee Daly,
welcomed a baby girl, Tess Elizabeth
Daly, on September 25, 2012. She
was 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 21 inches long.
36
cLass noTEs

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Davis of Lusby, Maryland, are pleased
to announce the marriage of their daughter, Diana, to
Joshua alexander, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Alexander
of Washington, D.C. The wedding was held at St. John
Neumann Catholic Church in Annapolis, on October 20,
2012.
2001
sarah Deyhle married Cary Hudginson June 9, 2012 in
Charleston, SC., at Lowndes Grove Plantation. Pictured
are Sarah (Deyhle) Hudgins ’01, Claire (Steinbraker)
DiPippo ’01, Shannon (Dorsey) Young ’01, Michelle
Quinones ’01, Patrick Deyhle ’00, Emily Deyhle ’06
(Maid of Honor).
1999
patrick connors and his wife, Erin, welcomed their first
child, Ryan Paige Connors, on October 8, 2012. Joe (class
of 1969) and Debbie Connors are proud grandparents for
first time.
Roger mason signed on with the
New Orleans Hornets in August 2012.
He and his wife, Dominique, welcomed
their second child, Faith Yvonne, this
past September. She joins big brother,
Roger III.
2000
christopher owens married Bridey Medeiros on August
31, 2012, on the Big Island of Hawaii. They reside in
Silver Spring, Maryland, where Chris is a territory manager
with Liberty Mutual Insurance and Bridey is a sales
representative for an IT Solutions company in Columbia,
Maryland.
Also attending the wedding from GC were: Walter
Deyhle ’77, Brendon Shepard ’00, Todd Newell ’00, Nick
Ditchy ’00, Lauren Brayer ’01, Lori Thomas ’01, Chrissy
Hamalainen ’06, Matt Fansler ’00, Richard Sines ’01,
and Colleen McGinn ’01.
michael Westbrook and his wife,
Natalie, welcomed daughter Ava
Helene on April 4, 2012.
2002
meaghan mccarthy Davis and her
husband, Greg, are excited to announce
the birth of their daughter, Keeley
Jeanette, born on May 10, 2012.
William prunka was hired as an Assistant State’s Attorney
for Frederick County, Maryland, in August 2012.
2003
chris arnsberger and his wife, Carrie,
welcomed their first child, a daughter,
Madison Ann, born on June 29, 2012.
The proud grandparents are Julie and
Mark Arnsberger ’76 and Margaret and
Jerry Strieter ’71.
cLass noTEs 37

cLass noTEs
2004
megan Llewellyn graduated from Baylor University in
2008 and went on to teach kindergarten for a year in the
Waco, TX public school system. She moved back home to
Rockville in 2009 and now works as a kindergarten
teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools. She
enjoys competing in local half marathons.
Kevin Fields is now a seminarian of the Archdiocese of
Washington. He is enrolled in pre-theology formation for
the priesthood at the Blessed John Paul II Seminary in
Washington, DC. Kevin worked for Sandy Spring Bank as
a loan administrator and earned a master of public
administration degree from the University of Baltimore
before entering the seminary. Visit the Archdiocese’s
vocations website: www.dcpriest.org and click on the
“Meet Us/Meet the Seminarians” section, to view Kevin’s
profile. Kevin hopes this class note helps encourage an
increase in the response to vocations among the GC
community.
Luciana F. amodeo '04 and simon peter Youngblut '04
were married on June 29, 2012, at Holy Rosary Catholic
Church in Washington, D.C. Luciana received dual BAs in
political science and English textual studies in 2008 from
Syracuse University. She received an MS in public relations
and an MA in international relations in 2010 from Syracuse
University. Simon is a 2008 West Point graduate with dual
BAs in comparative politics and economics. He received
his MA in International Relations from Troy University.
Simon is currently a Captain in the United States Army
and recently returned from a combat tour in Iraq, where
he received the Bronze Star.
Fellow Falcons in the wedding party included Aleksandar
Nacev ’04 (pictured) who was Man of Honor and Hannah
Youngblut ’05 (pictured) who was a bridesmaid.
Fellows Falcons attending the celebration included:
Helen Dalphonse ’04, Marie Schilling ’04, David
Stoline ’04, Zoe McDermott Stoline ’03, Hugh Vivian ’04,
Katie Merkel '04 and Gus Kingman ’04. Luciana is an
analyst for the Department
of Defense and Simon is
stationed at Fort Bragg, NC.
alex Demeo and his wife,
Katie, were married on
May 25, 2012, in Harpers
Ferry, WV. Joe Delaney ’04
and Dave Higgins ’04 were
in the wedding party.
2006
Lauren minite ’06 and Kevin Eckert ’06 were married on
July 14, 2012, at the Wye River Institute in Queenstown,
MD. There were several alumni in the bridal party
including Monica Augustyn ’06, Kristen Bernard ’07,
Stephanie Minite ’11, Ryan Bottegal ’06, Kevin
Arnsberger ’06, Matt Pulford ’06, Matt Eckert ’08, and
Tim Eckert ’12. Many other GC alumni attended the
wedding as well. Lauren and Kevin currently reside in
Olney, Maryland.
38
cLass noTEs

2008
Eric Kinch graduated from George Washington
University and is an intern at ICE (Immigration and
Customs Enforcement). Eric is also now a graduate
student at the University of Maryland.
Grant Gates was promoted to Corporal in the United
States Marine Corps. Grant is stationed at Camp
Pendleton, California, and was scheduled to deploy in
December.
angela chite was accepted to do a year of service with
Vincentian Service Corps West. She will be working as a
nurse in an underserved hospital in Los Angeles, CA, and
living in community with other volunteers in a house on
a retreat center. The housing is provided for free, and
Angela will be given a small monthly stipend and have
the use of a community car. The community provides
five retreats throughout the year in different areas of the
West Coast and fosters faith formation of the volunteers.
The program runs from August 2012 until July 2013.
Angela’s next step is to take the NCLEX, which is her
nursing licensure examination. Angela has been
accepted to the Vincentian Service Corps service
program but is awaiting her work placement.
Katherine murphy, an electrical engineering major at
Boston University, is working with Dr. Mark Horenstein
to develop a nanoparticle-based technology that will
allow for improved drug delivery to specialized skin
cells. This project is likely to have relevance in medical
practice. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Program announced Katherine as one of the recipients
of the Clare Boothe Luce Scholar Awards, which
supports undergraduate summer research projects
undertaken by female U. S. citizens. The Clare Boothe
Luce Award was established by Clare Booth Luce, a
playwright, journalist, U.S. Ambassador to Italy, and the
first woman elected to Congress from Connecticut, “to
encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach”
in the fields of science, mathematics and engineering.
2010
Kevin mcallister made Dean's List Spring Semester at
Montgomery College and received an invitation to join
the Renaissance Scholars Honors program. Kevin
transferred to Loyola University in Baltimore in the fall
2012.
We want to hear from you!
Please email the Director of Alumni Relations,
Monica Augustyn at Augustyn@olgchs.org.
In mEmoRIam
Edward Friel ’69
Peggy Ghent
Wife of Steve Ghent (Faculty member),
mother of Eileen ’07 and Edward ’03
Jim Henneberger ’86
Frank Leonard Idoni, Sr.
Father of Laura Fangmeyer and
grandfather of Laura Lee ’06,
Andrew ’07, Matthew ’13 and Michael ’13
Mary Elisabeth “Betty” Joseph
Grandmother of Kevin Joseph ’11, Ben Joseph ’14
and Mikey Joseph ’16
Thomas J. Malinowski ’68
James Moriarty ’84
Mary Patricia Newal
Mother of Thomas P. Hightman ’86 and former
wife of the late Thomas G. Hightman ’64
Janice M. Ribar
Mother of Morgan Ribar ’07
Maureen O’Connell Thompson
Sister of Monsignor Maurice O’Connell
(former faculty member)
John F. Yu ’73
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives, and
by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your
presence, their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family, relatives
and friends, and for all the dead
known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives, may they
rejoice in Your kingdom, where all our tears
are wiped away. Unite us together
again in one family, to sing
Your praise forever and ever.
cLass noTEs 39

Date: ursday, April 18, 2013
Hosted by: Chuck J. morton, Jr. ’83
News and Events
Mark Your Calendars for the next
Alumni Business Network!
Location: Venable, llp
750 east pratt Street #900,
Baltimore, md 21202
2013 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations
ALUMNI—submit nominations for your
fellow classmates to be considered for
the 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame.
To submit a nomination, please fill out
a nomination form by going to
www.olgchs.org/HallofFame.
Nominations are due by February 1, 2013.
BUILDING FUTURE CHAMPIONS!
Summer Youth Sports Camps
Ages 4 to 16
Boys Basketball ★ Girls Basketball
Boys Lacrosse ★ Girls Lacrosse
Girls Soccer ★ Boys Soccer
Football ★ Field Hockey
Baseball ★ Volleyball
Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to connect
with GC alumni, swap business cards and make
connections to enhance your career and business.
FREE EVENT! Refreshments and beverages provided.
RSVP: Adam Trice I trice@olgchs.org
Gc Road Trips!
Los angeles
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Contact the Alumni Office for
location details (Augustyn@olgchs.org)
Details coming soon for:
Tampa/South Florida & Atlanta
Would you like to join us
Contact Monica Augustyn ’06
in the Alumni Office at
Augustyn@olgchs.org.
Located at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney, MD
WWW.OLGCHS.ORG ★ 240-283-3218
Senior Class Dinner
MARCH 7, 2013

Join us for the 6th Annual Falcon 5K Run & Kids’ Fun Run on Saturday, April 20, 2013!
This exciting event brings many students, alumni, families and friends
together to benefit Good Counsel’s financial aid Endowment Fund.
When: Saturday, April 20, 2013
Run Start Time: 8:30 AM
REGISTER ONLINE:
Where: Our Lady of Good Counsel High School www.olgchs.org/Falcon5k
Save the Dates
MOTHERS’ CLUB EVENTS:
April 25, 2013
Mothers’ Club Winter Night Out!
JAnuARY 16
Mothers’ Club Mass, Brunch and
Service Project
FebRuARY 10
Incoming Freshmen Mothers’ Breakfast
ApRIl 26
Class of
1963
50th Reunion
May 22 & 23, 2013
FATHERS’ CLUB EVENTS:
Day of Service
ApRIl 13
Fathers’ Club BBQ
June 4
Classes ending in 3 and 8: Your Reunion Year in October 2013!
We invite you to GC next fall to reunite with classmates during Reunion Weekend 2013!
It's sure to be a fun-filled weekend re-connecting with friends and faculty, and remembering
all of your fondest memories of being a Falcon.
Classes: 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008… We are looking for Reunion
Captains to help plan the weekend of events and to reach out to classmates. If you’re interested
in serving as a Reunion Captain, at any capacity, please contact Monica Augustyn ’06 in the Alumni Office
at Augustyn@olgchs.org or (240)283-3214.

A Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School
17301 Old Vic Boulevard I Olney, Maryland I 20832
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 253
SILVER SPRING, MD
Change Service Requested
25th Annual Grand Celebration
SAVE THE DATE
March 2, 2013
JANUARY
16 Mothers’ Club Winter Night Out
19-26 El Salvador Mission Trip
25 March for Life | Life Issues Day
31 Chamber Music Concert
FEBRUARY
6 Percussion Night
10 Mothers’ Club Mass and Service Project
20 Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert
MARCH
2 GRAND CELEBRATION 2013
2 Speech Scholarship Tournament
15 Incoming Freshmen Registration
18 College Fair
27 Grandparents’ Day
15-17 Spring Drama Production
22-23 Spring Drama Production
28-5 Easter Break
25 years of unity at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
For more information please visit www.olgchs.org/grandcelebration
2013 EVENTS
APRIL
10 Volunteer Appreciation Night
18 Alumni Business Network Event (Baltimore)
20 Falcon 5K Run/Walk
25 Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
26 Incoming Freshmen Mothers’ Breakfast
MAY
3 Spring Concert
5 Theatre Awards Ceremony
10 Spring Choir Concert
11 Spring Art Show
14 Corporate Partners Reception
18 Bass Fishing Tournament
19 Senior Mothers’ Mass and Brunch
22-23 Class of 1963 50th Reunion
23 Graduation
Friend Us I Follow Us I Learn About Us at olgchs.org
1988-