MCHS Vector: Spring 2014

F o r T h e M o r e a u C a t h o l i c H i g h S c h o o l C o m m u n i t y

2014Spring

The new field will be

a big boon to the life

of the school.

It is time.— Mrs. PaTricia GeisTer

PrinciPal Moreau caTholic1986-2002

Moreau Catholic

breaks ground on

the new Athletics

and Student

Activities Complex

page 2Join the Alumni All-Star Relay! page 14

LAte BreAking newS—

Mariner Boys win

D4 north Coast

Section Basketball

Championship! page 7

Phot

o: P

aul M

cKen

na ’8

3

CAMpAign For ChAMpionS2 celebrating a landmark event—Goundbreaking ceremony

for the new Athletics and Student Acitivities Complex

FiFth AnnuAL FunDing hopeS AnD DreAMS LunCheon6 2014 Keynote speaker, sam Mccracken

ChAMpionS Are...7 Mariner Basketball: coach Frank Knight iii and Moreau’s

north coast section champions

10 The Growing Dance Program at Moreau catholic sPrinG arTs calenDar

13 lauren McGary ’14, scholar and leader

14 campaign for champions—Be an alumni all-star

16 robotics and engineering Teacher Gary Gongwer

20 The 45th annual crab Feed and auction—Thank You

24 Volunteers: Diana (straggas) DeFrance ’76

kivA, An onLine reSourCe For MiCroFinAnCe22 Petar Zegura, social studies Teacher utilizes Kiva

alexandra harbert ’08 Volunteers as a Translator for Kiva

25 Mariner Waves

28 reunions

28 Fundraiser to Benefit the Philipines

29 in Memoriam Published by: Moreau Catholic High School

27170 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544Phone: 510.881.4300www.moreaucatholic.org

Features

volume 30 no. 1— Spring 2014

PresidentMr. Terry Lee

PrincipalMs. Lisa Tortorich

Design, Production, PhotographyChristine KosmickiCommunications Coordinator

ContributorsDiana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76Doug Ko, HKOphotoChristine KosmickiTerry LeeDani Lorta ’89

Board of TrusteesMr. Dennis Mastrantonio ’71, ChairMrs. Barbara Hemenez, Vice-ChairMr. Eugene AshleySr. Ramona Bascom, OPMs. Cynthia Bath Hon. Paul Delucchi ’87Mrs. Maritza IlarioMr. Rick L’ HeureuxMr. Terry Lee Ms. Marta LeonSr. Christopher Miller, OPFr. Paul Minnihan ’84Br. William Nick, CSCMrs. Charlene Raimondi Mr. Ed Raney Mr. Kevin Sweeney ’72Ms. Lisa Tortorich

Sophomore Brandon Lawrence ’16, along with Armond Simmons ’16, and Oscar Frayer ’16 made the Norcalpreps.com Class of 2016 watch list.

cover, inset Photo, Turning the ceremonial ground (left to right): Moreau catholic Theology chair Peter Francis shelley, Director of site services Tom alcott, Moreau catholic’s chaplain Fr. Bruce cecil, csc

Photo: Doug Ko, hKophoto

Spring ’14 | The Vector 1

Dear Mariners,

As I write this letter the sounds of construction are wafting through the air into

my open office window, which faces the back of the school. We are in week

three of construction of our new Athletics and Student Activities Complex, the

$5M project that will give us a new soccer/football field, new 8-lane track, new home bleachers with a roomy press box,

visitors bleachers, and an elegant entrance plaza, main gate and storage building/ticket office. By the end of this summer,

the project will be completed and we will be cutting the ribbon and dedicating this wonderful new addition to our Mission

Boulevard campus.

We could not have gotten to this point without the generosity and hard work of so many Mariners and friends. Last month we

held the official groundbreaking ceremony and celebrated this milestone with so many members of our Mariner family. The

excitement and pride felt that day was remarkable. I am grateful to all who have supported the Campaign for Champions

in so many meaningful ways.

This season we also are celebrating impressive wins by our Mock Trial team—once again the Alameda County champions—

as well as the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team’s North Coast Section championship. Spring sports are underway, with

baseball; softball; boys’ volleyball, tennis and golf; track and field; swimming; and badminton! Come out and cheer on our

Mariners this spring, or attend Shrek, The Musical, Mixed Tape Spring Dance Concert, and a choir or instrumental music

concert. Check our website for dates and times.

Our Holy Cross education at Moreau Catholic is rooted in the education of the whole child, mind and heart, body and soul.

That balance of academic, social, and spiritual experiences is what makes our students and our alumni so special.

Thank you for all you do to help us make that happen at Moreau Catholic High School!

With warm regards,

Letter from the President

Terry Lee

President

“Moreau is stitched very deeply into Hayward’s history, and who Hayward is. This is manifested not only in the care it shows its students, but toward the City as a whole. The school sets the gold standard in terms of community involvement.”

—Congressman Eric Swalwell U.S. Representative for California’s 15th District

2 The Vector | Spring ’14

The much-needed rain did

not dampen the spirits of

the more than 200 members

of Moreau Catholic High

School’s community who

gathered on Saturday, February 8, 2014

to celebrate a landmark event in the

history of the school—breaking ground

and beginning construction of a new,

$5M Athletics and Student Activities

Complex. Guests included alumni, alumni

parents, civic leaders, members of the

Diocese of Oakland, students, former and

current faculty and staff, and prominent

Campaign for Champions donors,

including the Fremont Bank Foundation

and the Moreau Catholic Booster Club.

The day was marked by a strong

sense of collective dedication to the

cause of beginning construction on

Moreau Catholic’s much-anticipated new

field. The campaign to raise funds for

this project, called the Campaign for

Champions, celebrated an operational

milestone by reaching 63% of the $5M

required to complete this project. As

Moreau Catholic President Terry Lee

explained to the guests, “This couldn’t

have happened without the support of

our Moreau family.” He also explained

that, while the school breaks ground on

construction today, there are still more

funds to raise before this Campaign for

Champions project can be realized and

construction can be completed by the

end of the summer. “The game isn’t over

yet. With your help, I know we will be very

successful,” concluded Lee.

Many of the guests reflected on the

strong athletic history of Moreau Catholic,

personified in remarks by guest-speaker

and former head football coach Al

Vermeil, for whom the new athletic field

will be named. Despite his many awards

and lifetime achievements, the legendary

Moreau football coach reflected true

humility and a sense of team spirit. He

said, “This is the greatest honor a man

could have. But this is not about me.”

He continued, “The name of this stadium

happens to be mine, but it represents all

the work of all these players,” gesturing

to those present in the room, and those

who were there “in spirit.” He explained

that the successes Moreau has achieved,

including this new field, are reflective of

both “the will to excel” and to “putting

your team and teammates first.” He said

that these are “qualities that endure.”

He was touched to be a part of such a

meaningful project and to have worked

at Moreau, in what he will always

consider an important part of life. “I had

the chance to coach in Camelot for six

years,” Vermeil concluded. The audience

rose to honor a coach that continues to

inspire and motivate others to make big

dreams come true.

Other guests underscored Vermeil’s

extraordinary impact on the history of

athletics at Moreau with words and

phrases like intensity, perseverance,

doing one’s best, challenging oneself,

and pride. It was clear that those who had

worked with Vermeil directly or indirectly,

past or present, had been influenced by

his infectious will to move individuals and

teams forward.

on February 8, 2014,

Moreau Catholic

celebrated a landmark

event—breaking

ground on a new

Athletics and Student

Activities Complex.

left to right: Sister Barbara Bray, snJM, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of oakland joined President terry Lee and Principal Lisa tortorich in turning over the ceremonial dirt during the official Groundbreaking ceremony.


“i had the chance to coach in camelot for six years.”

— Al Vermeil

left to right: craig Foxworthy ’79, William Foxworthy ’75and serena Foxworthy with coach al Vermeil and wife, Diane Vermeil.

The new athletics and student activities complex will honor two significant contributions to Moreau athletics—the field will be known as al Vermeil Field and the entrance gate will carry the name of the Foxworthy family: William ’75, Gordon ’76, Doug ’78 and craig ’79 played football under coach Vermeil.

Two stalwart supporters of Mariner athletics: retired football coach, hayward hero, and social studies teacher Jerry Sheets joined friend and Mariner track coach Diane Blackwell during this landmark event.

Ms. Marie-pascale peterson, Director of community outreach for Fremont Bank, has been a valued supporter of Moreau catholic. Fremont Bank made a gift of $300,000 to Campaign for Champions.

Former Board of Trustees member phyllis Moroney and Brian Schott ’77 have actively supported Moreau’s Campaign for Champions. Brian, along with fellow alumnus steve Klein ’78, initiated the naming effort for al Vermeil Field.

The conversations went

far beyond athletics and

touched on the community

of Hayward and the greater

East Bay. Congressman Eric

Swalwell spoke of his own experience

in high school and college athletics, and

the role that Moreau plays in reaching

out to the broader community. “Moreau

is stitched very deeply into Hayward’s

history, and who Hayward is.” This is

manifested, he continued, “not only in

the care it shows its students, but toward

the City as a whole. The school sets the

gold standard in terms of community

involvement,” said Swalwell.

President Terry Lee put the day in the

context of other structural changes that

have impacted the life of the students

at Moreau Catholic and the broader

community. He explained that it was the

Transforming Tomorrow project that set

the stage for the school’s strong emphasis

on 21st century learning, the one-to-one

laptop program, the creation of new STEM

programs, technological advancements

in the modernized Library and Learning

Commons, and the new multimedia and

video production studio.

Going forward, the Campaign for

Champions and the new track and field

represent a long-awaited structural effort

to improve the quality of the athletics

program. Conversations with many

members of the audience confirmed this

sentiment, ranging from former Principal

Patricia Geister, who set the stage for

Mariner athletic success, to Board

members, football players, teachers and

students.

“It’s time!” was the phrase that came

up again and again.

The Moreau Catholic community can

look forward to a ribbon-cutting and

dedication event in late summer, as well

as other opportunities to contribute,

individually or with others, as the project

moves closer to completion.

visit campaignforchampions.com to

learn how you can engage with this

exciting project.

“we wanted a field that would assist in the transformation of our

students, creating what we now call our ’largest classroom,’ where we

could address the hearts and minds of our students in new ways.”

— Brother William Nick, CSC

Former Mariner football coach Al vermeil and wife Diane with the 1982 Vince lombardi super Bowl trophy.

Board of Trustees member Sister Christopher Miller, oP had her hard hat adjusted by President Terry lee.

an iconic presence since the school first opened, Bernie puccini has attended all three groundbreakings. she caught up with former principal Fr. Lawrence Young before the ceremony.



Mr. ed raney, cPa, member of Moreau’s Board of Trustees and Finance committee, contributes sound business advice which is vital to steering the $5M Campaign for Champions to completion.

the grounDBreAking Ceremony was a

milestone in the ongoing process of fundraising.

the Campaign for Champions has met 63% of

the required $5M to complete the new Athletics

and Student Activities Complex. president

terry Lee and the Department of institutional

Advancement will continue their outreach to

individual donors and foundations to bridge the

gap. innovative approaches, such as pledging by

cell phone during the 2013 homecoming game,

raised over $30,000.

MOREAU MARINERSMOREAU MARINERS

M O R E AU C AT H O L I C H I G H S C H O O L H AY WA R D , C A L I F O R N I A JANUARY 2014

MOREAU MARINERS PLAZA

Campaign For Champions: on the horizon

Champions Are… behind the scenes

the MAriner pLAzA will serve as a warm welcome to Mariner fans as they enter our new facilities. naming opportunities are available for the donor wall and plaza tiles. contact Diana (straggas) DeFrance ’76, interim institutional advancement Director at 510.881.4330 for more information.

Many Moreau catholic supporters and over 400 donors have contributed to the current success of the Campaign for Champions. We are grateful for the generosity, expertise and energy of people whose vital contributions are made behind the scenes—on the Finance, institutional advancement and Facilities committees.

Ms. elvia o. Quiroga (with President Terry lee), 2012 raimondi Volunteer award recipient, Moreau catholic Parent ambassador and member of the Finance committee, has dedicated many hours to securing Moreau catholic’s future.

Mr. rick L’ heureux (right, with Peter Peabody), member of Moreau catholic’s Board of Trustees and chair of the institutional advancement committee, is a respected leader in the business community and has raised the visibility of Moreau catholic in the Bay area.

Dick Smith (right), chair of the Facilities committee, has been instrumental in dealing with issues, permits and planning for the construction process. Mr. Kevin sweeney ’72 is a member of Moreau catholic’s Board of Trustees.


benefiting theMoreau Catholic tuition assistance program

5 annualth

Friday, April 4, 2014

11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Ivaldi Student Center, Moreau Catholic

2014 keynote speaker: Sam mccracken Moreau Catholic Basketball Coach (1988-1991), General Manager of Nike’s Native American Business and current member of the Department of Education’s National Advisory Council on Indian Education. McCracken had the idea to sell Nike products directly to Native American tribes to support health promotion and disease prevention programs. Seven years after Nike’s Native American division began, the Nike design team collaborated with various community experts and tribal leaders to create footwear specifically for the Native American community, called Nike Air Native N7.

Moreau Catholic High School is committed to ensuring that all qualified students are afforded the opportunity to become a Mariner and achieve their dreams. Our need-based tuition assistance program provides scholars the life-long benefits of a Catholic, college-preparatory education.

the luncheon is generously underwritten so that every

dollar raised will go directly towards tuition assistance.

Contact Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76, Interim

Director of Institutional Advancement at 510.881.4330

or [email protected] for information

on becoming a host Committee member.

Moreau catholic graduate

James Mendoza ’12 will share

how tuition assistance enabled

him to pursue his dreams of

owning his own contracting

company.


In December, Moreau Catholic High

School presented the 2nd Annual

Catholic School Winter Classic, in

partnership with the High Hopes

Foundation and 4Ballers Only.

Under the visionary leadership

of Moreau Catholic Varsity Boys’

Basketball Coach and Moreau History

Teacher Frank Knight III, twelve Catholic

high schools from across the Bay Area

came together in competition at Cal State

East Bay. The proceeds of the event’s

ad sales helped support Moreau’s tuition

assistance program.

Coach Knight started the Winter

Classic in 2012. Each year, hundreds of

fans had the chance to experience some

of the Bay Area’s top-ranked basketball

teams and players.

The Moreau Catholic basketball teams

were among the top-performers this year.

“They are a team that our community will

enjoy watching over the coming years

because, though young, they are already

champions and promise to mature into

world-class players, as they move from

high school and into college leagues in the

coming years,” says Knight.

Champions Are…though young, they are are North Coast Section winners!”

—Coach Frank Knight III

Standout Sophomore, Oscar Frayer, is ranked Top-25 nationally by Scout.com.

Frank Knight III (with Principal Lisa Tortorich (l) and Athletic Director Christine Krisman) coached the Moreau Catholic basketball team to its first North Coast Section Championship against Salesian—a three-time defending champ with 15 straight NCS playoff wins. Moreau Catholic was in an NCS title game for the first time in its school’s history.

Thank you to photographer Doug ko

of hkophoto who generously allowed

Moreau catholic to use his up-close-

and-personal shots of Mariners in their

epic battle against newark Memorial

that ended in a heartbreaking loss,

65-64.


CoaCH KNIgHT discussed the team and the reasons for their success:

HarD WorK

“While other schools have their

varsity teams stacked with juniors and

seniors, ours consists of one junior, ten

sophomores and four freshmen,” Frank

proudly explains.

Though young, they push themselves

very hard. “They started training in the

summer and when school began they train

every day except Sunday,” says Knight.

“Many of them are motivated because

they have big dreams, hoping to go on

to play in college.” According to Knight,

at least half will succeed in getting full

scholarships to play in college. To achieve

that level of success, he continues, “You

have to be 100% dedicated to improving

your skillset, and this team is committed

in this way!”

BuILDINg TruST

On his coaching methods, Knight

used the term “mental toughness.” He

defines this as the point at which players

hit a “wall,” believing they can’t work any

harder. Skillfully, the coaches push them

just a bit farther, getting them to a safe

zone in which they are going beyond

what they thought they could do, but

remaining within the limits of their real

physical capacity. “Once that happens

and they achieve higher goals, they start

to trust their coaches deeply,” explained

Knight. The reason it works so well is

because the staff members at Moreau are

all very positive. “We correct them during

practice, and then allow them to shine

during games,” he explains. “For us, the

game becomes a celebration of all their

hard work.”

Knight talked more about why his

team responds to him so well. Among

the coaches he has seen, establishing

credibility with the kids is essential. “You

get buy-in when they realize you have

been through just what they have.”

He said that the life-lessons that

the basketball players experience are

numerous. Beyond learning about

developing trust in their coaches and

teammates and identifying how to set

goals and achieve them, players learn

how to fail. He specifies, “One can’t

teach heartbreak; it is something that has

to be experienced. Through our games

and tournaments, our teammates get the

opportunity to experience failure, learn

from it, and move on.” Knight believes

this is an essential skill today, more than

ever, where the job market is tough, and

where “mental toughness” and a positive

mind-set will be essential.

WHaT’S NexT?

“I am dedicated to continuing to

develop this young, winning team at

Moreau Catholic,” he says with the clarity

and focus that reflects his own dedication.

Knight looks beyond Moreau Catholic

to the community that surrounds the

school and adds that he is determined

to contribute to developing the next

generation of basketball players in the

East Bay through his basketball summer

camps. These operate in Hayward,

Newark, Union City, Fremont, and Castro

Valley. He is on his way to achieving his

goal, as he has hired five coaches to help

him with this successful program.

“While other schools have their varsity teams stacked with juniors and seniors, ours consists of one junior, ten sophomores and four freshmen.”

—Coach Frank Knight III

ride the Wave! recent Moreau catholic basketball games have been sold-out.our team of young players has been generating excitement througout the east Bay and beyond.



sophomore ryan regner is a scrappy defensive player who excels academically.

Freshman Damari Milstead led Moreau catholic to their first ncs championship, scoring 20 points over the Fortuna huskies in the semifinals, above.


sophomore armond simmons ’16 is already receiving scholarship offers from san Jose state, cal Poly, northern arizona university, american univeristy, univeristy of the Paciific, and university of california riverside.




Angela Demmel, dancer,

choreographer, teacher,

and chair of the Visual and

Performing Arts (VAPA)

Department, shares her

views on the remarkable growth of the

Moreau Catholic dance program over the

past decade. She also answers questions

about the success of dance at Moreau.

WHy Do MeN DaNCe?

“Recently, I received a letter from

a journalism student who asked me

’Why don’t men dance?’ I was happy to

contemplate this question from a different

angle, in order to help shift stereotypes that

are, luckily, being broken here at Moreau

and elsewhere. I am more interested in

discussing the question, ’Why do men

dance’.”

We see an increasing number of male

dancers on the Moreau stage. In fact,

this winter, among our 85 dancers, we

had 13 male performers. “They bring

a shift in energy to the studio space,

approaching the movement with a sense

of fearlessness. This particular group of

men crave success—a level of perfection

—that resonates through the rehearsal

space. The mix of male and female energy

works well together. They push each other

in positive ways.

“The male dancers all came to Moreau

Catholic with a background in athletics,

be it traditional sports, martial arts, or

some form of dance. Most certainly, each

finds commonalities between dance

and their other physical endeavors.

These include strength, endurance,

coordination, flexibility, and the personal

pleasure of arriving at a final product—the

performance. Just as in a competition, the

performance is the ultimate assessment

of excellence. These young men, no

different than the young women in the

program, have found in dance a means

to challenge themselves—physically,

mentally, and emotionally.”

Spring ArtS CAlendArShrek the Musicalapril 4 and 5, 7:00 pm

april 6, 2:00 pm

april 11 and 12, 7:00 pm

Teves Theatre, Moreau catholic

Spring Art Show, Fresh Airapril 4, 5:00-7:00 pm

Brother stephen Walsh, csc,

Memorial art Gallery

Spring DAnCe ConCertMixed tape— A tribute to the 80sMay 2 and 3, 7:00 pm

May 3 and 4, 2:00 pm


Spring orCheStrA & BAnD ConCertTuesday, May 6, 7 pm


popS Choir ConCertMusical theatre Favorites & popular hitsThursday, May 15, 7 pm


“christmas Waltz”Deion Marquez ’14 alexandra rebosura ’14 Justin owens ’14


Jenna Gomez ’14rehearsing for “christmas Waltz.”

Champions Are…Since 2000, the number of dancers has more than doubled, growing to 85 performers this year.”

—Angela Demmel, chair of the Visual and Performing Arts DEpartment


“Veni, veni, emmanuel”Vanessa Vonnegut ’16Madison irons ’14Brianna Thompson ’17ashlye Pena Velez ’16

“

WHy IS THe DaNCe PrograM aT

Moreau groWINg?

Our dance program has experienced

remarkable growth over the years. Since

2000, the number of dancers has more

than doubled, growing to 85 performers

this year. We attribute this increase to our

continued commitment to high quality

dance education, while generating larger

scale productions, which include music

and choreography that appeals to a

wider audience base. The results have

been fabulous, allowing audiences to

grow in their level of understanding of this

art form. Additionally, the Dance Program

works with the Admissions Department

to schedule performances around the

Open House season and invites local

elementary and middle school students

who might be interested in dance. More

and more, students are drawn to Moreau

Catholic because of our unique dance

program.

WHaT MoTIVaTeS you aS a DaNCe

TeaCHer?

I have a deep passion for the art

form that I wish to share with the next

generation of young dancers. It seems

that, all too often, dance educators

underestimate what high school

dancers can do. They are asked to do

tricks, to kick, to turn, but not given the

opportunity to explore deeper themes

choreographically. Our students are

articulate, intelligent, feeling beings, fully

capable of addressing mature themes in

an abstract way. People often say: “We

can only expect this much from them

because they are just high schoolers.” I

have never adopted that philosophy. In

founding a program to meet the rigorous

standards of this college preparatory

institution, I modeled the curriculum

after college dance majors. I have

never lowered my standards; the result

being that all of our dance classes are

UC eligible and we boast the only UC

accepted Honors dance class in the

state.

Developing and maintaining this model

is a continual practice of trial and error. If

a concept is too much for my students, I

need to go back and modify it. I have to

ask myself, “How do I challenge, but not

overwhelm?” In the end, this is the same

mindset used by every teacher who

strives to bring out the best in students.

Part of this process is having upper level

students choreograph their own pieces.

I invite them to work within a theme, or

concept, that will get them excited in a

way that is different from dancing to

music they listen to in their living rooms.

The male dancers all came with a background in athletics, be it traditional sports, martial arts, or some form of dance.

Most certainly, each finds commonalities between dance and their other physical endeavors.

These include strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility.”


“Mary, Did You Know?”erin De leon ’14 nathan Balingit ’14

Lauren McGary ’14, of Hayward,

is a National Achievement

Scholarship Program* recipient

and a senior at Moreau Catholic.

She is also on the Principal’s

Honor Roll, a member of the National

Honors Society, and has a 4.22 cumulative

GPA. When she was in 8th grade and a

student at Redwood Christian Schools,

she decided to attend Moreau Catholic

because she was looking for a school

that was academically challenging and

that offered a wide variety of programs

so that she could explore new interests.

She had also heard that Moreau Catholic

had a strong journalism program, which

was already something that she knew

was interesting to her.

Now, four years later, McGary recently

finished applying to college. During her

time at Moreau, in addition to journalism

courses, she also learned French and

enrolled in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Through this course, she developed an

interest in International Relations, and

selected colleges based on this. She

is leaning toward schools on the East

Coast, in locations such as Washington

DC and New York, where she believes

career opportunities in International

Relations will be strong.

McGary was also a Student

Ambassador, a member of Link Crew,

a volleyball player and member of the

track team. She also founded a chapter

of Model United Nations (UN), a club in

which students assume (or “model”) the

roles of ambassadors or representatives

in the United Nations and debate key

issues. Regarding the genesis of the

club, she explained, “I got the idea for the

club from a college visit. An administrator

at the Department for International Affairs

at one school informed me that students

typically take Model UN as a course in

which they prepare for competitions. She

then informed me that some high schools

have the same program. I brought this

back to Moreau, where the idea was

greeted with enthusiasm.” The club, in

its first year, already has 20 members.

Its mandate is to raise global awareness

about human rights and social justice.

Currently, they are preparing to attend

their first conference at UC Berkeley.

*The National Achievement Scholarship Program honors African-American students who get the highest scores among African-American students taking the PSAT.

Champions Are…Lauren McGary ’14, Scholar and Leader

lauren McGary ’14 (front row, center) with members of the Moreau catholic chapter of Model united nations.



Campaign for ChampionsBe an Alumni All-Star! Joint the Alumni All-Star Relay for the Campaign for Champions!

What is the Alumni All-Star relay?Just like Spirit Week, the Alumni All-Star relay is a chance for proud Mariners to show their

class pride! With eight lanes on the new all-weather track, eight lucky classes will have a

lane named for them to carry on their legacy of Mariner pride.

Current scoreboard based on funds raised from alumni and alumni parents to date:

What do I get as an Alumni All-Star?First and foremost, winning all-star classes (the top eight classes that raise more than

$30,000) will have a new track lane named after them in descending order of funds raised.

And there’s more! We are also offering several other bonuses based on your pledge level,

ranging from patches and window decals to limited edition MVP Stadium seats, named

seats or rows in the bleachers, and limited edition Campaign for Champions Nike jackets!

How will my gift be counted if there are several Mariners in my family?If you have several alumni in your family, your gift will be evenly distributed across each

class year for you and your alumni children/students. Should you wish to reallocate your gift

across class years, please contact Dani Lorta ’89 at [email protected]

*$30,000 minimum met

Lane 1 ’77*

Lane 2 ’75*

Lane 3 ’85*

Lane 4 ’86*

Lane 5 ’07

Lane 6 ’74

Lane 7 ’72

Lane 8 ’83

runner up ’10

runner up ’13

To learn more about how to

organize your class effort,

contact the Alumni Office at

[email protected]


How can I be an Alumni All-Star?Being an Alumni All-Star is easy! Make your gift in any of the following ways:

WayS To gIVe

online

Visit moreaucatholic.org/giving to give safely and securely online.

Mobile

Text “Moreau $Amount Your Name” to 56512 to pledge your support.

Cash/Checks

Mail to:

MarINer MVP—aLuMNI aLL STar reLay

Moreau Catholic High School

27170 Mission Boulevard

Hayward, CA 94544-4194

Match

Visit www.moreaucatholic.org/matchinggifts to leverage

the impact of your gift with an employer matching gift.

other

Contact Dani Lorta ’89 at [email protected] for

more information on giving gifts of stock, real estate, matured

life insurance policy, wills, trusts, and planned giving.

Now that we are in the Campaign’s Fourth Quarter, we need

everyone on the team! Please make your Mariner MVP Gift now to ensure

your class gets on the board and is recognized for your Mariner Spirit.

To learn more about how to organize your class effort, contact the

Alumni Office at [email protected]

Go Mariners! Ride the Wave!

ALuMni AthLetiC eventS

Alumni volleyball game

saturday, March 22, 2014

location: Main Gym, Mchs

Time: 5:00 pm

contact Dani lorta ’89 at [email protected]

register online at www.moreaucatholic.org/alumnivb14

Alumni track & Field Family BBQ

saturday, May 10, 2014

location: Moreau catholic President’s Patio, 3rd floor

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm

contact Dani lorta ’89 at [email protected]


No one questions the

fact that computer

programming has a huge

impact on our society

today. For those who live

in Silicon Valley, many have experienced

the significant increase in demand for

programmers. Indeed, according to

the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The

profession’s superb job prospects, low

unemployment rate and excellent median

salary helped it grab the No. 1 spot in our

ranking of the Best Jobs of 2014.”

Someone interested in the future

of education might ask the obvious

question: “How are high schools

responding to the growing demand for

programming as a 21st century skill set?”

The answer is surprising.

According to Moreau Catholic High

School math and computer science

teacher Gary Gongwer, only 5% of

American high schools offer computer

programming as an Advanced Placement

(AP) course. As many in the Moreau

Catholic community recognize, this is

not the case here. Moreau not only offers

applied computer training skills, like

Robotics Engineering, but is the only high

school in the East Bay to offer a Gaming

Design Class.

Gongwer, who studied Computational

Linguistics at Stanford University and

who has a Masters in Statistics from

Cal State East Bay, reflected recently

about the evolution of computer science

programs at Moreau today.

He says that Robotics teaching tools

came onto the market about ten years

ago and were offered by the world-

famous Lego company. He described

the skills that the students develop in

these classes. They range from ones

we might expect, such as geometry and

design, to those that are more surprising,

which include literary analysis and

character-development. He believes that

programming is like a language, easiest

to learn when young. “Providing computer

programming at the high school level

is what I define as a 21st century vision

made real,” says Gongwer.

In the Robotics Engineering course

at Moreau Catholic, students learn

academic skills, but they also refine their

ability to communicate and collaborate

effectively. “Good designs are the result

of extensive interactive work, ranging

from identifying designs provided by

other individuals online, to debating the

merits of various designs in work groups.”

Interestingly, they also develop the skill

of failure. “In the technology arena, we

call it ’troubleshooting,’” says Gongwer.

“An important part of the engineering

process is to build and test prototypes

and then improve the design based on

what went wrong,” he continued.

Gongwer describes how he teaches

Champions Are…Robotics and

Gaming Teacher

Gary Gongwer

“Good designs are the result

of extensive interactive work,

ranging from identifying designs

provided by other individuals

online, to debating the merits of

various designs in work groups.”


the important connection between

mathematics and the arts and even

ethics to his students. A valuable lesson,

along these lines, is provided in a piece

they read by science fiction author Karel

Capek. In Capek’s “Rossum’s Universal

Robots” (1920), the author reveals

issues related to the implications of

having one group control the actions of

another. Students are prompted to ask

themselves, “What are the parameters

we should consider as programmers?”

It is chilling to consider that the issues

explored by Capek in the 1920s are

just as relevant to programmers today.

Gongwer explains, “Students learn to

combine their ability to look at situations

from both an ethical and a practical

standpoint and make sound decisions.”

He continues, “As a Catholic school, this

lesson is particularly relevant to the way

we teach technology.”

Moreau Catholic currently has

students from Gary Gongwer’s Robotics

Engineering and Gaming Analysis and

Design classes who are studying at major

universities and who are focusing their

future careers on these issues. Among

them is Kendrick Kho ’10, a senior at

Stanford University. Kendrick will soon

graduate with a double major in Earth

Systems and in Science, Technology,

and Society. With this multidisciplinary

background, Kendrick hopes to

transform the organizational structure

and culture of corporations to foster

social and environmental responsibility.

Of Gongwer’s class, Kho says, “I was

trained in a methodical, step-by-step

thought process, while learning to create

solutions by testing, refining, and iterating

through possibilities. This practical

approach is what enabled me to succeed

in the coursework I had at Stanford. Mr.

Gongwer is engaging and very hands

on. These traits are key for a teacher,

especially for this sort of course where you

have small teams and complex problems.

It is also important for the teacher to be

accessible, as he is!” He added, “The

subject matter inspires itself, but it is

key for a teacher to help spark solutions

because this is what enables students to

push through the places where they get

stuck.” Today, Kho is very interested in

business solutions. For example, one of

his favorite companies to follow is Tesla.

Why? Kho’s answer reflects his broad

interests and perspective. He says,

“Their approach to entering the electric

vehicle market is very different from

standard approaches like that of Nissan.”

He continues, “They implement world-

class engineering solutions, but provide

essential reassurance to consumers via

a sophisticated branding strategy.” Next,

Kho is applying to graduate school in

Management Science and Engineering,

which he describes as an MBA for

Engineers”.

Kendrick Kho ’10 (left, in a 2009 photo taken in Mr. Gongwer’s class) will graduate from stanford university with a double major in earth systems and in science Technology.

“Students learn to combine

their ability to look at situations

from both an ethical and

a practical standpoint and

make sound decisions.”


How many of you are from

Uganda? was the first

question President Terry

Lee asked a group of

students who came to the

Library and Learning Commons to attend

his lunchtime travel series talk about his

recent trip to East Africa.

“How many of you have been to

Uganda or Africa?” he asked next. Like

the first question, no hands went up.

“Neither had I,” he went on.

Lee’s visit to Uganda is helping bridge

the gap for us here at Moreau, and for

the Congregation of Holy Cross, who

called upon Lee to provide workshops to

teachers from Holy Cross in the District

of East Africa, which also includes Kenya

and Tanzania.

Lee’s visit is another step in the long

history of collaboration between The

Congregation of Holy Cross and the

people of East Africa. In 1958, after some

consideration of where Holy Cross might

extend its missionary service in the world,

it was decided to open a new mission in

Uganda. Father Vincent McCauley, CSC,

led the first Holy Cross religious to Fort

Portal in 1959. For context, Lee reminded

his audience in the Library and Learning

Commons of the fact that Moreau

Catholic High School was founded in

1965, not long after this first Holy Cross

expansion in Uganda. The educational

workshops Lee helped facilitate included

teachers and administrators from all over

East Africa, with some people traveling

16 hours by car from Nairobi, Kenya and

Tanzania. The focus of the workshops

was to help teachers develop specific

tools to strengthen their Holy Cross

identity, and helped reinforce the global

nature of the Holy Cross themes of Being

Family, Building Respect, Bringing Hope,

and Educating Hearts & Forming Minds.

Lee recounted some of the logistical

details surrounding the trip, which included

a 26-hour plane ride with two stops, and

the number of shots and medications

that were required to prevent yellow fever,

typhoid and malaria. He also showed

the group a photo of his bed, which was

covered in mosquito netting. He went on

to share stories about the local foods,

which includes matoke (a mashed

President lee (front row) is pictured with holy cross educators from east africa who gathered in Jinja, uganda for educational workshops on mission and holy cross heritage.

PreSIDeNT Terry Lee TrAveLS TO UGANDA

The educational workshops

Terry Lee helped facilitate

included teachers and

administrators from all over

east Africa, with some people

traveling 16 hours by car

from Kenya and Tanzania.


plantain dish) and ugali (a cornmeal staple)

of East and southeastern Africa.

Lee also discussed his visit to Holy

Cross School Lakeview in Jinja, a co-ed

boarding high school founded in 1994.

“This school is very highly regarded in

Uganda for its academics,” Lee explained.

“There is heavy demand for top quality

education in Uganda, where illiteracy

rates are still very high and only 50% of

the population is employed.” The school’s

principal, Brother Cleo, reiterated that the

school is growing and that infrastructure

improvements are needed. “A new boys’

dormitory is almost completed, and a

new girls’ dorm will be constructed next,”

Brother Cleo told Mr. Lee. Lee compared

this construction at Holy Cross Lakeview to

our own construction of our new Athletics

and Student Activities Complex. “While

there is an obvious difference in the order

of magnitude of where they are in Africa

compared to us, we are both focused

on improving our school facilities so our

students can thrive and learn,” stated Lee.

“They have come so far since opening

in 1994,” Lee continued about Holy Cross

Lakeview. “The school is imparting Gospel

values, and graduates of the school are

going on to university and making a

difference in the ongoing development of

their country.”

He explained to the Moreau Catholic

audience that the students at Holy Cross

Lakeview are getting an opportunity that

most of the young people in Uganda

won’t have. “Their parents are paying

tuition that is difficult to afford, and

sending their children far away to a

boarding school, all in the hopes that

they will have a pathway to university and

a better life,” Lee continued. “It not only

reminds us of the great blessings we have

in the United States, but of the universal

appeal of education as empowerment,

and the strong Holy Cross values that are

alive and evident in all Holy Cross schools

around the world.”

For a glimpse of the sights and sounds of

holy cross school lakeview, please visit

youtube.com/watch?v=2zxNHkDfses

saint andré Dining hall at holy cross lakeview in Jinja, uganda.

at an ordination to the transitional diaconate, youmg men lay prostrate before the local Bishop and pledge their loyalty to holy cross and the church.

The students at Holy Cross

Lakeview are getting an

opportunity that most of

the young people in Uganda

won’t have. Their parents

are paying tuition that

is difficult to afford, and

sending their children far

away to a boarding school,

all in the hopes that they

will have a pathway to

university and a better life.


Thanks to the efforts of many members of this the

Moreau Catholic community, we had the opportunity

to gather and enjoy another sold out Crab Feed.

Congratulations to the Booster Club on an amazing

night of food, fun and festivities as over 620 patrons

enjoyed an all-you-can-eat crab and pasta feed, a wonderful raffle

and auction, and dancing, all while raising over $60,000.00 for the

Mariner athletics Program.

The night would not have been possible without the leadership

of Heidi Muhr, Assistant to the Athletic Director, and Kari

Cardana, Booster Club President. Over the past five years these

two hardworking individuals have raised over $250,000 from crab

feed events and hope to grow that amount over the next 5 years.

We also send our sincere thanks to Ted griggs ’78, President of

Comcast Sports, who was the Auctioneer for the night. Students,

parents, alumni, faculty and staff all worked together to make this

event an outstanding success.

—Christine Krisman,

Athletic Director

The Muhr family: heidi Muhr (2nd from right) with her sister, Judy halper ’86; cousin, e. J. Walsh, and daughter; Marilyn Muhr ’10

Tony Mirenda of BLACh Construction, who attended crab Feed with his sister Donna Mirenda-D’arcy, is the principal design-build contractor for the new Athletics and Student Activities Complex at Moreau catholic and always an enthusiastic supporter of Moreau catholic events.

The 45th Annual Crab Feed and Auction

Champions Are…The Moreau Catholic Booster Club, Hundreds of supporters,

volunteers and contributors. Thank You!


texAS hoLD’eM poker tournAMentSaturday, March 29thDoors open at 5:30 pmTournament starts at 6:30 pm sharpgArin gYM

grAnD prize: $500 Gift Card and a special gift

2nd place: $250 Gift Card and a special gift

3rd place: $100 Gift Card and a special giftPrizes for 4th-9th place also!

$100 Buy In Includes:Chips, Dinner Buffet and Cocktail Coupon

additional Buy Up rounds available$25 for buffet only (non-players)

reserve your seat: moreaucatholic.org/athletics

lovely Queen of spades, Moreau’s own Kerrie Gibson, left her customary post as athletic trainer and science teacher to help out at the 45th annual crab Feed and auction by promoting the The 2nd annual chips-ahoy hold’em showdown.

super-volunteers, Kurt and Mary Jo schaarschmidt, were welcomed to the cocktail and silent auction festivities by Bernie Puccini. Daughter Krista schaarschmidt ’14 has graced many musicals, Masses and choir concerts with her lovely voice. she is surely is destined for stardom after graduation in May.


Economics is often a very

theoretical topic. The well-

known economic thinkers of

the world, ranging from Karl

Marx (1818-1883) and John

Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) to Milton

Friedman (1912-2006) and even Ben

Bernanke (1953-present), offer a variety

of points of view regarding economic

theory. But what do these mean to our

lives today?

With regard to the practical side of

economics, Moreau Catholic Social

Studies teacher Petar Zegura utilizes an

original approach to teaching high school

students (or anyone for that matter)

economic principles related to micro

lending by using Kiva. For the past four

years, Zegura has been offering Moreau

students a popular way to try a real-world

means of making a difference in a global

sense: providing small (“micro”) loans to

individuals throughout the developing

world in a hands-on approach to

alleviating poverty by helping people

to help themselves. Students taking

economics (every senior) each donate

$5 to this project. Thus far 853 students

have contributed $3890 to the Moreau

Lending team. After the recipients have

repaid the short-term loans, the money

is then rolled over or re-loaned- in other

words, reinvested into assisting someone

else. Currently the economics

classes have provided 441 loans to

individuals in 52 countries, totaling

$12,225, more than a threefold return

on the original donations.

Kiva is known throughout the world as

an innovative successful Internet start-up,

originated by Stanford students, and now

based in San Francisco. It was the first

internet-based micro-lending company in

the world. According to their website, Kiva

is a non-profit organization with a mission

to connect people through lending to

alleviate poverty. Leveraging the Internet

and a worldwide network of microfinance

institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as

little as $25 to help create opportunity

around the world. They have given out

over $527 million in loans, working with

over 1,000,000 lenders in 73 countries

around the world. Today, those lenders

include the students of Mr. Zegura’s

Social Studies class.

Moreau is one of 444 high schools

worldwide, to have used Kiva to provide

small loans to better lives. For example,

Moreau Students have helped to

purchase livestock, seeds for crops,

portable chlorination systems for safe

drinking water, farm equipment, business

inventory, and sewing machines

Moreau’s loans have helped to fund a

wedding in Mongolia and even brought

cold beer to a small store in a remote

village in the Peruvian Andes by assisting

in the purchase of a refrigeration unit. You

can see a precise history of Moreau’s

teams and their investments by visiting

the handy www.kiva.org web site. Search

for Moreau under Teams.

Petar Zegura, Moreau

Catholic social Studies

Teacher, utilizes an online

resource, Kiva, to teach

principles related to loaning

money. www.kiva.org

the class has

funded a wedding

in Mongolia,

and brought

refrigeration

to a store in the

Andes.


Alexandra currently works as the Community

Technology Coordinator at the Women’s

Building in San Francisco. She plans to begin

an assignment with the Peace Corps in South

America beginning May 2014.

I have always had an interest in social justice and development

issues. Much of my early inspiration came from the things

I learned with Ms. Amy Armstrong in her Peace and Conflict

Studies class and my experiences as an exchange student in

Argentina during my sophomore year.

I began to speak Spanish confidently during my 11 months

in Argentina and I developed my reading and writing skills in

my classes with Ms. Yolanda Moran. She encouraged me

to continue studying Spanish in college and with the strong

foundation I gained at Moreau, it became feasible to finish a

Spanish major in addition to my Women’s Studies major and

Portuguese minor. I went on to learn more about women in

development and specifically about microfinance as I delved

deeper into my studies.

As a senior, I completed a semester-long internship at the

Foundation for Women, a microfinance organization based in

San Diego. There, I attended meetings with local borrowers who

were starting small businesses, vetted potential sales locations

and created bilingual learning materials for the women.

When I graduated from San Diego State University I wanted

to continue my involvement with microfinance organizations.

After reading extensively about organizations that are involved

in the microfinance sector, I chose to reach out to Kiva based on

the high quality experience they offer their volunteers and staff,

and the respect that they have earned from others in the field.

While browsing the Kiva website, I saw they were requesting

applications for volunteer translators and I applied. The multi-

step application process entailed essays about my background

and motivation and also exams to test for high-level language

proficiency.

Now I translate loans from Spanish to English about 2 hours

a week. As someone who was been studying Spanish for a

while it is fascinating to learn new words and regionalisms. I am

also learning a lot about translation and inferring from context.

Many times the terminology can be very obscure because of the

remote location of the borrowers. As volunteers, we collaborate

on a group message board to figure out together the best

wording or translation.

I recently attended the Review and Translation Program

holiday party at the Kiva headquarters in San Francisco, where I

got to meet other volunteers who live in the area and mingle with

Kiva staff and interns. There, Matt Flannery, the CEO, spoke

to us about Kiva’s need for volunteers. When he first started

Kiva it seemed daunting from a financial standpoint to edit and

translate the loans and post them online for lenders to choose

from. The work of the editors and translators make it possible

for folks to browse the website and understand the backgrounds

of the borrowers and how their loan can make a difference in the

borrower’s lives.

If folks are interested in getting involved it only takes $25

to start lending. You can browse the profiles of the borrowers,

which are translated by volunteers like myself, and soon the $25

will be repaid to the lender so they can allocate the funds to a

new project.

Experiences like my time in the Philippines with Father Tito

Bonoan have motivated me to find ways to use my talents to get

involved with the global community. I am grateful to have had

such an enriching experience at Moreau, which continues to

inspire me to connect with others.

Moreau Alumna

Alexandra Harbert ’08

Volunteers as a Translator

for Kivai am grateful to have had such an

enriching experience at Moreau,

which continues to inspire

me to connect with others. alexandra ’08 with sister nicole ’11

Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 was honored last

November during the Saint Clement Second

Annual Auction for her years of service to Saint

Clement School and Parish.

Diana began her volunteerism at Saint Clement

when her daughter, Jennifer (DeFrance) Burgin ’02 entered

Kindergarten in 1991. Diana would spend time in different

classrooms helping teachers, donating school supplies,

working with struggling readers, being a room mom, supervising

students at recess and lunch, and regularly driving on field trips

(with Chrissy DeFrance ’05 tagging along)! Diana loved working

with students and watching her two daughters grow up while

they attended Saint Clement School.

As years passed, Diana would follow her servant’s heart and

became the Saint Clement School Parent Club President, Saint

Clement Parish CYO Athletic Director, and a member of the

Saint Clement Parish Council. However, Diana was most often

known and loved for being an aide to many teachers, and her

incredible support to Gladys Radecke and Mary Pult—former

Saint Clement School principals.

“Diana’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious; her

dedication and love for the students were obvious. Many a day,

I observed her working with students at Saint Clement School

and later in life doing the same with Moreau Catholic students;

it was always a scene of joy and care. Diana was always

instrumental in fulfilling the mission of Catholic school education

at Saint Clement School and unmistakably at Moreau Catholic

High School. Blessings to Diana,” recalled Gladys Radecke.

“No matter what the event, you could always count on Diana

either to spearhead or be a supporter. Any idea that benefitted

Saint Clement School or Parish, she was willing to make it

happen. Her spirit of helpfulness inspired many parents to also

give freely of their time,” said Mary Pult.

During her years at Saint Clement, Diana would organize

major fundraising events, including the annual auction, school

and parish festivals, and school fundraisers. She often assisted

classes in creating their auction items, even if it meant her

spending hundreds of hours at her sewing machine.

In 2000, Diana accepted a position at Moreau Catholic

High School and is currently the Interim Director of Institutional

Advancement. Even though Diana works full time, she still

has a hand in Saint Clement—volunteering to help organize

their annual auction and the school’s recent 50th anniversary

celebration.

“Diana is a guardian angel to our Saint Clement School

community. Her vision and passion for our school is admirable

and beyond measure. Diana embodies all four of our Schoolwide

Learning Expectations and is a role model for our students to

follow. She has a tremendous heart and is always willing to

help where needed. As one of her former colleagues at Moreau

Catholic, I can say that she is an amazing woman, a true leader,

a visionary and goes above and beyond to get things done. As

the Principal of Saint Clement School, I can simply say that we

are fortunate to have her as part of our community. May God

continue to bless her and her family,” states Ana Hernandez.

In honor of their mother’s accomplishments, Jennifer ’02

and Chrissy ’05 have started a scholarship for Saint Clement

students who wish to continue their Catholic education. For

more information about supporting the scholarship, please

contact Principal Ana Hernandez at [email protected]

Champions Are…volunteers: diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76


80s


FLeetwood Mask the Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Paul Jones ’82, steve Roberts ’82, and

Claudette Rodrigues ’81

are bringing their popular band, Fleetwood Mask, close to

home. They have a special performance scheduled at the

historic Bal Theatre in San Leandro on Saturday, April 19th at

7:30 pm. Tickets are available at www.BalTheatre.com. Steve

and Paul played together at Moreau’s famous talent shows as

students and returned last year with Claudette and the band to

play the Class of 2013’s Rock the Wave event.

MoReau’s Math dePaRtMent Some members of Moreau’s Math department from the 1980s

got together to celebrate Christmas, including Linda Wolf,

Susanna Pancella, Mary Ann Udoutch, and Diane Mathios.

Diane is still teaching at De Anza Community College and

the others are retired and having fun traveling, golfing, and

gardening.

Mariner WaVes

submit your Mariner Wave to: Dani lorta ’89 annual Giving and alumni relations [email protected]

left to right:linda Wolf, susanna Pancella, Mary ann udoutch, and Diane Mathios

left to right: Barbara Martin, steve roberts ’82, Paul Jones ’82, claudette rodrigues ’81 and Don oberempt

90s

70s 00s

00s

80sBrianna swartz ’00 and ashwin Prasad ’00

welcomed their son, Devon Quincy Swartz-Prasad, on November

9, 2013. He was 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 21 inches. All are healthy

and happy.

Matt warren ’03

married his best friend and soulmate, Corine Perez on September

21, 2013. The wedding was held at the Eagle Ridge Golf Course

in Gilroy. They are looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.

sonia Maldonado ’10

is a proud employee of Kaiser Permanente. Her daughter, Miabella

Katalina Castaneda-Maldonado, was born on March 6, 2013.

Mariner WaVes

congratulations to Matt and corine!

rick ’88, wife heather, and son roman antonini

Gina antonini ’83


tim o’Bayley ’79

is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of his Public

Relations & Advertising agency, O’Bayley Communications.

Tim relocated to Palm Springs in 1998.

Gina antonini ’83

decided to take her part-time passion of skincare specialist and

makeup artist and make it a full-time business as a Mary Kay

consultant. Check out her business at www.marykay.com/gma.

Beth Johnson weger ’87 and danielle werner ’02

were classmates and graduates of the San Jose Police Department

Communications Academy. Both Danielle and Beth are 911 call

takers for the San Jose Police Department. They discovered their

Moreau connection during an ice-breaker at the Academy.

Rick antonini ’88 and heather dion antonini

welcomed their son, Roman Steven Antonini, on August 15, 2013.

kecia Mcdonald ’89 and amy Bailey Proto ’89

crossed off one of the items on their bucket list by visiting Machu

Picchu in Peru last June. Amy’s son, Josh Proto, is in his second

year at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon studying

Molecular Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies.

Brian appiano ’95

and his wife own two restaurants and a catering business on the

Central Coast of CA. After being featured on Adam Richman and

Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food Nation,” they were one of five

private invitees by Adam to the 2012 World Food Championship

in Las Vegas where he took 4th place overall and earned an

automatic invitation for 2013. At the 2013 competition, Brian and

his team won 1st place for People’s Choice Chili. (The People’s

Choice Award is voted on and determined by the audience).

danni Fry ’97

and her family recently moved back to California after ten years.

They welcomed a baby girl, Makena, in April.


left to right: Makena Fry, Miabella Katalina castaneda-Maldonado and Devon Quincy swartz-Prasad

roB Butner ’98 AnD niCoLe CurrY ’98

reconnected in 2006 on MySpace.com.

They were engaged in Maui last year and

will be married on July 12, 2014. They will

be honeymooning in Italy where Rob will be

racing in XTERRA Italy, an off-road triathlon,

in the town of Scanno. They spend most of

their time running half marathons (Nicole)

and racing in triathlons (Rob). In their spare

time, Nicole works for Kimpton Hotels and

Rob works for Apple. They currently reside

in Union City with their dog, Bella.

welcome Future Mariners!

Beth Johnson Weger ’87 and Danielle Werner ’02

Kecia McDonald ’89 and amy Bailey Proto ’89

Brian appiano ’95 (r) with chef robert irvine of Restaurant Impossible

Tim o’Bayley ’79

Moreau’s Voyage to 50 our year-long commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Moreau Catholic high School starts in August, 2014.

please share memories of your alma mater. Send them to Dani Lorta ’89 at [email protected] or Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 at [email protected].

Celebration preparations are ongoing and look for upcoming events in our next few editions of The Vector.

Mariners Forever

reunionsIt’s Class reunion planning season!Contact your class reunion volunteer for more information and to help plan a memorable event:

1969 Dave Donnan [email protected]

1974 Teri Menchini [email protected] 510.825.0212

1979 Tim O’Bayley [email protected]

1984 Patricia Gudino [email protected] 510.600.7855

1989 Dani Lorta [email protected] 510.881.4360

1994 Kitty Aquino esparrago [email protected]

1999 volunteers needed

2004 John Flaaten roze Alvidera 510.861.8659 [email protected]

2009 Alicia Martinez [email protected] 925.918.3419

Check out your class Facebook page (Moreau Catholic — Class of ____) to help get the planning process underway with your classmates and ensure you have a memorable reunion unique to your class.

Contact Dani Lorta ’89 at [email protected] for more information about working with Moreau Catholic’s Alumni Office and volunteering for your class reunion committee.


Saturday, April 5, 4:30 p.m.ivaldi Student Center, Moreau CatholicStudents from Moreau Catholic High School are traveling to the Philippines

this summer to build a home for the poor. This is their seventh service

immersion trip to the region.

For this purpose, The Moreau Filipino Club has offered to host a unique

fundraiser, which will include homemade Filipino food and beverages, in

addition to entertainment. All proceeds will go directly toward the home

they are constructing.

This event is scheduled directly before Moreau Catholic’s production of

“Shrek: The Musical,” so we hope it provides a convenient, entertaining,

and productive way to spend a Saturday night. Your support will be

deeply appreciated by all.

For information, to donate or buy tickets to the dinner, please contact

Fr. Bruce Cecil, CSC or [email protected] or Mr. Peter Shelley at

[email protected].

FunDrAiSing Dinner to benefit the philippines

wAnteD Alumni Speakers to join our Alumni Speakers Bureau

alumni are invited to join the alumni speakers Bureau to partner with Moreau faculty members for class presentations linking curriculum to practical career applications.

share your passion for your career and your journey to your current position with fellow Mariners. contact Dani lorta ‘89 [email protected] for more information and to volunteer.

IN MEMORIAM

Please pray for the souls of:

robert Joseph ahern

leon cisek

Bonnie clevenger

Duane Felton

Dana (oliveira) Garaventa ’93

ruben Gonzalez ’10

robert Mark Green ’72

John P. “Jack” Karleskind

Diane (Beaudry) Manning ’74

Joseph Marino, sr.

elaine Jennie Menchini

stephen Paul Petros

Patricia Phillips

edward Puniak

Mary anne Puniak

elizabeth (Betty) Quinn

Mauro salinas

robert souza ’77

Justus spillner

sgt. Thomas smith, Jr. ’89


An honor guard was led by the campus ministry

students, among others in the Moreau Catholic family to bid

farewell to an alumnus who deeply impacted the community.

Moreau Catholic High School students, faculty and staff

lined Mission Boulevard in front of the school and solemnly

held signs to honor BarT Police Sergeant Tommy

Smith ’89 in support of his family as the funeral procession

passed by the school on January 29th. Members of the

Campus Ministry Team, among other students, spent

time in reflection while creating the signs. Both those who

knew Tommy personally and those who only knew him by

reputation, shared heartfelt words of sorrow for his passing

and pride in the life he led. The word family resounded as

the Mariner community joined to support the Smith family

during a difficult time.

Dani Lorta ’89, Alumni Relations Coordinator at Moreau

Catholic High School, was Tommy’s classmate. She says,

“Tommy was a leader in our community. He was someone

who was as committed to his career as he was to his friends

and family. We are reeling from the loss and are staying in

close contact to support the many people whose lives he

touched so deeply.”

Please keep the Smith family in your thoughts and

prayers.

BArT police officer Tommy Smith ’89; Kellie Smith, wife and BArT police K-9 Officer, and their 6-year-old daughter, Summer.

ruben Gonzalez ’10 and Armando Ayala

Thomas (Tommy) Smith ’89Ruben Gonzalez ’10

Please pray for the family of ruben gonzalez, class of

2010, who tragically passed away recently. When Ruben was

a student at Moreau Catholic, he asked Moreau’s Armando

Ayala to wear his football jersey at the opening home football

game.

We call on Blessed Basil Moreau and St. andré Bessette:

Lord God, source and destiny of our lives, in Your loving

providence You gave us Ruben to grow in wisdom, age, and

grace. Now You have called him to Yourself. We grieve over the

loss of one so young and struggle to understand Your purpose.

Draw him to Yourself and give him full stature in Christ. May he

stand with all the angels and saints, who know Your love and

praise Your saving will. Amen.

FunDrAiSing Dinner to benefit the philippines

NON-PROFIT ORGUS Postage

PAIDHAYWARD, CA

PERMIT NO. 85127170 Mission BoulevardHayward, CA 94544-4194

Change Service Requested

GOLF CLASSIC

32nd

Annual!

Monday, June 23, 2014Crow Canyon Country Club

Promote Your Business Sponsorships Available

Call Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 Interim Director of Institutional Advancement

510.881.4330 for more information


Documents

MCHS Vector: Spring 2014