SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP FALL
REUNION AWARD RECIPIENTS
Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Class of 1970 - 45th Reunion Alumni Medal Recipients
Judge William S. Boyd '70
Mr. Thomas R. Cellitti '70
Mr. Michael J. Goldrick '70
Mr. Robert A. Murphy '70
Mr. Chris J. Schuba '70
Class of 1975 - 40th Reunion Award Recipients
The Alumni Award for Excellence in Medicine
Dr. Donald J. Kash '75
The Alumni Award for Excellence in Law
Mr. Tom H. Luetkemeyer '75
Class of 1980 - 35th Reunion Alumni Medal Recipients
Mr. John R. Miya '80
Mr. Laurence J. Msall '80
Mr. Gregory J. Simon '80
Mr. Michael M. Tannen '80
Dr. Matthew G. Troy '80
Mr. Anthony F. Yelacic, Jr. '80
Class of 1985 - 30th Alumni Medal Recipients
Mrs. Jan B. Botica Zekich '85
Mr. Roland W. Burris, II '85
Ms. Megan Doherty '85
Dr. Deborah Garvey '85
Mr. John L. Goldrick '85
Dr. Joyce M. Kocher '85
Mr. John S. LaMantia '85
Mr. Joseph McInerney '85
Mrs. Kara Burke McNamara '85
Mrs. Alicia R. Menchaca de Cerda '85
Ms. Maria Simon '85
Ms. Courtney A. Thompson '85
Class of 1970 45th Reunion Awards
Alumni Medal Recipients
The Alumni Medal is awarded to alumni who exemplify an outstanding commitment to
their profession, church, community and to Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Mr. William “Bill” Stewart Boyd ‘70 is an Associate Judge in the Domestic Relations Division of the Cook
County Circuit Court. After attending Saint Ignatius, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting
from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After graduation, William worked as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co.
for several years. He later received his Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law and started his
own private practice.
While serving as an Associate Judge, Bill has found time to sculpt the minds of our future leaders. From 2003 to 2005 he
taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He has also taught classes at Northwestern
University School of Law, University of Chicago Law School, DePaul University College of Law, Loyola University
Chicago School of Law, and the John Marshall Law School, and regularly lectures at seminars and conferences.
Bill has received numerous professional awards, including the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’
Samuel Berger award, the Cook County Bar Association’s Judicial Award, and the West Suburban Bar Association’s
Lincoln Award, among others. He is actively involved with numerous alumni associations and community-based
organizations, including the Illinois Judges Council, the Cook County Bar Association, St. Ailbe Catholic Church, and
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Bill, as well as many members of his family, is a proud Saint Ignatian. The legacy began with his brother Lee Boyd ’65,
followed by Bill in ‘70, and continued with his cousin Darrell Williams ’77, his nephew David Boyd ’88, his niece
Kristian Bradshaw ’97, and his cousin Maxwell Williams ’10. He considers it an honor to receive such a prestigious
award from an institution that is so near and dear to his heart.
Bill has enjoyed the support of his loving wife Linda Boyd for over 28 years.
Mr. Thomas R. Cellitti '70 is a second generation Ignatian; following his dad, Raymond Cellitti '42. His son,
David '92, is a third generation Ignatian and the first child of a member from the Class of 1970 to graduate from Saint
Ignatius. Tom has been married to Mary DeNucci Cellitti for over 42 years and they have four children: David '92, Lisa,
Dan and Tony. All of Tom and Mary's children have graduated college and/or law school and have launched successful
careers.
Tom was "encouraged" to attend Ignatius by his father and grandmother and grew to appreciate the Jesuit education he
received and has shown it by pursuing his further education at Jesuit schools- Marquette BS '74 and Loyola MBA Finance
'77. Tom attributes any success to his parents, supportive wife and family, and his Jesuit education, both in the classroom
(from great educators like Fr. Zimecki, Fr. Walling, Brother Thole, Mr. Spaulding and John Druska) and outside the
classroom (at the lunch table, JUG, and hitchhiking the Eisenhower). He learned many life lessons and formed many
values from the Ignatius experience.
Tom has over 40 years of experience in business in many positions including Manufacturing, Finance, Strategy, Merger
and Acquisitions as well as General Management. Tom, who retired in 2013, spent his entire 38 year career with
International Harvester/ Navistar where he held key senior executive roles, from Plant Manager (where working with the
UAW, 800 jobs were saved in Melrose Park) to Senior Vice President of Reliability. Another key position in Tom's career
was Vice President/ General Manager of Navistar's Bus Division. He started and led the Navistar IC bus division growing
it to be the industry's largest school bus manufacturer, creating over 1000 new manufacturing jobs at a new plant in Tulsa.
The school bus industry, which safely transports 25 million children safely every school day, honored Tom by inducting
him to the industry's Hall of Fame in 2009 for his leadership in advocacy of safe transportation of children and making a
significant impact on the industry.
Tom continues his business leadership in retirement by serving on the Board of Directors of Core Molding Technologies
(NYSE), a publicly held plastics manufacturer that serves the automotive, marine and other markets.
Tom was a volunteer head basketball coach at Visitation Catholic School - Elmhurst for 23 years. He has also served the
community by serving on various non-profit boards.
Tom and Mary are enjoying their grandchildren (all four live in within one mile) in retirement and are supporters of
Catholic education at all levels especially Chicago Jesuit Academy, Saint Ignatius (including the Robotics Club) and
Marquette University as well as Special Needs charities. These are organizations that truly give back to the community.
Mr. Michael Goldrick ’70 is unable to attend the reunion but is honored to receive the Alumni Medal. Mike
practices law in the Beverly/Morgan Park area. Michael’s father John attended Saint Ignatius and graduated in 1942 as
well as his brothers: Tom ’72, Joe ’75 and John ’85, one of his daughters, Anne ’07, nephews Tom ’03, Michael ’05,
James ’06 and Daniel ’06. His niece Georgia and nephew Carson will graduate in 2018.
He is married to Jann and they have four children, Anne, Jack, Libby and Martin. Michael enjoys practicing gardening on
a small farm in Central Illinois. Life is great. Thank you Saint Ignatius.
Mr. Robert A. Murphy ’70- Bob’s career in financial services began in 1978 and has consistently focused on
helping individuals reach financial security in retirement. While not yet retired himself, his working schedule is much
abbreviated, leaving more time for family and friends.
Family for Bob & his wife, Julie includes 5 children and 9 grandchildren not to mention parents, siblings, aunts, uncles,
and loads of cousins, nieces and nephews spread from coast to coast.
When he ventured out of the cloistered environment of Beverly to attend Saint Ignatius he had little awareness of the
world at large nor his place in it. Not unlike a lot of teens, he thought he was ‘hot stuff’; the first of his family to go to
such a well-regarded academic institution and sure to be at the top of the class. Quickly disabused of this when placed in
the ‘D’ division and welcomed by Fr. Creighton S.J. a classmate of his grandfather at ‘Iggy’, Bob’s education began in
earnest. After graduating from Saint Ignatius, Bob also received degrees from the University of Notre Dame and The
American College. To this day he maintains that the best education he received was at 1076.
As for his place in the world, he recognizes both the privilege and responsibility of being part of a long line of graduates
of Saint Ignatius, including his grandfather Dr. John C. Wall ’24, great uncles Dr. Frank J. Wall ’26 and Dr. James M.
Wall ‘28, an uncle Harry Moran ’50, his brothers Tim ’72, Peter ’80, Matt ‘82, Brian ’87 and nieces Kathleen Herber ’97
and Suzanna Moorhead ‘03, and nothing would please him more than to be remembered as a ‘man for others’.
Mr. Christopher J. Schuba ‘70 has spent over 40 years in the newspaper and magazine advertising sales
industry, and is currently SVP of National Advertising for Tribune Publishing, directing ad sales for the Chicago Tribune,
L.A. Times, Baltimore Sun, Orland Sentinel and over 140 other newspapers and their associated websites. His experience
in media sales includes management positions for a variety of consumer magazines including Rolling Stone,
Cosmopolitan, ESPN Magazine, and The Atlantic.
Upon graduation from Saint Ignatius he entered John Carroll University and earned a BA Political Science in 1974. While
studying there he met Catharine (Swanson), his wife of 35 years.
Chris has also indulged his passion for music professionally as a promoter and club owner since 1988 as founder and
owner of Schubas Tavern and Lincoln Hall. These venues are nationally recognized as the premier independent
contemporary music halls in Chicago, together presenting over 650 attractions annually. After over 35 years in the bar and
club business Chris sold both venues earlier this year to the Audioleaf Group.
Chris continues to be an active supporter of the Evans Scholarship Foundation, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation,
and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois, and is a member of St. Vincent DePaul Parish. He lives in Lincoln Park with his
wife and son Tom, a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago's School of Communication.
th
Class of 1975- 40 Reunion Awards
The Alumni Award for Excellence in Medicine
Dr. Donald J. Kash ’75- After graduating from Saint Ignatius, Don attended Loyola University and
graduated in three years with a degree in Chemistry. He then went to Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
followed by a two year internship in Internal Medicine and then a three year Residency in Diagnostic
Radiology. After working for several years in southeastern Wisconsin as a radiologist, he and his family moved
back to Illinois in 2000. Since that time he has been Chairman of Radiology at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman
Estates, and President of his group, Radiological Consultants of Woodstock. Don credits the challenges issued
by Fr. Fergus and Mr. Thole in the sciences at Saint Ignatius as a primary reason for later being able to establish
St. Alexius Radiology as a leader in advanced technology in the Northwest Suburban area.
Don lives in South Barrington with his wife Carole, his daughter Helen, who graduated from Saint Ignatius in
2014 and who is now a sophomore at Marquette, and his son Andrew, Saint Ignatius Class of 2017.
Don is grateful to receive the Excellence in Medicine Award and is looking forward to sharing this reunion with
old classmates.
The Alumni Award for Excellence in Law
Mr. Thomas H. Luetkemeyer ‘75
concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment
law and corporate health care law. Tom represents management employers around the country in the full range
of labor and employment matters. His practice includes work before federal administrative agencies such as the
EEOC, the U.S. Department of Labor, the OFCCP and OSHA. He regularly appears before state agencies with
jurisdiction over employers, including the Illinois Department of Human Rights and other similar state agencies
with responsibility for enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in the work place.
Tom is also involved with state departments of labor and other similar agencies. He represents employers in a
variety of union-related concerns, including organization drives, collective bargaining, strikes, secondary
boycotts, decertification and administrative hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.
In his health care practice, Tom regularly represents hospitals, group practices and individual physicians in
general corporate matters. He advises clients on organizational and structural issues concerning joint ventures,
sales of operating entities, physician recruitment, fraud and abuse, Stark I and II, tax exemption issues,
shareholder relations and executive compensation. Mr. Luetkemeyer frequently appears before a variety of
Illinois administrative agencies, including the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, the Illinois
Department of Public Aid and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Since 1987, Tom has been an Adjunct Professor at the Loyola University School of Law where he teaches labor
law, employment law and employment discrimination. Tom was the recipient of the 2012 Francis J. Rooney/ St.
Thomas More award for service to the law school. He joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in January 1985 and
serves as the in-house counsel on the firm's employment matters.
Tom graduated from Loyola University in 1979 and Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1982. He and
his wife Kathy live in Chicago and are the parents of Grace, Saint Ignatius Class of 2012 and Caroline, Saint
Ignatius Class of 2015. He also moderates the Annual Saint Ignatius College Prep Law Society Continuing
Legal Education course each fall.
Class of 1980 35th Reunion Awards
Alumni Medal Recipients
The Alumni Medal is awarded to alumni who exemplify an outstanding commitment to
their profession, church, community and to Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Mr. John R. Miya '80-Many of John’s classmates from St. Ita on the north side went on to join the
‘80 state champion Gordon Tech Ram’s football team. He remembers being mocked for Ignatius’ lack of a
football team, “because we spent all of our money on paper and pencils.” But John was able to warm the bench
in 3 sports at Saint Ignatius, before his sore knees and mediocre skills lead him to a daily work out in the dark
room and theatre rather than the gym. John had the pleasure of being in the class of ‘80, where young women
were first invited to join our motley crew, and the school has been that much better ever since. He graduated
from Wesleyan University in 1985 with a BA in Studio Fine Art after spending ‘82-‘84 studying abroad in
Japan. After several years working in the art world and living in various New York hovels post college, John
moved back to Chicago after being introduced to his future wife Grace by fellow ’80 alumnus Markus Greiner.
In ‘88 he began working in the belly of the beast of finance at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and worked in
Tokyo in 89-90. They were almost mugging people on the street to work in the business in those days, and
learning to speak Japanese in College was enough to open a door. Although he had a brief diversion to receive a
teaching certificate at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, like Al Pacino in the Godfather, “they kept
pulling him back in.” In ‘92 he starting working for Salomon Brothers, and in ‘94 his first son Jack, Saint
Ignatius Class of 2012, was born. His second son William, Saint Ignatius Class of 2014, was born in ’96. In ‘97
John and his family moved to London. There he headed up the sales effort on the London International
Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE) for Salomon. In late ‘99 the family moved back to Chicago. Soon his sons
lost their British accents and the years flew by as his mediocre athletic skills led to many seasons of coaching
soccer, baseball, basketball and flag football. He was told that his strongest coaching was in football, by his
basketball team.
John is now a Director at Citigroup in financial futures, essentially the same job he began at Salomon in 1992.
That could change at any moment though, as he remembers being told in 1988 that the business only has a few
years left. John is still a member at the CBOT where he continues to do options business with humans who
stand in a pit and trade with each other with pencils and paper, though these days he phones it in from the
office, where he works with “adults.” In the meantime he recounts his two greatest sales as 1) convincing his
wife that this skinny guy with paint on his shoes had enough of a future to have some kids with, and then 2)
convincing those two kids that it was their idea that they wanted to go to Saint Ignatius. This provided a few
more years riding the sidelines at Saint Ignatius as team photographer for football and lacrosse. Both of his sons
also enjoyed their years at Ignatius and made lifelong friends from all over the “Metropolitan Area,” and he
hopes that the Ignatius community will always be there for his sons as it was for him after every return to
Chicago. John was class secretary for a number of years (between Tony Alagna and Chunka Mui), and
expanded the alumni gatherings in between reunions to annual camaraderie at local clubs, before there was an
alumni lounge.
Although in no rush, he hopes to someday be able to convince some grandchildren that it’s their idea to go to
Ignatius. In the meantime John maintains his relationship with the school by keeping active in alumni events
and serving as a Regent, and staying in touch with some of his favorite teachers like Mr. Hasten and Father
Vorwoldt. Both of John’s parents were high school teachers, but he feels grateful and lucky to have had so
many incredibly dedicated teachers at Saint Ignatius and he hopes those legendary educators’ spirit lives on in
the school today. It’s an exciting time to be able to say you are “Jesuit Educated.” In paper and pencil or the
cyber-world, the principles, dedication and intellectual rigor of the Jesuits are lessons and guides that are as
crucial as ever, and enjoying a great bloom in no small part due to the ministry of Pope Francis. Alumni carry
their alma mater in their hearts in their own way, and John credits John Chandler for making Ignatius still feel
like home after 35 years.
Mr. Laurence J. Msall ’80 is the President of the Civic Federation. Msall joined the 121-year-old
tax policy and government research organization in January of 2002. The Civic Federation is an independent,
non-partisan government research organization founded in 1894 whose membership includes business and
professional leaders from a wide range of Chicago area corporations, professional service firms and institutions.
The Civic Federation seeks to assist public policy opinion leaders in the Chicago area and to advance issues
such as property tax reform, tax simplification, privatization, and joint purchasing with the objective of
improving governmental efficiency and financial accountability.
Before joining the Civic Federation, Msall was the Senior Advisor for Economic Development for Illinois
Governor George H. Ryan. Msall was responsible for the oversight of eleven of the state’s economic
development and infrastructure-related agencies including the Departments of Commerce and Community
Affairs, Revenue, Transportation, and the state’s housing and other development authorities. Appointed as
Senior Advisor in February 1999, Msall worked closely with the Governor and his staff on issues related to
business climate, tax and transportation policy.
Before joining the Governor’s staff in 1999, Msall served as the Vice President of the Commercial Club of
Chicago, a non-profit group of Chicago’s senior business and civic leaders. The Commercial Club seeks to
improve and promote the social and economic vitality of the Chicago metropolitan area through a wide range of
programs and activities. First organized in 1877, the Commercial Club is most well-known for its work
organizing and implementing Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago.
Prior to joining the Commercial Club staff in 1990, Msall served as Assistant to the Director of the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs with primary responsibility for policy development. From
1984-1988, Laurence Msall represented the Department and Governor Jim Thompson’s office on economic
development and business issues before the Illinois General Assembly, serving as DCCA’s chief legislative
liaison.
Laurence Msall is a licensed attorney and 1992 graduate of Loyola University School of Law, Evening
Division, where he was named to the Dean’s List of Distinguished Students in 1990, 1991 and 1992. He was a
recipient of the 1992 Loyola Leadership and Service Award. Msall holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox
College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he was the 1984 recipient of the Umbeck Prize for the Outstanding
Sociology Student. Msall is a 1980 graduate of Saint Ignatius College Preparatory High School in Chicago,
Illinois.
Msall currently serves on the advisory Board of the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public
Affairs and Illinois Issues Magazine. Msall is a member of the Board of Directors of the Woods Fund of
Chicago; the Chicago Civic Consulting Alliance; and the Economic Club. Msall is also an active volunteer with
PADS Homeless Shelter in Oak Park and L’arche Chicago — a faith-based community that supports and
develops homes for the disabled.
Msall credits the excellent education he received at SICP—along with his work in the school bookstore, as Mr.
O’Mara’s driver and in the Commons as a lunchtime dishwasher—for providing an outstanding foundation for
his life and his career. In addition, he recognizes that the rigorous and eclectic coaching styles of Mr. Ted
Edwards (Track), Mr. John Balaban (Pole Vault) and Mr. Art Morelli (Cross Country) continue to help him as
he prepares to testify before the Chicago City Council, Illinois General Assembly and other government bodies.
Msall remains gratefully indebted for the spiritual and essential legal assistance he received from Fr. Condon,
S.J., Fr. Perrine, S.J., and Fr. Kirk, S.J., while at Saint Ignatius and thereafter.
Msall currently lives in Oak Park and is the proud father of three daughters.
Mr. Gregory J. Simon '80 has worked as an attorney with several firms in Chicago for 27 years
following his graduation from Harvard College and University of Michigan Law School. He has concentrated
on civil matters, beginning his career at Mayer Brown, and more recently with smaller firms, including 9 years
with Raymond Simon ‘50 and Matthew Simon ‘74 (each recipients of the Saint Ignatius Dei Gloriam Award)
and the last 7 years with Coghlan Law LLC, where the owner, his wife, Barbara Coghlan, has worked for her
entire career. Gregory has represented clients in the areas of insurance and reinsurance, finance, construction,
real estate and government. Gregory and Barbara have been married for 21 years and have two children, John
Paul, Saint Ignatius Class of 2014, a sophomore at Fairfield University, and Maeve, Saint Ignatius Class of
2017. Gregory is proud of the achievements of all of the members of the Class of 1980, the first coed class at
Saint Ignatius, and grateful for the friendship and kindness of our classmates over the last 39 years.
Mr. Michael M. Tannen ’80 received an excellent education at Saint Ignatius and then attended
Loyola University Chicago where he double majored in Latin and political science and minored in ancient
Greek. He spent the spring semester of his junior year in Rome along with Dave McGovern and John Jegen.
Michael graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 1990. After working at several firms, he hung his
own shingle in the summer of 2001. Tannen Law Group concentrates its practice in transportation law,
employment discrimination defense, commercial real estate litigation, and appellate advocacy. Michael credits
Ignatius for his ability to write well under pressure.
Michael was an adjunct professor at DePaul’s law school for 13 years. He taught third year students pretrial
civil litigation strategy. His assigned texts were the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Charlotte’s Web (perfect
writing with the perfect pitch), and Harry Frankfurt’s philosophy treatise, On Bullshit (self-explanatory). Later
this fall, Michael will introduce Chicago Public School students to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
through the Lawyer in the Classroom program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago.
Michael is active in his community. He is currently president of the Evanston Public Library Board of Trustees.
He hopes to obtain a masters’ degree in library science one day with a concentration in children’s literature and
public library advocacy. Michael is a member of the Saint Ignatius College Prep Law Society.
Michael’s life is made complete by his faith, his friends, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, and especially his family.
His wife, Michele Anderson, is also a lawyer. They live in Evanston with the jewels of their lives, sons Sam and
Jacob.
Michael cannot attend the reunion dinner but he has provided a case of champagne so that his classmates can
raise a glass, reminisce, and sing a verse of Gaudeamus Igitur.
Dr. Matthew G. Troy '80- Matt’s experience started when his parents, two wonderful souls,
decided that the boys in his family would attend Saint Ignatius and the girls would attend The Immaculata. Matt
followed the footsteps of his older brother, John ’81, who had already mastered the path at Saint Ignatius. In
hindsight, Matt realized how fortunate he was to attend Saint Ignatius, a place of community, friendship and
service. A place inspired to improve the lives of its students and make the broader community better.
After Ignatius, an undistinguished career at the University of Michigan followed and Matt was then accepted to
medical school. He graduated with Honors and secured a residency in general surgery where he met his wife
Monica. Monica has supported and helped make Matt better from the start. They have been married for twenty
years and have five beautiful children whose achievements are due to Monica. Three of their children are
present members of the Wolf Pack: Grace, Class of 2016, Quinn, Class of 2018 and Keenan, Class of 2019.
Gavin and Padraig, God willing, will be able to follow the path to Ignatius as well.
Since 1994, Matt has practiced general surgery in a community setting. Presently, Matt works in Michigan City,
IN. in a group practice. Matt is both active clinically and in medical staff leadership positions.
Matt attributes receiving this honor to the many acts of kindness and love extended to him over a lifetime and is
a product of those gifts and Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Mr. Anthony F. Yelacic, Jr. '80 is surprised and honored to be offered the alumni award for the
class of 1980's 35th reunion. He looks at this in the same way he looks at his acceptance into the school back in
1976, glad for the circumstance that afforded the opportunity. He has spent the 35 years since graduation, and
one before it, playing in the healthcare field. Twenty of those years on the operations side, the past sixteen on
the information technology side. When he is not solving healthcare issues one byte at a time, he spends his time
with fellow alum and classmate Tim Egan reliving the Bradley trip of 1982, or was it the road trip to San Diego
in 2011? Just ask him, he'll tell you all about them and other experiences just like them.
Class of 1985 30th Reunion Awards
Alumni Medal Recipients
The Alumni Medal is awarded to alumni who exemplify an outstanding commitment to
their profession, church, community and to Saint Ignatius College Prep.
Mrs. Jan Botica Zekich '85 serves as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Administrative Office of the Illinois
Courts, which assists the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois in the administration of Illinois' courts. As Chief
Legal Counsel, Jan has the privilege of working with dedicated judges at the Supreme, Appellate and Circuit levels and
many well-respected members of the legal profession. Prior to joining the Administrative Office, she had the pleasure of
serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael A. Bilandic on the Supreme Court of Illinois. Jan graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from The University of Chicago and with a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola
University of Chicago School of Law.
Jan has had the good fortune to be married for twenty-one years to her husband Ken, whom she dated and attended prom
with while at Saint Ignatius. They are the proud parents of thirteen-year-old son John Joseph, who is the third generation
of his family to attend St. Jerome School. Jan and Ken are active members of their St. Jerome Croatian Parish community.
Since 1997, Jan has served as a member of the parish counsel. She also has served as past president of the St. Jerome
Home and School Association, and as a member of the school board.
Jan is honored to receive the Alumni Medal and is thankful for the opportunities afforded to her as a result of her Jesuit
training at Saint Ignatius. She is also grateful to share the 30th reunion celebration with her classmates.
Mr. Roland W. Burris, II '85 better and still known as “Wally” to his fellow Ignatians, is an attorney at Roland
W. Burris & Associates, LLC, a Chicago, Illinois law firm practicing in the areas of Asset Protection, Estates & Trusts,
Estate Administration and Probate, and Commercial Real Estate. Roland concentrates on transactional matters pertaining
to the structuring, acquisition, financing and disposition of commercial and multi-tenant residential real estate interests
and representing developers, contractors, lenders and investors in a wide-range of real estate financing, investment and
development transactions.
With more than ten years of commercial real estate acquisitions experience, having served as vice president of
acquisitions for Heitman LLC, one of the nation’s largest advisors to institutional investors in real estate, Roland is
uniquely experienced in providing his institutional and entrepreneurial clients with counsel that fits within a broader
understanding of the transaction and the motivations, concerns and goals of the principal.
Roland is a former Senior Counsel with the Illinois Housing Development Authority and is also an experienced bond
attorney having personally served as Co-Bond Counsel, Co-Underwriters Counsel, sole Underwriter’s Counsel,
Borrower’s Counsel and Issuer’s Counsel on more than $11 billion of public finance bond offerings.
After Saint Ignatius, Roland earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Howard
University and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law. Roland and Marty, his wife of 19 years, are
the proud parents of Roland Theodore “Teddy” Burris (10) and Ian Alexander Burris (7).
Ms. Megan Doherty '85 attended Saint Ignatius at the insistence of her parents. She quickly realized her parents
were right. Saint Ignatius showed her something she never expected: her life's vocation.
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a BA in English and American Literature and Loyola
University of Chicago with a Masters of Education in 1991, Megan moved to St. Louis to teach at an Archdiocesan
school--St. Mary’s High School. There she taught all levels of English and served as the Department Chair, creating a
journalism course and writing the grant that funded a computer lab for it. She moderated the St. Mary’s Student Council,
and the school newspaper, Dragon Fire. Megan taught French 3 and 4 and served as an Adjunct Professor at St. Louis
University for 1818 College Credit Program for French. She also co-chaired the Steering Committee for the North Central
Association now known as AdvancEd.
After returning back to her beloved Beverly neighborhood in Chicago in 1999, Megan was soon teaching English parttime at Saint Ignatius. She moved into a full-time role in 2011. In addition to teaching British Literature, AP Literature,
College Writing, Shakespeare and World Literature, she has served as the Saint Ignatius Teacher Association (SITA)
president and secretary, and Assistant Director of the Saint Ignatius Model United Nations (SIMUN). With the departure
of Dr. Karl as Principal in 2013, Father Caruso asked Megan to co-chair the Principal Search Committee. She’s a superfan of Saint Ignatius football and served on the Parent Board for Lacrosse for four years.
Always active in her parish community, Megan taught Parish School of Religion, served on both the School Board and
Parish Council of St. Barnabas in Beverly, and coached soccer and T-ball.
Megan is married to Jack McNally and has two children, Brendan, Saint Ignatius Class of 2015 and Brigid, Saint Ignatius
Class of 2017, and two stepchildren, Colleen and Eric. Megan and her family now reside in Lincoln Park.
Dr. Deborah Garvey '85 attended Georgetown University and matriculated at Northwestern University with a
major in economics. After a pause to conduct social policy evaluation research, she attended Princeton University, where
she earned master's and doctoral degrees in economics, with concentrations in economic demography, labor economics,
and public economics. Her research focused on immigrant assimilation into the U.S., the implications of school finance
schemes for student funding disparities, and the educational attainment of immigrant youth in the U.S. While a graduate
student, she “precepted” undergraduate courses in economics and taught graduate students public policy and statistics in
the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Debbie taught upper- and lower-division undergraduate
economics courses at Santa Clara University for several years upon completion of her studies, where she had the pleasure
of teaching many Saint Ignatius alumni.
Since 2007, Debbie has served as treasurer and director of donor relations for Friends of African Village Libraries, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing libraries, access to books and literacy programs to otherwise unserved
villages in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Uganda.
Debbie and her husband, Fadi Maamari, have one son, Christopher, who is a freshman at Iggy's all-male San Jose
homologue, Bellarmine College Prep. He is learning the meaning of AMDG and of being a “man in the service of others.”
She is shocked to realize she has resided in California for over 17 years. They speak French at home and are always
looking for Francophones with whom to strike up conversation.
Debbie has undertaken diverse volunteer responsibilities over the years, including long-term PTA service, providing
student reading support, conducting library research, and co-chairing various events at her son's former grammar school,
in addition to serving on her local public library support foundation's board for nearly a decade. Since Christopher started
his studies at BCP, she is actively involved in Mothers' Guild fundraising events that provide academic scholarships to
needy students, just as she was once such a beneficiary at Saint Ignatius.
Mr. John L. Goldrick '85 followed his father, John ’42 and his brothers Mike ’70, Tom ’72 and Joe ’75 to Saint
Ignatius. He also counts numerous nephews and nieces as well as in-laws as part of the Saint Ignatius tradition and feels
very lucky to be a part of a family history that has continued through the decades at 1076.
John is grateful for the guidance of Fr. Condon, coaching of Tom McKenna, the imagination of Don Nekrosius, the
patience of Jim Spaulding, the tolerance of John Chandler, the discipline of Brother McCabe as well as the dedication of
all Saint Ignatius teachers, coaches, counselors and staff. He credits Jesuit education for widening his scope on the world
and instilling the ability to think. John has wonderful memories of Saint Ignatius and life-long friendships with whom to
share them. He hopes that kids from all over the Chicago area will have the same opportunity for generations to come.
After Saint Ignatius, John received an Evans Scholarship to the University of Illinois where he earned bachelors’ degrees
in English and Rhetoric, both of which force most graduates into advertising. John has spent the last 25 years in the media
and marketing business with stints at Leo Burnett, Forbes, Golf Digest and his current role at ESPN. He is a past president
of the Chicago Magazine Association and a current Director for the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars
Foundation.
John is grateful to his parents, Jack and Therese, for their sacrifice and faith and his entire family, Anne, Michael, Mary,
Tom, Joe, Monica, Ellen and Martha for years of support and love. Thanks for bestowing on me all the benefits of being
the youngest!
He is married to Cynthia (nee Lambur), his wife of twenty two years and is the proud father of two current Ignatius
students, Georgia ’18 and Carson ’18. Both are enjoying all that Saint Ignatius has to offer while re-teaching their parents
the high school curriculum. These are the three best women in the world for keeping a guy young, somewhat current and
laughing. All my thanks and love to you, most of all.
Dr. Joyce M. Kocher '85 is native of Chicago. She grew up on the south side of Chicago and attended Morgan
Park Academy for elementary school and is a proud member of the 1985 graduating class of Saint Ignatius. Joyce
currently resides in Chicago and has a private practice in Skokie that services children, adolescents and adults with
psychiatric illnesses. She holds a triple board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has
been in solo private practice for over 11 years. She has served in several leadership capacities with the Veteran's
Administration, NorthShore Health Systems, and Loyola Medical Center. She is an academic researcher and lecturer in
the US, Australia, and Prague. Joyce is a published author in several professional medical journals. Joyce attended
undergraduate school at the University of Illinois - Urbana and then the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is on the
advisory counsel for the University of Illinois - Chicago medical school and has held adjunct professorship at Loyola
School of Medicine, Northwestern, and Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her residency and first
fellowship after medical school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and from there came back to Chicago to
complete a second fellowship at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Much of her time is spent doing consulting
on practice building and working with large corporations and the AMA to develop programs that facilitate access to care.
Dr. Kocher places a great emphasis on philanthropy and remaining directly involved with several not for profit
organizations. She is on the executive board of directors and medical director for the Primo Center for Women and
Children which is a 100 bed transitional living facility on the west side of Chicago. She and her family are donors to the
Salvation Army and the Joan and Ray Kroc Center. As, well, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. which
is the second oldest African American Sorority in the United States. She is on the Board of Directors for the Not for Profit
arm of the Sorority known as D'Estee in Bronzeville, where programs for leadership, community organizing, literacy,
mental and physical health and economic development are done. Joyce and her family also believe in the rich traditions
and education of Saint Ignatius and continue to be donors to the Saint Ignatius Black Organization of Student's Peter
Claver Society as well as other philanthropic activities and programs that broaden the excellence and purpose of Saint
Ignatius.
Joyce enjoys her relationships with very closes friends, classmates from every school she attended, and her family. She is
also the proud mom of one very large Cat, Monroe. Joyce believes in a philosophy of wellness and health. Her interests
include every known and unknown form of Yoga, Hiking, Swimming, Meditation, and traveling as much as she possibly
can to places that are exotic and warm. She is die-hard fan of the Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, Illini, and the Carolina Tar
Heels.
Mr. John S. LaMantia '85 has wisely given most of his 48 years to the Jesuits for spiritual and educational
formation. Graduating from Saint Ignatius grade school at the dawn of the 80’s, he followed Mrs. Carole Manning and
several other classmates to 1076 W. Roosevelt and describes his time with the Class of ’85 as the greatest educational
experience of his life in the most oddly color painted rooms.
Before it was vogue to do so, he then dropped himself in the Bronx, New York, and received his BA in English and
Philosophy from Fordham University. After a brief detour from the Jesuits at the John Marshall Law School to obtain his
Juris Doctorate, John married his wife Gina and began their family of future Ignatians.
John is currently Senior Assistant General Counsel to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago where he litigates
trial matters on behalf of the Board, Chicago Public Schools, their teachers and employees. He also continues to mentor
current students in the Saint Ignatius Mentorship Program and is an adjunct faculty at Chicago junior colleges teaching
Government, Constitutional Law, and Political Theory. He still plays a mean Fender Telecaster guitar and can often be
seen wrangling stage time from younger posers.
John’s greatest pride and joy is raising and watching his 4 children carry on in the family Jesuit tradition. Daughter Aly is
an Saint Ignatius graduate of the Class of 2013 and a junior at Gonzaga University. Daughter Casey is an Saint Ignatius
graduate of 2015 and a freshman at Xavier University. Son Johnny is a current junior at Saint Ignatius and strong member
of the Wolfpack, and the last LaMantia….Sonny… graduates from St. Francis Xavier grade school this year and is a
hopeful member of the Class of 2020.
John wants his class to know that he will cherish this honor humbly for the rest of his life. Not for material significance
because he still has all of his childhood trophies, but rather for its daily validation to do the Magis, “the more” to always
be restless and willing to impact and help others in gratitude for how he has so greatly benefitted from the Jesuits.
Mr. Joseph W. McInerney '85 carried on the family tradition of attending Saint Ignatius; gaining those core
Ignatian values! Joe’s father, Jack ‘50, uncle Patrick ‘46, brother John ‘80 and sister Mary ‘81 attended Saint Ignatius in
addition to his children Patrick ‘15 (a freshman at Santa Clara University) and Caroline who will graduate in 2017.
Joe graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Economics and earned an MBA with a concentration in
finance from DePaul University. His first job out of college was working for the State of Illinois as a Bank Examiner
during the savings and loan crisis; a real eye opener! Having learned a great deal from his examining days, Joe’s next
position was at Northern Trust where he has spent over 18 years in various roles. He currently is Managing Executive of
Northern Trust’s investment outsourcing business which provides investment solutions for a wide range of institutional
and family office clients. Joe has been lucky to travel the world in this role and lived in Connecticut for seven years in
support of it. He serves as a member of the Finance Advisory Board at DePaul University and is an active supporter of
United Way.
Joe is blessed to married to his wife Monica for 21 years who with their two children have lived in River Forest for the
past three years since moving back from Fairfield, Connecticut. Joe enjoys travel, golf and watching anything his children
participate in.
Mrs. Kara Burke McNamara '85 is honored to receive the Alumni Medal. Kara is one of five Burke children
to attend Saint Ignatius (Peter ’84, Matthew ’87, Daniel ’80 and Margot ’96). Kara believes Ignatius is family, a shared
community between students, faculty, and church. It is a place where laughs are shared between many and where school
spirit (and parties) are the highlight of Friday Night basketball games. Kara enjoys breaking bread with friends on Taylor
Street whenever possible! Ignatius is a community that fosters academic excellence, integrity, and lifelong learning and
growth, but students were having such a good time, they didn’t even know it! Teachers like the revolutionary Ms. Kelley,
the philosophical Brother McCabe, and the mysterious Mr. Chandler, the name a few, expanded and challenged her
beliefs, and prepared her well for her future. The Ignatius community is a place where families share meals, laughter, and
challenges… it was a place Kara called home from 1982-1985.
Kara attended John Carroll University and graduated in 1989 with a degree in English and Philosophy. She has 20+ years
in banking and is currently living the dream at the PrivateBank & Trust Company.
Kara is married to Brian McNamara ’86, and they are celebrating 23 years of marriage. They both work to support the
lifestyles of their three children, who have also chosen to be a part of the family at Saint Ignatius. Conor graduated in
2011, finished his undergrad at the University of Michigan in 2014, and currently attends Michigan Law (Go Blue!); Kate
graduated from Saint Ignatius in 2014 and is loving her sophomore year at Marquette University (Go Warriors!); and
Nolan, Saint Ignatius Class of 2018, is current a junior (Go Wolfpack!).
Though 30 years have passed, Kara hopes we will continue to celebrate family with laughter, good food and friendship!
Let the good times roll – GO WOLFPACK!
Mrs. Alicia R. Menchaca de Cerda '85 is honored to receive the Alumni Medal. She is the youngest of ten
children of Tomas and Rosa Menchaca. Five of her brothers also graduated from Saint Ignatius (Arturo ’71, Francisco
’77, Roberto ’79, Alejandro ’81 and Gabriel ’82). When she was only nine years old, the Menchacas went through
financial challenges when her father passed away. At this juncture, Ignatius and the Jesuits were emotionally and
financially supportive. In adulthood, the siblings created the Menchaca Hernandez Family Endowment to honor their
parents and Ignatius. The endowment provides a scholarship to students who might lose a parent while enrolled at the
school. This creation of the endowment is but a small and humble recognition of the priceless gift that was given to our
family, especially to our mom, during those very difficult times. Alicia is married to Filemon Cerda and has two
wonderful sons, Gabriel and Benjamin. The family looks forward to the boys continuing the legacy of attending Ignatius!
Upon graduation from Loyola Chicago, Alicia worked as an auditor with Grant Thornton and Heller Financial.
Subsequently, Alicia earned her MBA, as well as a MS in Accountancy at UIC. Alicia has 20 years of experience working
in the philanthropic, advancement and not for profit arenas throughout the Chicago Metropolitan Area including: the
Hispanic Scholarship Fund, McCormick Foundation, Loyola Chicago, and SGA Youth and Family Services. Alicia is
currently a consultant as she completes her dissertation to earn a Doctoral Degree in education from the U of I, UrbanaChampaign.
Ms. Maria Simon '85 is Associate General Counsel at the Art Institute of Chicago. A unique legal position,
Maria’s clients include both the museum, the second largest in the United States, and the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago, frequently rated as one of the best art schools in the country. The tremendous variety of issues as well as the
need to understand and address them on a deep level provides a constantly challenging and stimulating environment. The
job suits Maria perfectly.
Prior to joining the Art Institute, Maria was a government lawyer, representing the United States at the trial and appellate
level in a variety of civil matters during her five years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Northern District of Illinois) and
three years at the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Appellate Division (Washington, D.C.).
Maria clerked for United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in October Term 1995. Working with Justice
Ginsburg, she received an education in legal analysis, writing, collegiality and life itself. Before that, she clerked briefly
for one of Chicago’s own, Chief Judge Abner Mikva, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and then
for the Honorable David S. Tatel on the same court. Maria received her undergraduate degree from Harvard
University and her legal degree from Columbia University Law School.
Maria has been active with non-profit educational and arts-related groups – many of them Jesuit run. For the past six
years, she has been on the Board for the Loyola Museum of Art (LUMA), serving as the Development Committee Chair
and Executive Board member. Most recently, Maria has been named to the Council of Regents for Loyola University.
She also served on the School Board for Immaculate Conception Grade School, located in the Old Town neighborhood; in
2006, she and her husband co-chaired a capital campaign, successfully raising over a million dollars for the school’s
expansion. Maria served on the Board of, and continues to be involved with, the Mikva Challenge, a non-partisan group
founded to engage high school students in politics in an effort to empower young people and energize the political
process.
Maria is married to John Taylor. Their greatest joy comes from their three children: Mia, Saint Ignatius Class of 2018,
Jack, an eighth grader, and Katie, a seventh grader.
Ms. Courtney A. Thompson '85 is the Senior Director for The Boeing Company, Government Operations,
Great Lakes Region. Courtney began her career in the communications industry beginning at Burson-Marsteller Public
Relations, followed by Coopers & Lybrand Consulting and R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.
Courtney is Boeing's government operations leader for the Great Lakes region which includes IL, IN, MI, MN and
WI. She leads the company's regional community outreach efforts for the business, government and international
communities as well as Boeing's Chicago Global Corporate Citizenship team. Prior to this current position, Courtney
was director of employee communications and the communications leader for the human resources and
admi nistration organizations. She joined Boeing's corporate communications team in May of 2002. Courtney also
serves on numerous civic and charitable boards in Chicago, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, The
Civic Federation, Chicago Sister Cities International, the Gene Siskel Film Center and the Joffrey Ballet. Ms.
Thompson is a lifelong resident of the City of Chicago. She currently resides in Streeterville. She received her B.A. from
Providence College and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.