MARCH 2016
Mishawaka High School Begins Early College Program
by Jessica Mann
As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that all of Mishawaka’s students fulfill their full potential,
we have started an Early College (EC) program here at Mishawaka High School. Last spring we
recruited our first cohort: 73 students who are mainly not traditional honors students, who come
from diverse economic backgrounds, and who will likely be the first people in their families to
go to college. Despite the fact that these students hadn’t necessarily been in honors classes
before, their middle-school grades, attendance patterns, and standardized test scores indicated
they would succeed in this rigorous academic program. Now, about seven months into the
program, over 70% of these freshmen have already passed tests that certify them as “college
and career ready” and we project that 90% will be CCR by the end of March. Moreover, many
of these students are in the top 10% of their class and several have achieved 4.0 GPAs.
Mishawaka High School’s Early College program is part of a nation-wide effort to improve highschool and college graduation rates among high-risk students and students who would otherwise
not go to college. A study by the American Institutes for Research (2013) has found that EC
students are 10% more likely to enroll in college than a comparison group, and--significantly-are 20% more likely to graduate from college than their non-EC peers.
Although Early Colleges offer many advantages to students, the most tangible one is financial.
Our school’s extensive Dual Credit offerings allow high school students to earn high-school and
college credits concurrently. Students in the EC program are accelerated as freshmen (instead
of remediated later), and take tests to certify that they are ready for Dual Credit courses.
continued on page 9
Inside…
Celebrations............................................................................3
In Memory.................................................................................5
Alum Publications.......................... .........................................6
Can You Help?........................................................................4
Relay for Life...................................................................... ......8
Class Reunions.........................................................................2
18th ANNUAL FLORIDA
14th ANNUAL ARIZONA
MHS REUNION
MHS REUNION
Saturday, March 5, 2016
11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Catered Buffet Luncheon
at
Arizona Community Church
9325 S. Rural Road, Room G2
Tempe, AZ
$17 per person
March 2, 2016
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Homer’s Original
Smorgasbord
1000 Sebring Square
Sebring, FL 33870
Cost: $9.00 per person
**PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE
OF VENUE ADDRESS**
Make check payable to
Martha Pierce ‘56 and mail to
3850 E. White Aster St.
Phoenix, AZ 85044
Contact Doug Ingram:
Home phone: 574-262-2893
Cell phone:
574-370-6134
480.759.0527 - home |480.226.9882 - cell
[email protected]
Make reservation by March 1.
Need name, maiden name, year of
graduation, address, phone number and
email address.
CLASS OF 1961 REUNION
SAVE • THE • DATE
The MHS Class of 1961 will be hosting
their 55th Class Reunion on August 26
and 27, 2016.
• August 26 - Knights of Columbus
Mishawaka, Indiana
6:00 pm - informal get together
• August 27 - BK Club | Mishawaka, Indiana
Reception 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Dinner | Polish Buffet | 7:00 - 11:00 pm
Contact information:
Bill Huys ‘61 | [email protected]
2
Paul ‘45 and Virginia (Powell) Foltz ‘45
celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on
December 13, 2015.
Marian L. O’Neil
‘33 will celebrate her
100th birthday on March 24. Marian is a
long-standing member of the MHS Alumni;
graduated from St. Mary’s College and
retired as a Librarian there.
Sherry (Heckaman) ‘63 and Bob Harke
(Washington-Clay ‘61) will celebrate their
Golden Anniversary on March 5 with a
gathering at Tippecanoe Place organized
by their daughters Tamara Harke and Kirsten
Galasso and son-in-law
Jim Galasso. During
their anniversary year,
besides their regular
trips to the mountains of
North Carolina and the
beaches of St. Martin,
they will be taking a trip to
Nova Scotia in October.
Nova Scotia has been on Sherry’s bucket list for
quite a while.
Rene
DeBeck
‘44
celebrated
his
90th
birthday with his three
sons and two daughtersin-law, two grandsons
and granddaughter.
He served in the US
Navy during WWII and
served as a Mishawaka
firefighter for 22 years.
He was married 52 years to Martha
(Rogowski) DeBeck.
On January 9th, the Coffmans and Fores families gathered together along with numerous
friends to help celebrate the 90th birthday of Jean Coffman Fore ‘43. Jean’s two sons, Scott
Fore,’72 and his wife Sue along with Jon Fore, ‘79 and his wife Candy (Emmons) ’84 and their
families organized the party in St. Charles, Illinois where Jean has lived for the past 20 years.
Jean’s remaining four brothers and their spouses attended, David ‘47 and Wilma Coffman
from Mishawaka, Dr. Ralph ‘54 and Midge (Miles) ‘55 Coffman from Tulsa, OK, Roger and Pat
(Cline) ‘59 Coffman from Mishawaka, and Jerry ’63 and Pat Coffman from Yorktown, VA.
All of Jean’s seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren were there along with many of
her numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews
and nieces from as far away as Alabama,
Oklahoma, Michigan and Indiana.
Despite the bitter cold and snowy conditions, a
great time was had by all in commemorating
this exciting milestone in Jean’s life. Jean was
very appreciative of all the cards and letters she
received and of her family and friends who took
the time and effort to be with her on her very
special day!
3
CAN YOU HELP?
Greg Lawson of Conway, South Carolina would like some help in identifying the individuals in the
pictures below. Greg’s father, Herbert Lawson, Jr. was in the class of 1945 but because of WWII and
family illness, he did not officially graduate. However, after the war he did receive his GED certificate.
Unfortunately, Herbert passed away in 1979 at the age of 53.
Greg, 68 years old, graduated from Edwardsburg High School but has very close interests in Mishawaka.
He provided the photos below along with the following letter:
During the 1930s and until the end of 1942, my grandparents and great-aunt owned Lawson and
Zentz grocery store at 501 E. Lawrence at Locust St. They lived across the street at 510 E. Lawrence.
My dad and grandparents moved to Edwardsburg in the spring of 1943 and dad went into the Army
shortly after.
Sometime in 1941 and 1942, before the move, Grandpa took several photos on his front lawn and
beside the store of some of the guys from the neighborhood. Of those photos, I have had them
identified as Jack Deal (killed in WWII) and Larry Deal (later Mishawaka Fire Dept.). Both were MHS
students. I have also written about Jimmy Richards and Liz (Elizabeth) Richardson, both MHS students
who died in WWII.
Since you have over 2,000 alumni members, I beg everyone’s help in identifying the soldier in the
enclosed photo as well as the man and woman who I believed lived in the Lawrence Street area or
streets nearby. These photos could be taken to your meeting or put in a MHS newsletter.
If you know the individuals in the photos please contact Greg at 574-596-6393 or mail him at 1043
Academy Drive, Conway, SC 29526. Greg and his son-in-law Robert “Bobby” White, Jr. ‘86 both enjoy
researching MHS history. Greg regularly contributes articles about Mishawaka and MHS for the “Senior
Life” publication which can be found at CVS or main PHM-Library downtown Mishawaka.
The baby in the picture (possibly a
boy) may have graduated from MHS
in 1960 - give or take a year.
4
Sandra (Miller) Bothe
February 1, 1946 - December 8, 2015
Class of 1965
John A. Canarecci
August 5, 1943 - January 8, 2016
Class of 1961
Martha (Swadener) Chupp
July 24, 1937 - January 10, 2016
Class of 1956
Joseph DiGirolamo
November 15, 1923 - January 20, 2016
Class of 1942
Virginia L. (Powell) Foltz
August 5, 1930 - January 14, 2016
Class of 1947
Christopher Ganser
August 5, 1958 - January 7, 2016
Class of 1977
Patrick J. Hickey
________ - January 24, 2016
Class of 1949
Barbara (Ellis) Holmes
March 18, 1928 - December 16, 2015
Class of 1945
Jack D. Hummer April 10, 1935 - January 6, 2016
Class of 1953
Thomas J. Knoblock
November 9, 1942 - January 24, 2016
Class of 1960
John Kourboubetes
May 6, 1924 - January 19, 2016
Class of 1943
Mary Jane (Ludwig) Lindale
February 13, 1931 - January 15, 2016
Class of 1949
Kathy Sue (Veal) Matson
March 11, 1958 - February 1, 2016
Class of 1976
Irene F. (Meersman) Mestach April 10, 1927 - December 22, 2015
Class of 1945
James M. Morris
May 9, 1928 - December 28, 2015
Class of 1950
Mary (Romeo) Portolese
May 1, 1928 - January 17, 2016
Class of 1946
Rita (White) Robertson July 19, 1932 - January 18, 2016
Faculty
Edward F. Sanders
April 6, 1926 - January 9, 2016
Class of 1944
Sharon (Birtwhistle) Spatuzza __________ - December 6, 2014*
Class of 1961
Joseph R. Trimboli
August 21, 1923 - January 18, 2016
Class of 1948
Zano Vannoni
December 22, 1926 - January 29, 2016
Class of 1945
Billie Jeanne (Church) Ward
September 6, 1932 - May 31, 2015
Class of 1951
May our classmates rest in peace.
*This is not a typo. An e-mail was received requesting this information
be included so others may know.
Virginia (Powell) Foltz ‘47 August 5, 1930 - January 14, 2016
Virginia Foltz passed away in Debary, Florida one month after the 68th wedding
anniversary to Paul C. Foltz ‘45. Virginia is the daughter of Lawrence Powell
of Powell the Florist, a long-standing family-owned business in Mishawaka.
She is also in the book, Remember Mishawaka, Vol. II on the Queen’s Court.
Paul met Virginia when he returned to Mishawaka after serving in the US Navy
for WWII. Virginia is survived by Paul along with a daughter, Christine Foltz of
Minneapolis and two sons, Mark of Mishawaka; Gene of Debary, Florida and six
grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
5
Good Night and Good Sports
by Bill Etherton ‘48
New Documentary Film about the
DeAmicis, BK & DiLoreto Clubs
Bill Etherton ‘48 has a new book - Good Night
and Good Sports: Broadcasting Notre Dame
Football and Basketball for Over Fifteen Years
now available on amazon.com.
Ed Chamberlin ‘77 has just released
the fifth DVD of his “Mishawaka Series”
of documentary films: “Melting Pots of
Mishawaka: The Histories of the DeAmicis, BK
and DiLoreto Clubs.”
Before the proliferation of round-the-clock
sports coverage, the local broadcaster
was the eyes, ears, and mouth for most
sports fans. The voices that came out of the
televisions and radios became old friends
to those that lived and died by their teams’
performances. For fans of Notre Dame in the
1950s, 60s and 70s, Bill Etherton was a staple
that eloquently articulated the passion of
Irish fans. Here you will be granted access
beyond the broadcast booth for a joyful trip
down memory lane.
Learn how these three
Mishawaka ethnic clubs
got started - through
archival photographs and
films, as well as interviews
with members of each
club.
You can view a sample video clip and/or
purchase this new DVD, as well as the other
four films focusing on Mishawaka’s great
history, at www.chamberlinvideo.com or by
phone at 574-258-0919.
The book’s forward is written by Notre Dame
legend Ara Parseghian and in part says: “...
great read, brings back great memories...”
Other videos from the “Mishawaka Series”
Reviews say: “Those of you that remember
listening to Bill Etherton call Notre Dame
games will truly enjoy this nice memoir.
It is filled with small stories that evoke the
wonderful memories of that era. Highly
recommended to any fan of Notre Dame.”
Bill will be at the March
alumni monthly luncheon
so you can reconnect with
a MHS friend and pick up
your own autographed
copy for $14.95! Bill and
his wife Jodie live in
Noblesville, Indiana. Over
his 85 years of life, he has
never wavered his love of
sports and Notre Dame
Fighting Irish.
6
2016 LUNCHEONS AT A GLANCE
ALL ALUMNI LUNCHEONS ARE HELD THE
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH
April 6
$8 per person • $2 for non-eaters - includes
hot or cold drink, tax, gratuity and hall
rental fee.
Entertainment: Dick & Debbie
Menu: Ham & scalloped potatoes, veggie,
apple sauce and roll
Cash bar available for beer, wine or mixed
drinks. Half & half drawings made prior to
entertainment.
May 4
Entertainment: J. Jay Brook
LOCATION: FOP Hall, 1825 E. 12th St., Mish.
Menu: Sliced Italian beef, mashed
potatoes, buttered corn and roll
June 1
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The next alumni luncheon will be
MARCH 2.
Entertainment: DaBears
Menu: Mostacciolli and meat balls, veggie
blend and fruit
Entertainment:
Andrew Fisher and
Bryan Barr
July 6
Entertainment: Quentin Flagg
Menu: Brats & potatoes salad, baked
beans, watermelon and roll
Menu:
Corned Beef and Cabbage,
potatoes, carrots and roll
August 3
Entertainment: Craig Tornquest
Menu: Pulled pork BBQ, macaroni salad,
fruit and bun
February Alumni Luncheon
September 7
The first alumni luncheon of 2016 was held
on Feb. 3. Guests were entertained by the
Pat Helden Quartet. The winners of the 50/50
raffle were: $70 - Gene Goddard ‘48; $40
Roy Kohler ‘64 and $30 Harry Tagliaferri ‘44.
Entertainment: Ken Tripp and Mark
Members of the Young Adult Services
Program were on hand to sell their own
creative handmade cards for all occasions
and seasons. This program originated with
the support of the MEF and is designed
to provide opportunities for student with
disabilities to learn job-based skills, life skills
and academics skills. They were very excited
to be at the luncheon and thanks to the
alumni, did very well in sales! If you missed
out on purchasing a special card, they will
be at the March and May luncheons with
cards to fit any occasion!
Menu: Polish sausage, sweet sour
cabbage, noodles, potatoes and roll
Menu: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes/
gravy, veggie blend and roll
October 5
Entertainment: Paul Decker
November 2
Entertainment: Bob Nagle
Menu: Thanksgiving turkey, sweet potatoes,
dressing gravy, cranberries and roll
December 7
Entertainment: St. Paul’s Bell Ringers
Menu: Polish style wedding luncheon
7
photo provided by Peter LaCava
This group provided musical entertainment as they promoted Hoosier Beer.
This photograph was taken in the 1940s in Mishawaka (From the collection of
Mishawaka-Penn Public Library. Can you name the members? Answer on page 11.
RELAY FOR LIFE TO TAKE PLACE AT MHS
For the past several years, MHS has hosted the Relay for Life which takes
place around the track at the high school. Everyone knows someone who is
currently battling cancer, won their battle or has lost their battle. Last year 92
teams participated on the track of MHS and raised $160,000 putting them in
second place in the State of Indiana! Linda Rodino, wife of Larry Rodino ‘70
has organized a Pepsi team for this year. The event theme is “board games”
and the Pepsi team slogan is “Knock Cancer off the Board.”
What is Relay For Life? Teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a
track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and
because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the
track at all times. For more information about MHS participation contact Linda at 574.323.3099
or [email protected]. There is plenty of time to get a team together - the event starts on
Saturday, May 14 at 10:00. Show the Cavemen spirit and let’s make it to first place this year!
Relay For Life is a community based fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Each
year, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events take place in over twenty countries. Events are
held in local communities, campus universities and in virtual worlds. As the American Cancer
Society’s most successful fundraiser and the organization’s signature event, the mission of
Relay For Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer,
and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers. For more information
about Relay for Life visit http://relay.acsevents.org.
8
Mishawaka High School Begins Early College Program
Welcome New Members!
continued from page 1
Rita (Pawlowski) Brockie ‘77
Mishawaka, IN
Over the course of their four years at Mishawaka
High School, EC students have the ability to
take the 60 credit hours required to achieve an
Associate’s degree from Ivy Tech. These courses
are part of the Indiana Core Library, and thus will
transfer to any state-run school.
Mark Foltz ‘71*
Mishawaka, IN
*graduated from Brethen Christian HS
Our first cohort of Early College students was
introduced to Mishawaka High School through
a Summer Bridge program that prepared them
for honors courses, took them on college visits,
and helped them get to know each other and
form the friendships necessary for success in
high school. The group visited Notre Dame and
IUSB this summer, where they had tours and
admissions talks. This summer, we’ll introduce a
Summer Bridge for rising 10th graders that will
prepare students for AP World History, and we’ll
also take them on more college visits.
Gregg ‘82 & Lynn (Trimboli) ‘82 Hixenbaugh
Mishawaka, IN
We have continued to create a “college-going
environment” among these students by holding
workshops here at Mishawaka High School and
taking them back to Notre Dame. In January,
our students had the opportunity to learn about
theater, movement, and confidence from Scott
Jackson, the Executive Director of Shakespeare
at Notre Dame, when he came to school for an
on-site workshop. They also participated in the
global celebration of William Shakespeare’s birth
by visiting Notre Dame, seeing Shakespeare’s
First Folio, and attending a performance of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Tom ‘79 and Barbara (Trippel) Obren
Mishawaka, IN
Mitch Hixenbaugh ‘13
Mishawaka, IN
Larry ‘53 and Robbye (Dunn) ‘53 Hoffman
Mineola, TX
Lee Holbert ‘56
Ft. Myers, FL
Sherri (Hobkirk) Wanberg ‘86
Niles, Mi
Linda (Norborg) Kusz ‘78
Mishawaka, IN
Our Early College is
in its early stages, but
it’s already having a
positive impact on our
students and community.
When WNDU came to
MishawakaHighSchoolin
the last week of January,
Early College was one
of the groups they
featured. Many proud
Cavemen showed up
to tell the community
about
the
great
educational opportunities available at their school
and how they’re taking advantage of them.
ALUMNI STATS
As of February 8, 2016 the alumni
membership stats are as follows:
2041 TOTAL ALUMNI MEMBERS
58 NEW MEMBERS
46 ALUMNI WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY
90 SIGNED UP FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
These figures are from July 2015 to
February 2016.
9
Pat Roberts ‘91 is a College Scout for the
NFL team Minnesota Vikings since June
2013. In addition to being a Caveman
graduate, Pat also graduated from
DePauw University with a BA in
Kinesiology and Exercise Science and
from Indiana Sate University with an MS
in Exercise Science.
Pat was also a National Scout for the
Cleveland Browns and an Area Scout for the Chicago Bears. In 2015 the Vikings were 11-5
and are ranked first in the NFC North division.
For more about Pat go to linkedin.com/in/pat-roberts.
Christl Donnelly ‘85 is a Professor of Statistical Epidemiology at Imperial College in London,
United Kingdom,
After graduating from Mishawaka, Christl received a BA in Mathematics from Obelin
College. Then it was off to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health where she received
ScD in Biostatistics.
Her experience includes Lecturer in Statistics with the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom;
Head of the Statistics Unit, at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious
Disease at the University of Oxford to her present position as Professor of Statistical Epidemiology
at Imperial College in London.
Imperial College London is a public research university
located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded by Prince
Albert who envisioned an area composed of the Natural
History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall
and the Imperial Institute. The Imperial Institute was opened
by his wife, Queen Victoria, who laid the first stone. In 1907,
Imperial College London was formed by Royal Charter, and
soon joined the University of London, with a focus on science
and technology. The college has expanded its coursework
to medicine through mergers with St Mary’s Hospital. In 2004,
Queen Elizabeth II opened the Imperial College Business
School. Imperial became an independent university from the
University of London during its one hundred year anniversary.
For more about Christl go to linkedin.com/in/christl-donnelly.
10
Message from John Moore
Versyp Purdue’s top Women’s Coach
Belated Holiday Greetings! To the 150 MHS
Alumni who mailed me holiday greetings and
gifts, I say “THANK YOU.” Your kinds words are
very much appreciated.
Sharon Versyp ‘84 and MHS Hall of Famer
became the Purdue University women’s
basketball all-time winningest coach when
the Boilermakers topped rival Indiana, 6353, recently. The win gave Versyp her 207th
My sincere wishes for a healthy and happy
year in 2016 go out to all MHS Alumni. It truly
has been a pleasure to serve you over the
past 20 years. I urge you to continue your
interest and co-operation with the greatest
active high school alumni in the country.
victory at Purdue, surpassing a mark held by
Lin Dunn since 1996.
Respectfully, John Moore
Any submissions for the alumni newsletter should
be sent to the editor no later than the 5th of the
month to be inserted for the following month’s issue.
We love pictures too! Send all announcements,
celebrations, reunion information and obituaries
to: Deborah Brechtel ‘77, 1531 E. Third Street,
Mishawaka, IN 46544, [email protected].
To receive the newsletter electronically, send an
e-mail with NEWSLETTER OPT-IN in the subject line
and your first and last name in the body of the
e-mail.
Answer to photo on page 8
Mr. Peter LaCava,
Mrs. Ann LaCava
Rose Marie Robinson
Betty Lou Karnes
Roxy Ann Werbrouck
Marjorie Delle Kish
Pete Jr.
For past issues of the MHS Alumni Association
Newsletter (starting with the August 2015 issue),
go to http://scm.mishawaka.k12.in.us/mhs/
school/alumni.
11
MHS Alumni Newsletter
Deborah Brechtel
1531 E. Third Street
Mishawaka, IN 46544
Dates to Remember
March
2
MHS Alumni Monthly Luncheon 11:30 am
10 Festival of Strings - Orchestra - MHS 7:00 pm
13
Daylight Savings Time begins
17
St. Patrick’s Day
20
Palm Sunday
23
Evening at the Pops Concert - MHS 7:00 pm
25
Good Friday
27
Easter Sunday
April
6
MHS Alumni Monthly Luncheon 11:30 am
15
Tax Day
22
Earth Day
27
Administrative Professionals Day
29
Arbor Day
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
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PERMIT NO. 498