A Benedictine High School Publication
ORA ET
L ABORA
Saint Andrew Abbey
Benedictine High School
Winter 2016
IS THERE A DOCTOR
IN THE HOUSE?
President’s Letter
“The torch has been
passed to a new
generation”
was a famous line in President
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural
address on January 20, 1961
when I was in the second grade
at neighboring St. Benedict’s School. He was speaking
of the “new” generation of Americans who were born
in the 20th century.
Well, that was my parents’ generation. Then came us
“baby-boomers” born in the middle of the last century.
Now, we welcome those born in the new millennium.
Our current freshmen and sophomores were born after
the year 2000 at the beginning of this new century.
I thought about the “passing of the torch” in relation
to the Benedictine tradition when I concelebrated the
funeral of a great “Man of Benedictine,” alumnus Jack
Siemen ’48, on Monday, January 18, 2016 at St. Francis
of Assisi Church in Gates Mills. Bishop Roger Gries,
OSB ’54 was the main celebrant and preached.
Father Gerard Gonda, OSB
fellow dedicated alumnus Chuck St. John ’54, ran
the twice weekly Bingo games that brought in an
estimated $3 million in needed income during those
decades.
Jack also served as president of the BHS School Board,
president of the Parent-Boosters Club and the Dads’
and Moms’ Club and the annual Lenten Fish Frys. The
1979 Benedictine Yearbook was dedicated to Jack and
Mary Jane. In 2006, Jack was inducted into the BHS
Hall of honors.
Yes, they don’t seem to make alumni like Jack Siemen
anymore with that deep love for his Alma Mater and
willingness to work on behalf of the students who
came after him. Or maybe they do. Because one of
the members of the current freshman Class of 2019 is
Jack’s grandson, Joey Sandmen-Siemen. Indeed, the
torch has been passed again to a new generation.
Fr. Gerard Gonda, OSB
President
Jack’s three sons were present, all Benedictine alumni:
Jack, Jr. ’71 (my classmate), Ken ’74, and Chris ’79.
Jack, Sr. had passed on the torch of love for the Blue
and White to his three sons at the time I had just
come to the Home of Champions. He was a member
of what journalist Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest
Generation,” those whose values were honed through
the suffering of the Great Depression and World War II.
They believed in hard work and loyalty to good causes
and institutions.
Jack Siemen and his late wife Mary Jane, who served
as secretary in the BHS alumni office for many years,
gave a great amount of their time and energy to
help strengthen Benedictine, especially during
its challenging years in the 1970’s and 80’s. For a
remarkable 24 years Jack and Mary Jane, alongside
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ORA ET LABORA
Ken ’74, Jack, Jr. ’71, Jack, Sr. ’48, and Chris ’79
In order to reach out to all of our constituents, we are
combining both Our Journey/Ora et Labora. By doing so,
it will give all who receive this publication an idea of what’s
going on at St. Andrew Abbey as well as Benedictine High
School. We will all work together to reach our goals. We
also find that it is most cost effective for us. We hope you
enjoy our first edition of the Our Journey/Ora et Labora
and will continue to support us.
God Bless You Always.
ORA ET
L ABORA
Winter 2016
Abbot Gary, OSB, Publisher
Abbot Gary Hoover, OSB
Father Gerard Gonda, OSB
Publisher Editor
Advancement Team:
Debra First, Events, Donor Relations & Volunteers
Amanda Zima, Director, Major and Planned Gifts
Greg Renkas, Director, Alumni Relations and Annual Fund
Susan Pitts, Advancement Administrator/Saint Andrew
Abbey Representative
Contributors:
Kieran Patton
Debra First
Ten10 Design
Table of Contents
President’s Letter
2
Pope Explains “Year of Mercy”
4
Lent in the Rule of St. Benedict
6
Lenten Reflection
7
Oblates8
Is There A Doctor In The House?
9
Hall of Distinction
13
Alumnus Spotlight18
Monks Corner19
Cover Photo: Benedictine alumni physicians pose with retired Abbot
Clement Zeleznik, OSB ’50, whom they all had as a science teacher.
Row 1 (L-R): Dr. Joe Oriti, M.D. ’71, Abbot Clement,
Dr. Eduardo Martinez, M.D. ’71. Dr. Manny Martinez, M.D. ’73
Row 2 (L-R): Dr. Donald Kikta, M.D.’69, Dr. George Askew, M.D.’81
Row 3 (L-R): Dr. Gary Grosel, M.D. ’81, Dr. Will Turek, D.O. ‘86,
Dr. Larry Witmer, D.O. ’89
Principal’s Column20
A View from the Faculty
21
Obituaries22
WINTER 2016
3
Pope Francis Explains the “Year of Mercy”
As we celebrate the new Liturgical Year of
Mercy, Pope Francis wrote the following
letter discussing some of his thoughts and
ideas to help celebrate this Year of Mercy.
The Pope has written a letter with some
instructions for the Jubilee of Mercy.
To My Venerable Brother
Archbishop Rino Fisichella
President of the Pontifical Council
for the Promotion of the New
Evangelization:
With the approach of the Extraordinary
Jubilee of Mercy I would like to focus
on several points which I believe require
attention to enable the celebration of the
Holy Year to be for all believers a true
moment of encounter with the mercy of
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ORA ET LABORA
God. It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee
be a living experience of the closeness of
the Father, whose tenderness is almost
tangible, so that the faith of every believer
may be strengthened and thus testimony
to it be ever more effective.
My thought first of all goes to all the
faithful who, whether in individual
Dioceses or as pilgrims to Rome, will
experience the grace of the Jubilee. I wish
that the Jubilee Indulgence may reach
each one as a genuine experience of God’s
mercy, which comes to meet each person
in the Face of the Father who welcomes
and forgives, forgetting completely the
sin committed. To experience and obtain
the Indulgence, the faithful are called to
make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door,
open in every Cathedral or in the churches
designated by the Diocesan Bishop, and
in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a
sign of the deep desire for true conversion.
Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence
may be obtained in the Shrines in which
the Door of Mercy is open and in the
churches which traditionally are identified
as Jubilee Churches. It is important that
this moment be linked, first and foremost,
to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to
the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with
a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary
to accompany these celebrations with the
profession of faith and with prayer for me
and for the intentions that I bear in my
heart for the good of the Church and of
the entire world.
Additionally, I am thinking of those
for whom, for various reasons, it will
be impossible to enter the Holy Door,
particularly the sick and people who are
elderly and alone, often confined to the
home. For them it will be of great help
to live their sickness and suffering as an
experience of closeness to the Lord who
in the mystery of his Passion, Death
and Resurrection indicates the royal
road which gives meaning to pain and
loneliness. Living with faith and joyful
hope this moment of trial, receiving
communion or attending Holy Mass
and community prayer, even through the
various means of communication, will
be for them the means of obtaining the
Jubilee Indulgence. My thoughts also
turn to those incarcerated, whose freedom
is limited. The Jubilee Year has always
constituted an opportunity for great
amnesty, which is intended to include
the many people who, despite deserving
punishment, have become conscious of the
injustice they worked and sincerely wish
to re-enter society and make their honest
contribution to it. May they all be touched
in a tangible way by the mercy of the
Father who wants to be close to those who
have the greatest need of his forgiveness.
They may obtain the Indulgence in the
chapels of the prisons. May the gesture of
directing their thought and prayer to the
Father each time they cross the threshold
of their cell signify for them their passage
through the Holy Door, because the
mercy of God is able to transform hearts,
and is also able to transform bars into an
experience of freedom.
I have asked the Church in this
Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness
encompassed by the spiritual and
corporal works of mercy. The experience
of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the
witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself
taught us. Each time that one of the
faithful personally performs one or more
of these actions, he or she shall surely
obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. Hence
the commitment to live by mercy so
as to obtain the grace of complete and
exhaustive forgiveness by the power of
the love of the Father who excludes no
one. The Jubilee Indulgence is thus full,
the fruit of the very event which is to be
celebrated and experienced with faith,
hope and charity.
Furthermore, the Jubilee Indulgence can
also be obtained for the deceased. We are
bound to them by the witness of faith
and charity that they have left us. Thus,
as we remember them in the Eucharistic
celebration, thus we can, in the great
mystery of the Communion of Saints,
pray for them, that the merciful Face of
the Father free them of every remnant of
fault and strongly embrace them in the
unending beatitude.
One of the serious problems of our
time is clearly the changed relationship
with respect to life. A widespread and
insensitive mentality has led to the loss of
the proper personal and social sensitivity
to welcome new life. The tragedy of
abortion is experienced by some with a
superficial awareness, as if not realizing
the extreme harm that such an act entails.
Many others, on the other hand, although
experiencing this moment as a defeat,
believe they have no other option. I think
in particular of all the women who have
resorted to abortion. I am well aware of
the pressure that has led them to this
decision. I know that it is an existential
and moral ordeal. I have met so many
women who bear in their heart the scar
of this agonizing and painful decision.
What has happened is profoundly unjust;
yet only understanding the truth of it
can enable one not to lose hope. The
forgiveness of God cannot be denied to
one who has repented, especially when
that person approaches the Sacrament of
Confession with a sincere heart in order
to obtain reconciliation with the Father.
For this reason too, I have decided,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
to concede to all priests for the Jubilee
Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of
abortion those who have procured it and
who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness
for it. May priests fulfill this great task
by expressing words of genuine welcome
combined with a reflection that explains
the gravity of the sin committed, besides
indicating a path of authentic conversion
by which to obtain the true and generous
forgiveness of the Father who renews all
with his presence.
A final consideration concerns those
faithful who for various reasons choose
to attend churches officiated by priests of
the Fraternity of St. Pius X. This Jubilee
Year of Mercy excludes no one. From
various quarters, several Brother Bishops
have told me of their good faith and
sacramental practice, combined however
with an uneasy situation from the pastoral
standpoint. I trust that in the near future
solutions may be found to recover full
communion with the priests and superiors
of the Fraternity. In the meantime,
motivated by the need to respond to
the good of these faithful, through my
own disposition, I establish that those
who during the Holy Year of Mercy
approach these priests of the Fraternity
of St. Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament
of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly
receive the absolution of their sins.
Trusting in the intercession of the Mother
of Mercy, I entrust the preparations for
this Extraordinary
Jubilee Year to her
protection.
From the Vatican,
1 September 2015
WINTER 2016
5
Lent in the Rule
of Saint Benedict
Many approach the holy season
of Lent with the resolution to
quit chocolates or some other
favorite food. While this may be
good, it is a rather minimal way
to approach Lent in that one will
observe this little practice and not
really grow spiritually through it.
Many times they will look upon
this little exercise as a burden and
not follow it all the way through
to the end of Lent. It would be a
better idea to do things that would
have more meaning, i.e. directed at
maintaining our relationships with
God and our neighbor, and thus
once the practice is started and the
habit is formed, we may perform
this practice throughout Lent and
even after Lent as well.
Chapter 49 of the Holy Rule
of Saint Benedict is a monk’s guide for the observance of
Lent. The Rule states that “The life of a monk ought to
be a continuous Lent.” This is a good point to keep in
mind because we know our need for continual repentance.
However, the Rule also points out that “few, however, have
the strength for this.” So, the 40 days of Lent is of a smaller
length of time to observe whatever practice we may take up.
The purpose of Lent, according to the Rule, is “to keep [the
monk’s] manner of life most pure and to wash away in this
holy season the negligences of other times.” Everybody, not
only monks, can do this.
The readings for Ash Wednesday are also a guide for a more
meaningful observance of Lent. In the book of the prophet
Joel, the Lord says to “Return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts,
not your garments.” The Rule says a similar thing: it instructs
the monk to observe Lent “by refusing to indulge evil habits
and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading,
to compunction of heart and self-denial.” Both the Ash
Wednesday readings and the Rule emphasize turning from
our evil ways so that we may turn back to God. We can begin
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Brother Louis Carey, OSB ‘88
to do this by opening ourselves to
God’s grace through prayer.
However, one thing we must always
keep in mind is that our prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving (charity
to the poor) must not be done so
that we receive praise from others.
Jesus points this out in chapter 6 of
Saint Matthew’s gospel. The point
of praying, self-denial of our body’s
needs, and charity to the poor is to
draw closer to God and to help our
neighbor. If we draw attention to
what we our doing, the praise that
we receive from others is minimal
and doesn’t last very long. Rather,
we would want to receive God’s
reward for doing good deeds, which
lasts forever.
One last point (for monks,
anyways,) is that we need to ask the Abbot’s permission for
the good works that we plan to do during Lent. According to
the Rule: “Whatever is undertaken without the permission
of the spiritual father will be reckoned as presumption
and vainglory, not deserving a reward.” Personally, this
requirement gives me the encouragement to practice my good
works faithfully throughout Lent.
Whatever good works you decide to do this Lent, always
remember that we are trying (with the help of God’s grace) to
improve our relationship with Him and our neighbor. Then as
we perform our good works, we can (as the Rule states) “look
forward to holy Easter with joy and
spiritual longing.”
Brother Louis is a 1988 alumnus
of Benedictine High School and a
seminarian of Saint Andrew Abbey.
Lenten Reflection
As I look at my February calendar, there is a picture of the
Cross with a crimson cloth draped around the extended
beam. When I first looked at it, I didn’t understand the
artist’s intention of the crimson cloth. I have seen the
Cross with a purple cloth draped around it referring to
the Lenten Season. I have also seen a white cloth draped
around the Cross at Easter referring to the Resurrection
of Christ. I have never seen a crimson cloth. The photo
caused me to stop and think about the meaning of the
picture. I finally came to the conclusion that the artist used
the crimson colored cloth to signify the blood of Christ
that poured forth from Him during His crucifixion. I also
realized the timing of having the crimson cloth draped on
the Cross would signify Passion (Palm) Sunday and Holy
Week when Christ went through His suffering, torture and
crucifixion. An interesting idea. Unlike having the purple
cloth on the Cross representing the days of Lent, by using
a crimson cloth, the artist was bringing me to the reality
that Lent is all about the suffering of Christ.
I remember a few years ago reflecting on Christ’s loss of
blood; His agony in the Garden through the scourging,
the crowning of thorns, the struggle of carrying the heavy
Cross, His being nailed to the Cross and breathing His
final breath. The guard thrust a lance into His side to see
if He was dead. Out flowed blood and water, to indicate
that Jesus actually lost all of His blood along the journey.
As His blood was dripping out of Him, how was it possible
for Jesus to continue His agonizing journey? It was only
through His love for us that He endured all agony. It was
His love for us that drove Him to embrace His excruciating
suffering when any other man would have collapsed
and passed out.
Through His love, Jesus would do the unimaginable.
He would rise from the dead, something that was never
done before, and ascend into Heaven. Through Jesus, we
have new life, a new beginning. Yes, Lent leads us to His
suffering. God’s love leads to the Resurrection. Let us take
this season of Lent to embrace the sufferings of Christ and
through His love, live in the Spirit of the Resurrected Christ.
Recently, I heard the following song by Chris Tomlin,
“At the Cross, Love Ran Red” which reflects the power of
Christ’s love.
Rt. Rev. Gary A. Hoover, OSB ‘74
Abbot of Saint Andrew Abbey
“At the Cross (Love Ran Red)”
Published October 27, 2014. YouTube. YouTube viewed
February 5, 2016.
There’s a place where mercy reigns and never dies
There’s a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I’ve ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down
At the cross
At the cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of You
I’m in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You I owe all to You Jesus
There’s a place where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love I’ve ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down
Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You saved my life
Here I bow down
Here I bow...
My prayer for all of us this Lent is that we may truly
open ourselves to the suffering of Jesus Christ. That we
embrace Him as He travels His journey of love, His journey
of suffering for us. That we may
rise with him to a new life. His
resurrected life living within us.
Peace,
Abbot Gary, OSB
WINTER 2016
7
Benedictine Oblates of
Saint Andrew Abbey
Although Franciscans and Dominicans are generally attributed with
the establishment of “Third Order” groups, lay men and women have
shared in the actual and spiritual works of monasteries for centuries.
Since the 195O’s, there has been an increased desire on the part of many
to share in the meditative and spiritual techniques that were thought to
belong only to monks and nuns, cloistered contemplatives. Well, “it’s not
just for monks anymore.” There has been an increased effort around the
world to share the fruits of the monastic life with those who live outside
the cloister, both single and married alike. The Benedictine Oblates are the
prime example of just such people.
Most oblates live a life outside the cloister, but the driving force in
their lives is an intense desire to live in union with God and to seek this
relationship with God in three main ways: the practice of meditative holy
reading, celebration of Liturgical Hours, and quietly working in the world
and uniting that work with the plan of God. Oblates are usually associated with a particular monastery and are seen as an institute that assists
the monks in their work and prayer. The monks in turn provide spiritual
assistance and direction to the oblates through workshops, retreats, publications, etc. and remember the oblates in their prayerful offerings of the
day. There are Benedictine oblates in nearly every respectable profession
you can imagine, but they all have one thing in common: the desire to
unite themselves to God and each other through monastic spirituality.
One can inquire about becoming an oblate through another oblate or
by contacting the Oblate Director. After attendance at a few meetings
Father Bede Kotlinski, OSB
Director of Oblates
and the intention is solidified, one becomes an “oblate novice”.
After a year, the oblate will further their commitment through a
formal oblation, which is made in the presence of the abbot and
monastic community. While these are not canonical vows, formal
oblation should be seen as an interior and exterior commitment to simple living,
holy reading, praying the psalms (liturgical hours) and cultivating an interior
sense of peace.
Won’t you consider this opportunity? Oblates do not take vows. Their connection with the monastery is not recognized as binding by Church Law as an
official obligation. However, life as an oblate can be very enriching and is generally
up to the person to be involved as much as possible. Oblates are expected to pray
morning and evening prayer, participate in meditation and lectio and attend monthly
meetings whenever possible.
An initial interview takes place at which the person is invited to attend one of the
meetings. The director and the oblate candidate then meet to discuss initial obligations and participation. The oblate candidate and the director both determine
if the person wishes to move to the next step of commitment, which involves
becoming an oblate novice for at least one year. The next step would be to commit to being a formal oblate of the monastery through the oblation ceremony.
Meetings are held at Saint Andrew Abbey on the third Sunday of each month from
2:30-4:00 pm. Inquires may be made by calling any of the abbey oblate directors: Father Bede:
216-721-5300 x310 or [email protected]
Abbey Seminarians Take Summer Trip
to EWTN in Alabama
Abbey seminarians Brother Louis and Deacon Father Thomas drove to Eternal Word
Network’s studio in Birmingham, Alabama in late August and were able to participate in the
audience of Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa’s Live interview show with Bishop Michael Burbidge
of Raleigh, North Carolina about the increase in priesthood vocations in that diocese. The
next day, they attended the Daily Mass televised nationally from the original EWTN chapel
and Father Thomas served as deacon for the Mass. On September 23, Father Thomas,
Brother Conrad, and novice Brother Charbel traveled to Washington DC to see Pope
Francis canonize Saint Junipero Serra.
(L-R) Bishop Michael Burbidge, Brother Louis,
Deacon Father Thomas, Father Mitch Pacwa
Praying with Confreres - Living and Deceased
For Benedictine monks, the vow of stability is
one of the unique characteristics of monastic
identity. At the time of profession, Benedictine
monks do not just promise to live the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience,
but instead promise stability, conversion of life,
and obedience (Chapter 58 of the Rule of St..
Benedict). An English Benedictine Bishop of
the 19th century named John Cuthbert Hedley
described the importance of the vow of stability
in this way, “Every Benedictine monastery is
and ought to be a home. It would be a mistake
to encourage anyone to profess as a Benedictine monk unless he could look forward with
pleasure to live, for better or worse, until death,
in the monastery of his profession.”
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This “Spirit of Stability” is so important that
it unites members of the same monastery
who are physically in a location apart from
the abbey itself. Every night, at the end of
the last communal prayer of the day, the
monks pray for their “absent brothers.” Saint
Andrew’s Abbey has a beautiful custom each
November of physically visiting the monastic
burial plot at Calvary Cemetery where 66 of
the 67 deceased confreres are buried (Novice
Bartholomew Lukac is buried in Slovakia).
Vespers of the Dead are prayed allowing a
spiritual unity between those chanting God’s
praises on earth and those echoing the psalms
in heaven and purgatory.
On November 3, 2015, confrere Bishop Roger
(left) joined the monks to chant vespers at
the monastic burial plot at Calvary Cemetery
located about 15 minutes from the abbey.
Is there a
doctor
in the house?
The impact of Benedictine
alumni medical doctors
Fr. Gerard Gonda, OSB
WINTER 2016
9
When alumnus Dr. Gregory Ward, M.D. ’78 joined the Benedictine High School Board of Trustees
in 2013, it was a historic moment. Not only did the Board of Trustees for the first time have three
members, all of the same class, who commuted from out-of-state for the five annual meetings of
the Board, but I also met the first African-American alumnus of BHS who became a medical doctor.
It made me stop and think of other alumni of the Home
of Champions who have become champions in the field of
medicine. Although there are notable Benedictine alumni who
serve as dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and in other fields of
medicine, this article will highlight some of the many doctors
who got their start in the excellent science classes over the years
at BHS.
After graduating from Benedictine in
1978, Greg Ward (left) received his
Bachelor of Science degree in BioPsychology from Wesleyan University
in Middletown, Connecticut. He
graduated from the Medical College
of Ohio in 1986 (“University of
Toledo College of Medicine”) where
he received awards in neurology,
adolescent medicine, rheumatology, cardiology, obstetrics,
and gynecology. During his residency at Rush-Presbyterian-St.
Luke Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Ward attended graduate
school at the University of Chicago and earned a doctorate in
Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (MESA).
Dr. Ward currently serves as Medical Director of Rehabilitation
at Lake Regional Medical Center, Nottingham Regional Rehab
Center, and Carrington Place of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From
1992-2000 he was appointed by the governor to serve on the
Louisiana State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Since
joining the Board of Trustees at BHS, Dr. Ward has established
four annual science scholarships
that are awarded at BHS to
deserving underclassmen.
Dr. John Plucinsky, is Benedictine
High School’s senior alumnus M.D.
10
One of Benedictine’s first alumni
medical doctors is Dr. John
Plucinsky, M.D. ’45 (left). Now
retired, Dr. Plucinsky at one
time counted 12 Benedictine
monks among his patients. He
graduated from Georgetown
Medical School in 1955 and
ORA ET LABORA
was board certified in Internal Medicine and served on staff of
a number of local hospitals. A classmate Dr. Francis Picklow,
M.D.’45 also became a doctor. Dr. Frank Vargo, M.D. ’46
also specialized in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Robert Fabiny, M.D. ’49 retired as a gynecologist in
Wisconsin. His classmate Dr. Michael Kondik, D.O.’49
retired from the practice of Osteopathic medicine.
Under the strong influence of Benedictine’s formidable
monastic science teachers in the 1950’s: Fr. Raphael Zbin,
OSB (Biology), Fr. Anthony Marko, OSB and Fr. Basil Hrin,
OSB (Chemistry), and Fr. Cyril Novotny, OSB (Physics), a
number of graduates went to medical school. Among them
were Dr. Valentin Mersol, M.D. ’51, an Oltolaryngologist (ear,
nose, and throat doctor), Dr. Philip Vanik, M.D. ’52 of the
Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Dr. Edward Tupta, M.D. ’53,
a retired podiatrist and surgeon, Dr. John Gillota, M.D. ’55,
a retired family physician, and Dr. Gerald Dzurik, M.D. ’59,
a retired pediatrician at the Children’s Clinic in Shreveport,
Louisiana.
Dr. James Lewis, M.D. ’59 (left) is one
of two “Mr. Benedictine” award winners
who became a doctor. Dr. Lewis is a
renowned nephrologist (kidney specialist)
in Columbus, Ohio and is affiliated
with Riverside Methodist Hospital. He
received his medical degree from Loyola
University Chicago Stritch School of
Medicine and has been in practice for
48 years. He faithfully drives to Cleveland every June for the
annual dinner honoring the new “Mr. Benedictine.”
Dr. Donald Kikta, M.D.’69 not only became the top Bengal
tennis player by listening to his tennis coach Fr. Clement,
but also was inspired by Fr. Clement’s Honors Physics class
to pursue a career in science and medicine. He achieved his
doctorate from Ohio State University. He currently is a board
certified neurologist affiliated with University Hospitals Parma
Medical Center. Also from the 1960’s, Dr. James Kolenich,
M.D. ’60 earned his degree from Loyola University School of
Medicine. Dr. Anthony Pucell, M.D. ’61 is a pediatrician and
his classmate Dr. Albert Molnar. M.D. ’61, specialized in physical
medicine and rehabilitation in Austin, Texas. Dr. Gregory
Mack, M.D. ’63 became an Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon,
Hand and Upper Extremity Medical Specialist in San Diego.
Dr. Joseph Bujak, M.D. ’60 (left) of
Idaho is a frequently requested speaker,
facilitator, and consultant on issues
related to healthcare. He authored
the book “Inside the Physician Mind:
Finding Common Ground with
Doctors” (2008). He graduated Phi Beta
Kappa from Rutgers University and
received his medical degree from the University of Rochester
where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha.
The Class of 1964 boasts five doctors: Dr. James
Mondzelewski, M.D. ’64 (brother of Fr. Dominic, OSB) is a
well-respected Ophthalmologist in Pittsburgh; Dr. Dominic
Maga, D.O. ’64 works in Osteopathic medicine in Dayton;
Dr. Alex Grad, D.P.M.’64 is a podiatrist in Lima, Ohio;
Dr. Daniel Zydowicz, M.D. ’64 specializes in infectious
diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical Center;
and Dr. Edward Ruszkiewicz, M.D. was inducted into the
Benedictine Hall of Distinction in 2012 for his pioneer work
in the area of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Jack Kane, D.P.M.’66 can still be seen in the stands at
many Bengal football and basketball games. He still practices
Podiatry in Garfield Heights. Dr. Dennis Cech, M.D. ‘68
is an allergist-immunologist in Avon Lake, Ohio. He received
his medical degree from Louisiana State University School
of Medicine in New Orleans and has been in practice for 37
years.
Although Dr. Joe Oriti, M.D. ’71 has been immortalized in a
number of Coach Dan O’Shaughnessy’s inspirational football
stories, Joe has been serving as a podiatrist after earning his
medical degree from the Ohio College of Podiatry. He also
likes to attend Bengal football games in the fall. Dr. Don
Ambroziak, M.D. ’70 is a podiatrist in Lexington, Kentucky.
His classmate Dr. Victor Drobnic, D.C. ’70 is a Chiropractic
physician in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Timothy Ford,
D.P.M.,’76 is a member of the American Podiatric Medical
Association, the Kentucky Podiatric Medical Association, and
is a Fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.
Dr. Ford is the former president of the Kentucky Podiatric
Medical Association and Director and Founder of The
Podiatric Residency & Fellowship Programs at Kentucky One
Health where he is also the Chief of Podiatric Medicine and
Surgery within the Department of Orthopedics.
The 1970’s also produced
two brothers who followed
their dad into medicine.
Dr. Eduardo Martinez,
M.D. ’71 and Dr. Manny
Martinez, M.D. ’73
followed in the footsteps of
their late father Dr. Eduardo
J. Martinez, M.D. who
served as the team doctor
to the Benedictine Bengals
in the 1970’s. Subsequently
both sons also gave service
to the Bengals as team
doctors. Eduardo received
his medical degree from the
Medical College of Toledo
and became a board certified
(L-R) Brothers Manny ’73 and
radiologist in 1982. For 10
Eddie ’71 Martinez
years he served as chairman
of radiology at Elyria Hospital. Manny is the second “Mr.
Benedictine” (1973) to become a doctor. He graduated from
Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1982. He has
been working as part of a group of Orthopaedic surgeons in
Westlake, Ohio. He has been a team doctor for Lutheran West
High School, Baldwin Wallace University, and the Lake Erie
Monsters hockey team. He was named a “Top Doctor” for
Orthopaedic Surgeons by Cleveland Magazine in 2015.
Stay connected
with
Benedictine Alumni
Please forward updates and contact
information to [email protected]
WINTER 2016
11
professor in Family Medicine at CWRU School of Medicine.
His classmate Dr. Anthony Daher, M.D. ’89 is a staff physician
and EMS Medical Director at Ahuja Medical Center in
Warrensville, Ohio.
Dr. Marvin McGowan, D.O. ’80 works at Centerville Clinics
in Pittsburgh. Dr. Joseph Daprano, M.D. ’82 practices Internal
Medicine and Pediatrics for Metro Health in Cleveland.
Dr. Anthony Capasso, M.D. ’84 is a physician in Ponte Vedra,
Florida. Dr. Daniel Newton, M.D. ’87 practices cardiology
and is affiliated with Akron General in Wooster, Ohio. Dr. Will
Turek, D.O. ’86 does a weekly radio program with another
physician called “The Catholic Doctors Show” that focuses on
Catholic teaching and medical moral issues on Catholic Radio
AM 820 in Columbus, Ohio where Will lives with his wife
Lesley and six children while working as a family Physician for
the Veterans Administration.
(L-R) Larry Witmer ’89 and his son Cory who was delivered by Gary Grosel ’81
Dr. George Askew, M.D. ’81 was inducted into the Benedictine
High School Hall of Distinction in 2013. He received his
undergraduate degree from Harvard University and is a graduate
of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He
is currently Deputy Commissioner of Health in the New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Prior to this
he was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve as the
first Chief Medical Officer for the Administration of Children
and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
George’s classmate Dr. Gary Grosel, M.D. ’81 was an OB/
GYN from 1994 until 2014 working in both the University
Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic Systems. In 2004 he founded a
company for recertifying OB/GYN’s and he recently retired and
began working as a consultant. For a number of years he was
the preceptor and taught obstetrics and gynecology to medical
students. Interestingly, he delivered the babies of a number of
the Cleveland Indians. On August 1, 2001 he delivered Cory
Witmer, son of fellow alumnus and Gary’s medical student Dr.
Larry Witmer, D.O. ’89 and his wife Maria. Larry is a family
practitioner in Aurora, Ohio and serves as a clinical assistant
Dr. Matthew Vrobel, M.D. ‘96 is
an emergency medicine doctor in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received
his medical degree from The Ohio State
University College of Medicine and has
been in practice for 11 years. Dr. Craig
Szafranski, M.D. ’99 (left) credits former
BHS biology teacher Diana McBeath
for inspiring him to pursue a career in science. He is a surgeon
in Casa Grande, Arizona and is affiliated with Casa Grande
Regional Medical Center. Jeff Kuerbitz ’06 graduated from
the University of Dayton and won a full scholarship to the
University of Cincinnati Medical School where he continues
research on genes and brain development.
Martin Spies ’09 is a second
year medical student at the
Des Moines University College
of Osteopathic Medicine and
is hoping to do his third year
rotations at either the Cleveland
Clinic or St. John’s Hospital.
Marty Spies ’09 (l) in Des Moines,
Iowa
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ORA ET LABORA
Hall of
Distinction
Induction
Ceremony
On December 12, 2015, the fifth induction
ceremony was held for the Benedictine
High School Hall of Distinction at the
Patrician Party Center in Eastlake. The
newly-inducted members are: Charles
(Chuck) Noll ’49 (posthumously), Bishop
Roger Gries, OSB ’54, Stanley L. Ulchaker
’56, Stefan Czapsky ’69, and Daniel
Winterich ’92.
The Hall of Distinction recognizes the
wide-ranging excellence of Benedictine
alumni.
The criteria for admission to the Hall is that
a member:
1. has achieved the highest esteem of his
peers in his field;
2. has made advancements and
improvements in his field;
3. has enriched his community, society
and the world through his work, in the
Benedictine tradition.
Candidates are chosen from nominations
for five different career fields (out of a
total of 15 rotating fields) each year.
Charles (Chuck) Noll, ’49
Sports Management
Not every pope is in Rome.
Any player or fan of the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the
1970’s and 80’s can tell
you that. “Pope” is what
they called the guy who is
among the greatest NFL
coaches of all time: four
Super Bowls, nine AFC
Division championships,
209-156-1 lifetime record, 16-8 post season record, 23 years
as head coach of the same team, and, of course, a member of
the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But there’s more to the story of the man also nicknamed “The
Emperor Chaz” for his coaching style. He turned around a
team which had been to only one post-season game in its last
36 years to one of the most successful franchises in the history
of the game. Chuck Noll was the first head coach to win
four Super Bowls, in ’75, ’76, ’79, and ’80. Many credited
him with injecting hope and energy into economically
damaged Western Pennsylvania. Chuck is also considered
one of the great integrators of professional football, offering
opportunities to many African Americans to play and coach.
Brilliant as a drafter, Chuck put together the recruits who
would eventually become the famous Steel Curtain defense,
including Joe Greene, Jack Ham, L.C. Greenwood and Jack
Lambert. Some of the greatest players of the time, such
as Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann and John
Stallworth, also took orders from the “pope.”
As a coach, Chuck Noll considered himself a teacher, a
profession he almost went into after graduating from the
University of Dayton. Another coaching legend, Don Shula,
head coach of the Colts, was also impressed by his assistant
coach’s capacity to explain how to do things in great detail,
and Chargers’ defensive tackle Ernie Ladd considered Chuck
the best teacher he ever played under. Chuck had a way of
dealing with players that got the most out of them—he knew
when to ride them and when to give them slack. Combine
this with an exceptional understanding of the game and you
have a recipe for success. When he played for the Browns,
Chuck ran plays in as a messenger to quarterback Otto
Graham. Head coach Paul Brown thought Chuck was so
smart that he could call the plays himself without help from
the bench.
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13
2015 Hall of Distinction
Chuck’s roots are on Cleveland’s east side, near E.74th Street.
His father, who had Parkinson’s disease, was a butcher, and
his mother a florist. Education was the family dream, so
when Chuck graduated from Holy Trinity grade school, he
took his savings from his job at Fisher Bros. Meat Market
and enrolled at Benedictine. Coach Joe Rufus first played
Chuck at fullback, then switched him to the line. Chuck
always credited Rufus with teaching him proper blocking
and tackling techniques. Years later, on the day of a Browns/
Steelers game in the old stadium, Chuck visited Rufus who
was in the hospital. In response to Joe’s question of why he
wasn’t on the field preparing for the game, Chuck reminded
his old coach of one of his lessons—if they’re not prepared
now, they never will be. From Benedictine, it was on to the
University of Dayton, where his teammates dubbed him the
“pope” for his extraordinary and certain knowledge of the
game, and everything else, then to the Browns as a player,
to the L.A./San Diego Chargers as assistant coach, then to
the Baltimore Colts as a defensive line coach, and, finally, to
Pittsburgh as head coach, a position he held from 1969-91. In
his retirement, Chuck passed up opportunities to sell products
and commentate on games. He remained a quiet and humble
man who epitomized “class” in professional sports. Chuck
Noll passed away June 13, 2014.
By helping to integrate professional football, emphasizing
such values as education and humility, and by focusing on
the individual, Chuck Noll has had a powerful impact on
professional sports. These same qualities ensure him a place in
the Benedictine Hall of Distinction.
Bishop Roger Gries, O. S. B., ’54
Catholic Faith
After nearly 40 years of
apostolic work, teaching,
coaching, administering
a school and an abbey, in
addition to priestly duties,
Abbot Roger Gries was
looking forward to scaling
back a bit as he approached
his mid-60’s. But, as he has
often said, “If you want
to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” God’s plan came
through the Vatican which asked him to share his talents
with the rest of the Diocese of Cleveland as Auxiliary Bishop.
And now, 14 years later, the Mr. Benedictine of 1954 is
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ORA ET LABORA
still just as busy, confirming, ordaining, serving on boards
and helping to administer the sprawling 8-county diocese of
nearly 700,000 Catholics and 185 parishes.
William Gries attended Saint Wenceslas Grade School
before enrolling at Benedictine High School, where he was
an honors student and captain of the football team, which
won the East Senate championship his senior year. Students
elected him the school’s second “Mr. Benedictine,” an honor
which recognizes the senior who best exemplifies the ideals
of Benedictine High School. He continued his football
career for two years at Saint John’s University in Minnesota,
where he played for the legendary coach John Gagliardi (the
winningest college football coach of all time) and graduated
in 1959. He made his solemn vows as a Benedictine monk in
1960 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1963 at St. John’s
Cathedral. At Loyola University in Chicago, Father Roger
obtained a Master’s Degree in Education in 1964.
At Benedictine, Father Roger had many roles. He was a math
teacher, coach, bus driver, disciplinarian, assistant principal
and principal of the school. He was a very popular algebra,
geometry and trig instructor, one who had the reputation
of being clear and tough. As a young monk starting out, he
shared responsibilities for overseeing the nearly 1,000-student
school with Father Robert Wilkes, O.S.B. The former
football star was a formidable Disciplinarian, but students
liked his fairness and kind heart. In 1977, Abbot Jerome
Koval appointed him Prior of Saint Andrew’s Abbey and,
four years later, his fellow monks elected him Abbot. Under
his leadership, major renovations of the abbey and the high
school took place, including the construction of the abbey
chapel and up-dating the science labs. In addition to his work
at the school and abbey, Abbot Roger was a weekend assistant
at Holy Family and Saint Hyacinth parishes for many years.
In 2001, Abbot Roger was named Auxiliary Bishop of
Cleveland. He currently also serves as Chaplain to the Maple
Heights Knights of Columbus, Honorary Chaplain to the
Carmona Caravan of the Order of Alhambra and Chaplain
to Legatus. He serves on the boards of Benedictine High
School, Saint Vincent College, Regina Health Center, the
Foundation for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration,
the Diocesan Pastors’ Advisory Council and the College of
Consultors. He is a member of the Slovak Catholic Sokol, the
First Catholic Slovak Union, the First Catholic Slovak Ladies
Association and the Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic
Union. He received an honorary Doctorate Degree from
Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina in 2002.
Although the Pope accepted his letter of resignation in 2013
and his title is officially “Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus,” Bishop
Roger continues his active ministry, bringing his strong faith,
message of hope and good humor wherever he goes. When
Bishop Roger’s name comes up, Benedictine alumni are always
proud to acknowledge him as one of their own. The Hall of
Distinction is also proud to admit him to membership.
Stanley L. Ulchaker, ’56
Communications
Father Donald Baydik,
O.S.B., legendary adviser
of The Bennet and the
yearbook for many years,
had an eye for talent.
But maybe even he didn’t
realize that the sharp
young man he plucked to
be on the newspaper and
yearbook would someday
be the president and CEO of the “best managed PR firm in
the United States,” according to the Public Relations Society
of America.
Edward Howard & Co. is the largest public relations and
public affairs consulting firm in Ohio and one of the largest
regionally-based firms in the country. Its wide range of clients
include hospitals, manufacturing companies, corporations,
and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stanley Ulchaker has worked in
just about every position at Edward Howard since his career
there began in 1961 until he retired in 2000. In 1969, Stanley
was elected vice president of the company, then executive vice
president in 1977, president and chief operating officer in
1986, CEO in 1987 and chairman in 1989.
Two public relations programs under Stanley’s direction have
received the Silver Anvil Awards, which are the highest recognition
given by the Public Relations Society of America. Several of
his annual reports have earned the Bronze Oscar of Industry
Awards. Among his numerous honors include the Lighthouse
Award for Excellence, First Team All American by Inside PR
journal, Fellow of the Public Relations Society of America and
past president of the Cleveland chapter of that society.
Stanley came to Benedictine from Saint Henry’s parish.
Besides his work on The Bennet all four years, two as sports
editor and his co-editorship of the yearbook his senior year,
Stanley was also the valedictorian of the class of 1956. During
his senior year, Stanley took advantage of the skills he learned
from Father Donald on The Bennet and got a job as a sports
correspondent for the Plain Dealer. By the time he was a
junior at John Carroll University, Stanley turned that into
a full-time reporter position, one he held for the next four
years. He went to school nights and summers, graduating
with honors in 1960 with a full-time job at The Plain Dealer.
A year later, he married Margie and began his career at
Edward Howard & Co.
Many organizations have benefitted from Stanley’s expertise
and enthusiasm. He is a past member of the Board of Trustees
of The Center for Health Affairs and Youth Opportunities
Unlimited. He is a life trustee of the Woodruff Foundation
and a past member of the advisory councils to the Schools
of Business at both Kent State and John Carroll Universities.
He is also a former president of the Benedictine High School
Board of Trustees. Stanley resides in Rocky River with his wife
Margie. He has two children, James, a doctor, and Margaret
Mary, a nurse practitioner. With respect to his education at
his alma mater, Stanley says, “If it wasn’t for Benedictine High
School, I wouldn’t have anything. Benedictine opened my
eyes to so much it’s incredible, in regard to the education and
the overall experience.” In utilizing his talents and education,
Stanley L. Ulchaker has earned the highest esteem of his peers
and given back to his profession and society many times. It for
these reasons we proudly induct him into the Benedictine High
School Hall of Distinction.
Stefan Czapsky, ’69
Film
If you’ve seen and enjoyed any of the following
films—Ed Wood, Batman
Returns, Edward Scissorhands, The Thin Blue
Line, Last Exit to Brooklyn—you can thank Benedictine alumnus Stefan
Czapsky for the experience.
Stefan was the cinematographer, also called the director of photography (D.P.) for
each of those films and many more. The cinematographer of
a movie is the person responsible for all of the actual camera
work and creates the ultimate look of the film.
Stefan has worked alongside some of the best directors in the
business, including Martin Scorcese, John Sayles and Tim
WINTER 2016
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2015 Hall of Distinction
Burton, not to mention film stars like Johnny Depp. Michael
Keaton, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Leigh, Nicholas
Cage, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bill Murray, Will Ferrell, and even
the legendary Vincent Price. His films run the gamut from
comedy, like Blades of Glory (2007), to action, like Bulletproof
Monk (2003—an inspiration from high school) to cult
favorites like Vampire’s Kiss (1989).
Stefan’s name often appears on lists of “Best Cinematographers Working Today,” and his work has been recognized
several times by film critics associations. Ed Wood (1994) won
best cinematography award from The National Society of
Film Critics, as well as from the New York, Los Angeles and
Boston film critics’ associations. The influential film The Thin
Blue Line is regularly on lists of “the best documentary films”
and is studied often in film classes. For his work in commercials, Stefan has won four CLIO awards, that industry’s
equivalent of the Oscars. He also won the Association for Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) best cinematography award as well as being the AICP honoree at the Museum
of Modern Art in New York.
Born in Oldenberg, Germany in an immigrant Ukrainian
family, Stefan came to the east side of Cleveland as an infant.
He attended Woodland Elementary School then Audubon
Junior High School before entering Benedictine in 1965.
At Benedictine, Stefan was an officer in both the student
government and the National Honor Society, a member of the
Kingsmen and Senior Boosters, and Valedictorian of his class.
Next, he studied film at Case Western Reserve University
under another legend, Professor Louis Giannaetti, among
the first instructors to recognize film as a legitimate college
discipline. Stefan was president of the Case Western reserve
Film Society, also a new idea on college campuses.
After obtaining his B.A., Stefan studied film on the graduate
level at Columbia University in New York. Deciding that
he’d rather make films than study them in a classroom, Stefan
began his career as an assistant cameraman and gaffer (lighting
manager). He soon was working with Scorcese and Sayles
on groundbreaking independent movies. After 11 years in
these roles, Stefan began his work as a cinematographer. His
interest in the history of Hollywood, especially the Golden
Age (late 1920’s to early 60’s), has inspired much of the crisp,
high contrast look of Stefan’s work. Currently, Stefan is shooting
an NBC television series, Shades of Blue, which will premier in
mid-January and stars Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta.
Stefan lives in New York City with his wife and five daughters.
16
ORA ET LABORA
In his significant contribution to the art of film, Stefan
Czapsky has helped us to see and reflect on the variety of the
human condition. As in all good art, we are brought closer to
God’s creation. It is therefore fitting that Stefan Czapsky be part
of the Benedictine High School Hall of Distinction.
Daniel Winterich, ’92
Public Safety
Americans love crime
drama. The Nielsen ratings
indicate that two of the CSI
shows land in the top 10
shows each week, at #2 and
#8. Millions are fascinated
by the criminal scene
investigation programs.
One Benedictine alumnus
doesn’t have time to watch
the criminal scene investigation programs because he’s actually
doing the investigating. That’s class of 1992 grad Dan
Winterich, who is the Supervisor of the Crime Scene Unit for
the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the State of Ohio.
Dan’s career as a special agent has had as much drama as
any television show. In 2010, he was part of an investigative
team that helped save the life of a 13-year old girl, Sarah
Maynard. In a triple homicide/kidnapping case, Dan and
his team found a piece of evidence which they traced back
to the kidnapper. When they found him, they found Sarah
bound in his basement. The group won the 2011 Ohio Law
Enforcement Achievement Award for that. Dan received
the award again in 2012 for leading the investigation of the
Chardon High School shooting.
Dan’s experience in over 1,000 crime scene investigations,
200 of which were homicides, has made him an invaluable
resource for public safety forces. He has published articles in
forensic journals on fingerprinting, bloodstain pattern analysis
and CSI stress. The 2009 FBI National Academy graduate has
served as an editorial review board member of the Journal of
Forensic Identification and a peer reviewer for the National
Institute of Justice. Dan has shared his expertise as a lecturer
at Bowling Green, Akron and John Carroll Universities
as well as the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy and
the Cleveland Heights Police Academy. He has served as a
subject matter expert for in forensics for the Ohio Association
of Chiefs of Police and the Ohio Police Officer Training
Commission.
This exemplary career began at St. Ann Grade School,
after which Dan began his career at Benedictine, where
he was an honors student, an editor of The Bennet,
a member of the National Honor Society, Literary
Magazine, 4-year letterman in track, 2-year letterman
in football and the winner of the Father James Award
for senior scholars projects (Dan did his in military
history). He also flourished in Benedictine’s robust
student government: he was elected class president in
his sophomore and junior years and student government
president in his senior year. On his way to becoming
a marine at Marquette University on a Naval ROTC
scholarship, Dan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
in his freshman year. He transferred to John Carroll
University where he made the Dean’s List for six
consecutive semesters, played football and graduated
cum laude in 1996. He was named an Academic AllConference Wide Receiver twice (1994, 1995), a
National Scholar-Athlete for College Football Preview
Magazine (1995) and won the Sam Morocco Award for
the senior on the football team with the highest GPA.
In 1996, Dan was hired by the Cleveland Heights Police
Dept. He finished first in his academy class with a perfect
score and spent seven years on the force, eventually
earning the rank of Investigator. At night, he took classes
at Marshall Law School, graduating with his J.D. in
2002. Next, Dan began his career as a Special Agent for
the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of the Attorney
General’s Office. In 2013, he was named Supervisor of
Crime Scene Investigation.
A current resident of Twinsburg, Dan and his wife of
16 years, Tracy, are members of Saint Rita parish; they
have two children, Danny and Ryan. Dan volunteers for
the Saint Vincent De Paul Society and as a CYO coach.
He is also a Benedictine Oblate of Saint Andrew Abbey.
In using his exceptional skills and training to enhance
the capacity of law enforcement officers to keep us safe,
Daniel Winterich is a most fitting entry into Benedictine
High School’s Hall of Distinction.
Submit Nominations for the
2016 Hall of Distinction to:
Mark Francioli
[email protected]
216-421-2080 x505
San Francisco
49’ers practice
at Bossu Field
On Saturday afternoon, December 12, 2015, a police
motorcycle squad escorted several buses filled with
members of the San Francisco 49’ers professional football
team into the BHS parking lot. Led by then Coach Jim
Tomsula, the 49’ers held their walk-through practice
at Bossu Field in preparation for their game with the
Cleveland Browns the next day. Tomsula preferred using
a high school field near the Intecontinental Hotel on
Carnegie Avenue where the team was staying.
BHS Athletic Director Chris Lorber was contacted a few
days earlier by a logistics team that discovered Bossu Field
through a satellite Google search. BHS was asked not to
publicize the practice but some members of the Bengal
football team were on campus and some of the 49’ers
took time to talk with them after practice. The 49’ers lost
to the Browns the next day by a score of 24-10.
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17
Alumnus David Porter ’12 Chosen
For National Good Works Team
Benedictine alumnus David Porter ’12, who
is a senior accounting major at John Carroll
University and has played four seasons as a
defensive lineman for the Blue Streaks football
team, was named a member of the prestigious
national Allstate Insurance Good Work Team.
This award is annually given to only 22 college
football players from across the country who
are chosen in recognition of their “good
work,” dedication, and commitment to serving
their local community.
This was the first time that a football player from John
Carroll University received this national honor. David
and his mother were flown to New Orleans in January to
participate on the field in the awards ceremony prior to
the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Nine Bengals Sign
National Letters of Intent
David has participated for three years in the annual Jesuit
Day of Service helping local neighborhood residents
build a community garden. Much of his service has been
dedicated to tutoring and mentoring children through
John Carroll partnerships with Roxboro Middle School,
the Boys and Girls Club, and the Fatima Aftercare
Program. He was involved in all of these projects while
pursuing his accounting major and achieving two-time AllConference, All-Ohio, and All-Region honors in football.
David, who originally came to BHS from Lorain, Ohio,
was featured in a lead story in the Fall, 2014 issue of Ora et
Labora. It recounted the kindness shown to him by BHS
freshmen Robbie Cramer and Vince Calabrese from Avon
when David was a junior at Benedictine and his father
was very sick. David was invited to live in their homes
when needed which helped him manage the pressures
of facing his father’s eventual demise, helping his family,
and maintaining his grades. It also forged a three-way
friendship between these Men of Benedictine and their
families that continues to this day.
Photo above: On October 29, 2015, BHS alumnus David Porter ’12
(center) receives his Allstate Good Works Team trophy at John Carroll
University. Flanking David are BHS president Fr. Gerard Gonda, OSB
(second left from David), JCU president Fr. Robert Niehoff, SJ (left of
David), and JCU Blue Streaks head football coach Tom Arth (right of
David). Photo by Alex Slitz (JCU).
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ORA ET LABORA
Benedictine High School is proud to recognize the nine senior
student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent with their
respective institutions.
Da’Von Johnson, Football – Tiffin University
DeAndre Penny, Football – University of Findlay
Justin Layne, Football– Michigan State University
Warren Saba, Football – Garden City C.C.
Jalen James, Football – Benedictine College
Davvel Moore-Meeks, Football – Tiffin University
Dontez Rash, Football – Slippery Rock University
T.J. Beltavski, Football – Ball State University
Anthony DiPio, Lacrosse – Walsh University
Congratulations!
Monks Corner
Helping Create
Benedictine Engineering
With the assistance of
Brother Philip Petrow,
OSB and Volunteer
Coordinator, Mrs.
Yvonne Schiffer, the
students of Benedictine
High School are being introduced to a new Engineering Program.
The program consists of project challenges where students are
involved with building and designing, as well as, a speaker series
featuring the many different types of engineering fields. Students also
have the opportunity to participate in labs, robotics, and hands-on
field trips.
Brother Philip works on a new design layout for a future project.
A portion of the program is being developed in coordination with
Cuyahoga Community College’s Youth Technology Academy.
Through this partnership, students enrolled in the program can
receive dual high school and college credits. Two Pre-Engineering
classes will be taught at Benedictine High School in the 2016 -2017
school year.
Additionally, the students are working with Brother Philip and Mrs.
Schiffer in the Monks Corner, the Abbey’s laser cutting and engraving
business. In the Monks Corner, students are exposed to not only design
and manufacturing but are also testing their entrepreneurial spirit. They
are challenged to develop business plans, create marketing materials
and produce budgets that include profit and loss statements. The
students are also developing their business presentation skills through
sales pitches and conducting business meetings.
The Monks Corner has the unique capability of making
custom designed items and gifts. If you have a design or
are looking for a unique gift please contact Brother Philip
at [email protected] or call 216.721.5300 ext. 242.
Samples of a few of the recent projects designed and made
by our Engineering students.
Levi Pokersnik ’18 and Brian Schoeffler ’16 making sure the
laser engraver is working correctly.
Brother Philip and Mrs. Schiffer look over a recently completed order.
WINTER 2016
19
Principal’s Column
Dear Friends of Benedictine,
So much is happening at the Home of Champions that I
almost do not know where to start!
For the first time, robotics is being studied by our students.
This is part of our Engineering Initiative, begun this year
with the support of the Magnet Group and Mrs. Yvonne
Schiffer, the mother of our freshman Andrew Schiffer. Students
have had the opportunity to attend lectures by a number of
engineers in varied professions who have visited the school.
The lectures are followed up by engineering design challenges
that are facilitated by Mrs. Schiffer. With the beginning of
the second semester, seventeen students have been studying
robotics in a program through Cuyahoga Community College
and their Youth Technology Department. Mr. Robert Ryan,
advanced mathematics instructor, helps to facilitate the class
that is simulcast to BHS and then works with the students to
assemble and program the robots.
Our BHS Drama Club has just completed the staging and
production of another thought-provoking play under the guise
of veteran drama director Father Timothy Buyansky, OSB
’60. Our basketball team is performing well and following up
on a football season that completed a record winning streak
and made it to the regional finals. Cameron Anderson had
one of his poems published in a journal of youth poetry and
Benedictine is slated to have one of the largest National Honor
Society Inductions in recent memory.
Our Music Department will soon move to newly renovated
quarters as our athletic locker rooms are renovated and
expanded through the help of generous benefactors.
The Men’s Chorus is looking forward to traveling in concert
to the British Isles in mid-April, representing the talents of
our students across the ocean. In preparation, they recently
enhanced the liturgy at Saint Thomas More parish in Cleveland
and the Ash Wednesday liturgy for the BHS community.
Seniors are being accepted to colleges and being offered
scholarships that will total in the millions. Our faculty is
working hard to shape and develop the talents of our students.
Our students are studying, volunteering, working, mentoring
and performing to the delight of our alumni and all those who
visit our campus.
Focus on Faculty:
Father Timothy Buyansky, OSB ‘ 60
By: William First ‘17
What has been the biggest change in your 45 years at BHS?
“The computer age changed everything. When I took over we
still had a card catalog. Slowly but surely the whole system was
on the computer.”
What did you like most about Benedictine (as a student)?
“The family atmosphere that it gave me. When I was here the
majority of the faculty was religious, and they were real role
models to us.”
What made you want to join the monastery?
“I had always thought about being a priest, and the monks had
a lot of influence on me in high school, particularly my senior
year. When people asked me where I was going to college, I told
them I was joining the monastery.”
Why a librarian?
“I didn’t originally want to be a librarian, I really enjoyed math.
That’s what I wanted to teach, but one day Abbot Jerome called
me into his office and said, “We need a librarian, and it’s you.”
It was the best thing that ever happened to me. It helped me
stay young, because as the computer age started, I was fortunate
to have some of the first computers sent to the library, so they’ve
helped me stay young. God works in mysterious ways”
Favorite memory (student)?
“The 57’ football championship when we beat Massillon. It
was our first state title. It was very exciting because we were the
underdogs.”
What were you involved in as a student?
“Those trash cans that are out in the hallway, I was in those, I
was a very small kid, not involved in sports. My focus in high
school was on the spiritual side. I focused a lot on my parish,
Holy Family on the east side. I was also very involved the
Lancers, which was very much like a student boosters clubs.
We invite you to come back for
a visit to see the progress of our
students, our dedicated faculty and
staff and the continued efforts that
keep Benedictine as the Home of
Champions. Blessing to you and Go
Bengals!
Rev. Michael Brunovsky, OSB
Principal
20
ORA ET LABORA
Father Tim with 1971 Men of Benedictine (L-R): Arnold Barros, Joseph Parnell,
R. Spisak, S. Cunningham, L. Ray, Sylvester Kodrin
A View from the Faculty
“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it
in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.”
This quote is part of the introduction to the Lord of the Rings movie
as recited by Galadriel. (Yes I know that Treebeard actually says
this in Return of the King for those who are fans of the book, with
some additions of course.) Why begin a Lenten reflection with
this quote? It could be that it would be fun to see how many will
make it past this intro and persevere to the end or that this quote in
many ways summarizes why we need to persevere.
Lent is a chance and an opportunity to reflect on where we are in
our relation to God. When we sin our world changes in how we
see the world as well as our relation with God. The problem often
lies with the fact that in our sin or sins that we have committed we
often struggle with the same sins and tend to fall into them over
and over. In this way, we might not remember what it was like
beforehand. Do we realize what has been lost or are we so used
to these sins that we take more comfort in them than any distress
from our lost relationship with God?
The prophet Joel reminded us of this on Ash Wednesday where
we read “Yet even now says the LORD return to me with your
whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Returning to
the Lord should be our Lenten goal and the means to reach it are
provided. These three means of fasting, weeping, and mourning
are ways that the Church recommends we practice to help us in
this journey. By putting any one of these into practice during Lent
and looking to implement these into a regular practice will help
us in overcoming our sins and turning to the Lord. If we have not
already done so, it would be good to put into practice some form of
penitential practice aside from just trying to stop a sin alone.
Favorite drama show you put on at BHS?
“I’ve done over 100, it’s a tough decision. If I had to choose
musicals, my favorite one was “A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Forum.” “I got the best reaction from the cast
and the audience. We performed that show in the early 90’s.”
Father Tim with 2016 Men of Benedictine (L-R): Evan Tytko ‘19, Melvin
Wilson ‘19, Stanley Jenovic ‘19, Mitchel Lengyel ‘16, Fr. Timothy Buyansky ‘66,
Brian Schoeffler ‘16, Elijah Alaya ‘16, and Derek Berdysz ‘19
If our world has changed, then we need to change it with the
help of God’s grace. Lent in many ways is often associated with
just giving something up that we like or do. In reality, it’s about
giving something up that we should not be doing in the first
place. Practicing fasting, weeping, mourning for our sins is good.
Sacrificing from something that we like can also be helpful.
Beginning a habitual spiritual practice such as reading scripture,
praying a rosary, or participating in the Liturgy of the Hours are
other options that are available. Working with one of these or
a combination of these suggestions should be a benefit in our
spiritual life.
So when and where do we start? That needs to be something we
are honest with ourselves about. Do we need to change our world
and for what purpose? If we are looking to overcome our sin
and grow in our relationship with God then where do we start?
Reconciliation is the place to start, for it allows us to not only open
ourselves to God, but to restore the relationship with God through
absolution and penance.
As declared by Pope Francis, the Year of Mercy we are currently
celebrating is a time and reminder of our need for mercy, but also the
desire of God for us to see and receive His grace and mercy. Once
this relationship is restored through God’s grace and our response, we
have a chance to grow and persevere in our
spiritual lives. Then we might notice that
our world has changed and much has been
lost, but what has been gained is our life in
Christ.
Father Finbar Ramsak, OSB is a member
of the BHS Theology Department.
BHS Students Gather for 20th Kairos Retreat
“Kairos is a spiritual weekend filled with prayer, camaraderie, and acceptance.
Literally meaning God’s time, this retreat takes away the everyday distractions
of the world. Retreatants have no cell phones, computers, or watches. Instead,
they’re surrounded by the presence of their peers and God. 51 juniors and
seniors traveled to Loyola Retreat House for Benedictine’s 20th Kairos retreat.
After four busy days of prayer, team building, and reflection, the retreatants
returned home to their welcoming families and school community.”
WINTER 2016
21
Alumni Obituaries
celebrated on March 23. BHS president
Fr. Gerard Gonda, OSB concelebrated the
Mass. Bishop Roger Gries, OSB posted his
personal condolences.
Sal Collura ‘63
John Hnanicek ‘51
Sal Collura ’63, who was
inducted into the BHS
Athletic Hall of Fame in
2013, died on May 8,
2015 in Irvine, California.
As a Bengal, Sal was a
two-way back who led
BHS to the East Senate title in 1962 and
helped to make it one of the top teams
in Benedictine football history. He was a
successful insurance agent for Universal
Underwriters/Zurich International from
1984-2008.
Fr. Richard Kardian, M.M. ‘47
Fr. Richard Kardian, M.M.
’47, 85, died January 19,
2015 in Ossining, New
York. He had served as
a Maryknoll Missionary
priest for 58 years being
assigned to Japan from
1956-74, Hawaii from 1974-1991, and to
the order’s development office in New York
from 1991-97.
Fr. Henry Frantz, C.PP.S. ‘46
Fr. Henry Frantz, C.PP.S.
’46 was 87 when he died
on April 13, 2015 at Lima,
Ohio. Fr. Henry and his
twin Brother Gregory
(Bernard) entered the
Missionaries of the Precious
Blood after graduating from BHS in 1946.
At Benedictine both were involved in the
band and also formed their own orchestra.
Fr. Henry served parishes in Missouri,
Cleveland, Dayton, Orlando, Uniontown,
Kentucky, and Longwood, Florida.
Robert Bolton ‘57
Robert Bolton ’57 died
January 25, 2015 at the
age of 75. He served as
a Cleveland policeman
and rose to the rank of
Commander of Public
Affairs serving as the official spokesman
for the Cleveland Police Department. He
was known for his outreach to those in
need and helping those who couldn’t help
themselves.
22
ORA ET LABORA
Donald Holicky ‘53
Donald Holicky ’53,
entered Eternal Life
on July 15, 2014 in
Reno, Nevada. In 1968
he won the coveted
Dwight P. Joyce Award
for Outstanding
Scientific and Technical Achievement
from SCM Corp. for his contributions
in using ethylene and propylene oxides
when preparing polyesters. He worked
for Glidden Paints and Univer Chemical
Company and always remained a loyal
Cleveland Indians fan.
John Hnanicek ’51, passed
away March 29, 2015.
He was the retired vicepresident of Women’s
Federal Savings and Loan
and very active member
of St. Martin of Tours
Parish in Maple Heights where he served
on the Finance Committee. He also was a
member of the Board of Trustees of Saint
Benedict’s School, the merged parochial
school of St. Monica and St. Martin’s
Parishes.
Elmer Wilkes ‘43
Frank Stipkala ’49 died
March 7, 2015. His funeral
Mass was celebrated at
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Parish (St. Gregory’s
Church) in South Euclid.
BHS president Fr. Gerard
Gonda, OSB concelebrated the Mass.
Frank was a long-time journalist and
served in public relations for the American
Red Cross. After his retirement he worked
in the Development Office of BHS from
1996-2003 chronicling the events of the
school years with photographs and stories
for the various school publications. He was
an avid fan of all Bengal sports.
Elmer Wilkes ’43, age 90,
died in Walterboro, South
Carolina on March 19,
2015. He was the brother
of the late Fr. Robert, OSB.
A World War II veteran
and Purple Heart recipient,
he was the owner of Broadlee Southgate
Dental Lab for many years. Abbot Gary
Hoover, OSB was celebrant of a special
memorial Mass at St. Andrew Abbey on
Friday, April 10, 2015.
Joseph Mitchell (Micuch) ‘47
Joseph Mitchell (Micuch)
’47 was Benedictine’s band
president in 1946-47. He
died November 7, 2014
and was buried from St.
Francis of Assisi Church
in Gates Mills. Joe was
a cinematographer, photographer, film
editor, and self-employed technical writer
and enjoyed singing, acting, and directing
as a Gates Mills Player for 39 years.
Gerald Czajkowski ‘57
Gerald Czajkowski ’57 died
unexpectedly on March
19, 2015. He was a very
loyal Benedictine alumnus
and cheered on the Bengals
at every opportunity. He
was a faithful volunteer
for the alumni association and active in
lay ministry at St. Thomas More Parish in
Brooklyn, Ohio where his funeral Mass was
Frank Stipkala ‘49
Donald Buyansky ‘55
Donald Buyansky ’55 died
in Chicago on June 7, 2015
in Naperville, Illinois. He
was a retired Engineer for
Lucent Technologies and
Bell Telephone Laboratories.
Additionally, he served in
the United States Air Force
where he worked on the intercontinental
ballistic missile systems. He was the older
brother of Fr. Timothy, OSB.
Anthony Pletka ‘53
Anthony Pletka ’53 passed
away October 26, 2015 at
the age of 80 two months
short of his Golden
Wedding anniversary. He
and his wife Joan were very
active in the BHS Parent-
Boosters Club when his son Anthony M.
Pletka ’79 was a student.
Tim Browne ‘79
Tim Browne, 55, of
the Class of 1979 died
suddenly at home in
University Heights on
December 22, 2015. A
life-long athlete, he walked
on to Bowling Green State
University’s basketball
team and played four years
contributing to the team’s MAC titles in
1981 and 1983.
Joseph Mohar ‘45
Joseph Mohar, 88, died
peacefully on December
31, 2015. He served in the
U.S. Army during World
War II as a cryptographer.
He was married for 66
years to his high school sweetheart Loretta
and had 11 children and 27 grandchildren.
A licensed master plumber, he had a 40
year career as an executive for several
mechanical contracting firms. Among his
notable projects are the Dancing Fountains
at Tower City and the Cleveland Indians
Stadium.
Joseph Hirka ‘44
Joe Hirka, 88, of the Class
of 1944, died January 15,
2015. While at BHS he
was senior class president
and editor of the school
newspaper. He had a
distinguished career with
National City and Union Commerce
banks.
Joseph L. Mitchell
John J. Siemen
Paul E. Franek
Frank M. Stipkala
Stanley T. Dulik
Anthony F. Polakowski
John A. Hnanicek
George F. Pope
John F. Virost
Raymond S. Malik
John R. Micuch
Anthony J. Pletka
Donald T. Wade
Donald F. Holicky
Vincent A. Delsanter
Robert J. Parsons
John R. Semancik
Donald V. Buyansky
James J. Kascsak
Norman J. Krejsa
John R. Styndl
Robert L. Bolton
Gerald J. Czajkowski
Raymond M. Wiencek
Richard A. Feldtz
Allen L. Kallach
Ronald A. Pepoy
Mike Prystas
Ronald Hillenbrandt
James N. Swingos
Robert L. Matejka
Charles R. Hlad
Sal Collura
Andrew G. Kopas
Robert J. Gecik
Vincent M. Bonfiglio
Joe A. Marino
Timothy J. Browne
Mark S. Figler
Deceased Alumni since
January 2015
Joseph C. Vavrus
Elmer Wilkes
Joseph A. Hirka
Ernest J. Adams
Albert P. Dubnicka
Jack Ferrell
Joseph J. Polakowski
Joseph Mohar
Frank Hoegler Joseph P. Szczecinski
Edward G. Talpas
Henry L. Frantz
Edward J. Niedoba
Richard Kardian
1941
1943
1944
1945
1945
1945
1945
1945
1945
1946
1946
1946
1947
1947
*Please notify
Amanda Zima in the
Advancement Office
at 216-421-2080 x258
concerning any recently
deceased alumni.
1947
1948
1949
1949
1950
1950
1951
1951
1951
1953
1953
1953
1953
1953
1954
1954
1954
1955
1955
1956
1956
1957
1957
1957
1958
1958
1958
1958
1958
1959
1960
1961
1963
1965
1966
1971
1978
1979
1987
George Sefcik ‘76
Bishop Roger Gries,
OSB ’54 was celebrant
and homilist for a
Memorial Mass at Saint
Andrew Abbey Church
on Saturday, February
13, 2016 for former
standout Bengal great
George Sefcik ’58 who
died at the age of 76
on January 23, 2016 in
Brandenton, Florida.
Sefcik was an All State
running back and kicker for the Bengals’ 1957
first state championship team. He graduated as the
Bengals’ all-time leading scorer with 233 points
until he was passed by 1967 graduate Larry Zelina.
He was inducted into the Benedictine High School
Athletic Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1991.
Sefcik went on to play for the Fighting Irish of
Notre Dame where he was a two way halfback from
1959-1961. He returned to coach at Notre Dame
from 1963-68 serving as the wide receiver coach for
two Irish National Championship teams in 1964
and 1968.
His pro coaching experience included the
Baltimore Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay
Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, the
Cleveland Browns, and the Atlanta Falcons. He had
two stints on Browns staffs as their running backs
coach from 1975-77 and 1989-90.
He coached in two Super Bowls: XVI with the
Cincinnati Bengals and XXXIII with the Atlanta
Falcons. His coaching career concluded in 2001
after serving as the
Atlanta Falcons’
offensive coordinator.
He is survived by his
wife Lori (Loretta), his
three children: Tracy,
Martin, and Jeffrey, his
sister Carol Sefcik and
numerous nieces and
nephews.
George Sefcik (left)
arrives at Notre Dame
in 1958.
WINTER 2016
23
Non Profit Org
US Postage
PAID
Benedictine High School
Permit No. 2090
St. Andrew Abbey/Benedictine High School
2900 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44104-4898
Change Service Requested
Upcoming Dates & Activities
14th Annual Blue & White Gala
Saturday, March 12, 2016
BHS Annual Alumni Golf Outing
Monday, June 20, 2016
Joe Marino Golf Outing
Friday, June 3, 2016
Saint Andrew Abbey Benefit
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Reunion Weekend
Friday, June 17 – 19, 2016
Have you considered designating the Benedictine Order of
Cleveland as a beneficiary in your estate or financial plans?
Planned gifts are important to supporting our mission.
They ensure opportunities for future young men to be educated in the Catholic
Benedictine tradition. Donations through planned gifts also provide long-term
benefits to the monastery and monks of Saint Andrew Abbey.
For additional information please
contact Amanda Zima, Director of
Major and Planned Gift Programs,
at (216) 721-5300 ext. 258 or
[email protected]
To assist our Advancement Office in
planning a future dinner for benefactors,
please contact Amanda Zima at (216) 7215300 x258 if you have already remembered
Saint Andrew Abbey or Benedictine High
School in your estate planning.