THREE ALUMS TO BE HONORED AT DINNER DANCE

The Catholic school system in the United States earned its sterling reputation, in part, by helping form young people like Dick Wehrli ‘48. Through his early years at SSPP, Dick's education progressed smoothly. By the time he entered sixth grade, however, storm clouds were brewing as the death of a brother had a tremendous impact on him. Things went downhill from there during the next two years as he also had to come to grips with losing his father and grandmother. Were it not for the intervention of Fr. Benson, a parish priest, there's no telling where his life would have led him. read more 

“I was an angry boy and mad at the world,” Dick vividly recalls. “I even had words with my teacher (and principal) Sr. Ventura. In my mind, she wasted every afternoon for four months rehearsing us for the school play, and I refused to participate. Needless to say she was equally as mad with me for being so obstinate and if it weren't for Fr. Benson I don't think I would have gotten through.”  Fr. Benson was the boys' basketball coach at our school, a kind of Bing Crosby - Fr. O'Malley type. “He saw the good in me as well as my potential as a student and athlete,” Dick added, “and he wouldn't let me get overly frustrated.”

Dick went on to be a two-sport athlete at Naperville High School and was offered a scholarship at Iowa State Teachers College (now called Northern Iowa). However, when his older two brothers went off to the Korean War, his plans changed and he enrolled at North Central College. There he concentrated on basketball and started and played on the varsity for four years and was inducted into their athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Every Monday and Wednesday NCC students were required to go to chapel and he and his teammates would go to SSPP to meet with Fr. Benson's replacement, Fr. Storm. It was in early September during Dick's sophomore year that Fr. Storm approached him with a unique request. “He took over coaching duties from Fr. Benson and was in over his head,” said Dick, “and he asked me to replace him as the boys basketball coach.”    Out of respect for Fr. Benson, Dick couldn't refuse the request of the new priest, and thus became the first lay coach ever at our school, a position he held for three years.

A successful businessman in Naperville since the age of twenty-five, Dick got his start working with people like Phil Flynn and Harold Moser. In 1960, he established Naperville Ready Mix, a firm that supplied concrete to the Chicago market. Over the years he has established or revitalized several other related businesses, including Naperville Excavating, Easy Street Construction, Mustang Construction and DuKane Precast Company.

Dick's business acumen and involvement with our city soon caught the eye of the officials at his college alma mater. In 1981 he was named to their Board of Trustees. In 1999, he was named a co-recipient of North Central College's Gael D. Swing Award for Meritorious Service, which recognizes alumni, trustees and friends whose service to the college exemplifies the quality and integrity that were hallmarks of Gael D. Swing's tenure as president. Wehrli and fellow NCC alumnus, Al Benedetti '48, were instrumental in heading a major fund drive to rebuild the College's stadium after a devastating flood in July 1996. In 2003, Cardinal Stadium was renamed Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in honor of these alumni. For all of his efforts on behalf of the Naperville community, we are proud to present Dick with the highest award an alumnus can receive.

JOHN '62 AND BARB FRIEDRICH CONNELLY ‘63

Perhaps the greatest compliment an alum can ever pay an alma mater is to enroll a child. Because of the influence of people like Msgr. Frederick Stenger, teachers like Ed Geary, and graduates like Sr. de Lourdes Rechenmacher, it was no surprise when Barb and John Connelly took work in the Chicagoland area in order to ensure that their children Jim, Mike, and Nell might benefit from the same Catholic education they had as students at Ss. Peter & Paul School. Understanding the impact parents can have on enhancing the educational process, John and Barb quickly became very active. John was a member of our Parish Council when pastor Fr. James Lennon appointed him to our Development Board. John was one of many people who helped pioneer our development efforts which has become the model for other diocesan schools.  His business and banking background were invaluable as the Board began to determine  investment strategies. Among the other duties he had while on the Development Board was emceeing our first two dinner dances. John was also a frequent speaker at Career Day and also taught Jr. Achievement classes each fall. Barb was also a frequent lecturer at Career Day while also taking on the responsibilities of room mother, Brownie leader, and Science tutor.  read more

As appreciative as we are for their years of involvement at our school, we are equally proud of what they've accomplished in their professions. Barb received her undergraduate degree in Nursing from Loyola University in Chicago from which she also holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law. After beginning her career in obstetrics, she moved to coronary care, and then home health. Most recently she has been associated with Covenant Healthcare System for the Wheaton Franciscans and is currently a professor in Risk Management with the Medical College of Wisconsin where she also serves on their Board.

When the couple left Illinois, John and Barb were equally as supportive of their children's new schools whether on the elementary, secondary, or even collegiate level. Both were active in the Marquette University Parents Association as board members and chairs and both also served on the Holy Name School Board in Minnesota.

John, a graduate of Marquette, has been involved in either sales or banking since he left the Army as a 1^st Lieutenant. He was a sales manager for Procter & Gamble and Frito-Lay, and has also been employed by Citibank in Chicago. Currently he is in commercial banking for US Bank in Milwaukee.

For their many successes in their adult lives as well as for their numerous volunteer efforts at Ss. Peter & Paul School,  and on behalf of Catholic education on numerous levels, we look forward to their Hall of Honors induction next month.

RUTHY O'MALLEY'85 RECEIVES NCEA AWARD 

Our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week began with an all-school liturgy,on Sunday, January 25, during which Ruthy Cooper O'Malley, Class of 1985 was presented with the National Catholic Education Association's (NCEA) Distinguished Graduate Award. Ruthy was one of twelve Cooper children to attend our school and she, and her husband Joe '82 (also one of twelve children) now have their oldest son, Joe, enrolled at their alma mater.  read more

Ruthy has also been a member of our school's faculty for eleven years as both a K-5 technology teacher and a member of our Project Discover staff. This latter responsibility includes working with children in small groups who might otherwise have difficulty comprehending their lessons in a larger class setting. In addition, Mrs. O'Malley is a former Student Council moderator, remains a cheerleading teacher and coordinator, and is a charter member of our Steps to Respect program that seeks to combat bullying.

Prior to presenting her with this prestigious award, school principal Frank Glowaty lauded her as a wonderful role mode for the children. “Ruthy has an amazing belief, as well as trust, in God,” he said. “Her love of God is genuinely natural and permeates her teaching and interaction with the students at all times. She epitomizes what a Catholic school teacher should be by living her faith in a way that parents admire and children can emulate.”

During her acceptance speech, Mrs. O'Malley lauded the efforts of our faculty and staff, many of whom like Mrs. McDonagh, Mrs. Burson, and Mr. Schmecht helped influence her during her nine years at SSPP. "Working with all of our teachers each year I see, first-hand, how hard they work and how much they care for their students.  Mr. Glowaty challenges all of us to set new goals each year and it's amazing the wonderful learning that takes place in all classrooms. Joe and I feel so blessed that little Joe and his brothers will now have that same opportunity each of us had."  Ruthy also spoke lovingly about her parents and how they instilled such a great example of trusting God's will. “My mom and dad always stressed that while I don't have to be the best, I always have to do my best,” she went on to say. 

Mrs. O'Malley becomes the fifteenth recipient in our school's history to receive this award. Previous honorees include: 

1995 Teresa Doolin ‘50	2000 John Case, Jr. 68	2005 Dr. Tom Delacey ‘74
1996 Jane Hein Moylan ‘64	2001 Rob Koller ‘74	2006 Mary Brahler Kuhn ‘74
1997 Sr. Nancy Ulrich ‘52	2002 Dave Rechenmacher ‘58	2007 Gary Baumgartner ‘69
1998 Sr. Suzanne Doolin ‘50	2003 Bill Esser ‘66	2008 Jim Hayes ‘76
1999 Carolyn Lauing Finzer ‘61	2004 Judy Rechenmacher Chapleau ‘69