Notre Dame Alumni Newsletter: March 2012

During this season of Lent, we at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy wish you and your family a peaceful and refreshing time of self-reflection and drawing nearer to God. Notre Dame invites all alumni to celebrate Mass with us, held each weekday at 7:00 a.m. in our chapel on the Pontiac campus.

Irish blessings,

Rachel (Alexander) Miller '00 (NDP)

Director of Alumni Relations

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

1300 Giddings Road, Pontiac, MI 48340

Office: (248) 373-2171 Ext. 3

E-mail: rmiller@ndpma.org

Web: www.ndpma.org/alumni

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Alumni business networking breakfasts

First session on Thursday, March 29

Due to popular demand, the alumni association presents a new series of morning networking sessions, designed to help alumni business owners and professionals of all ages network, generate referrals and form career connections.

The first session will take place on Thursday, March 29, at 7:00 a.m., at the Stuffed Bun, a restaurant owned by an alumni family, located at 603 East Walton Blvd., Pontiac, MI 48340.

Session will run about one hour, beginning with an opportunity for informal networking, followed by brief presentations from each attendee before the group, during which alumni can discuss their business, services or career goals. All alumni are encouraged to bring business cards, resumes, pamphlets or special discounts to circulate.

Future sessions will take place on the last Thursday of each month. View the schedule. Business attire. Breakfast is purchased on a pay-your-own-way basis.

Please RSVP to Daniel Marchese '02 (NDHS), Vice President of the Alumni Board of Directors, at danojm@umich.edu.

Spring Into Fashion! Annual fashion show and shopping gala

You are invited to the 15th annual fashion show and shopping gala, presented by the Parents Club of Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.

Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township, Mich.

Enjoy cocktails, dinner, shopping and a professional fashion show featuring the fashions of downtown Rochester, Michigan, boutiques. Channel 955's Mojo in the Morning will be the master of ceremonies.

$45.00 per person

Please RSVP by March 10. View the invitation and RSVP instructions here.

Dave Coulier comedy show at Notre Dame

Saturday, May 12

Dave Coulier

Alumnus and actor/comedian Dave Coulier '77 (NDHS) will take the stage Saturday, May 12, at NDPMA in a special fundraiser to benefit the Fr. John Bryson, s.m., Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Presented by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, the comedy show is for all ages and starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors (under 18 and over 65). Premium tickets are available for $50.00, which also admit you to a private "Meet & Greet" afterglow reception with Dave Coulier. All tickets are general admission seating.

To purchase tickets, visit www.ndpma.org/davecoulier.

Annual golf outing at Wyndgate's Eastwynd

Monday, June 4

Alumni and friends are invited to join us for Notre Dame's annual golf outing on Monday, June 4, 2012. This year's golf outing will be held at Eastwynd, the Wyndgate Country Club's private course in Rochester, Mich. In addition to players for the golf outing, the Parents Club is looking for help in the following areas to make the event successful: lunch, dinner or beverage cart sponsorships; hole sponsorships; and donations of items to the silent auction or raffle. If you are interested in participating, please contact Rick Sutkiewicz at 248.207.9788.

Detroit Tigers Outing

Tuesday, August 7

Join the alumni association for its annual Detroit Tigers Outing at Comerica Park. All alumni and guests are welcome.

SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at 7:05 p.m.
vs. the New York Yankees.
Ticket information will be in the next e-newsletter.

ALUMNI NEWS

Interested in joining the Alumni Board of Directors?

Open nominations through April 30

The Notre Dame Alumni Association board of directors represents the alumni of Notre Dame Prep, Notre Dame High School, Oakland Catholic, Pontiac Catholic, St. Michael and St. Frederick schools. Board members meet the second Tuesday of each month on the NDPMA campus (Pontiac) to discuss and plan special events, to advance the Marist mission and to ensure our alumni have a positive connection to their school.

Nominations for new board members are welcomed through April 30, 2012. The election will take place in early May and new members will be announced at the Alumni Annual Meeting on May 8, 2012.

Consider joining this dynamic group of alumni.
To nominate yourself to the ballot, visit: www.ndpma.org/alumniboard.

More than 50 attend Traveling Irish Dinners

Ann Arbor and East Lansing, Mich.

The Traveling Irish Dinner series continued with concurrent stops in the towns of the Wolverines and Spartans on a very snowy Friday, February 10, 2012. More than fifty alums and guests gathered for dinner at the Pizza House in Ann Arbor, and Harper's Restaurant in East Lansing. Special thanks to Keaton Curran '10 (NDP) for organizing both events!

Below left: alums at East Lansing event. Below right: alums at Ann Arbor event. To view more photos, visit our photo gallery.

Alumna, coach and teacher named one of CHSL's greatest athletes

Bobbie (Bieszki) Hall '00 (NDP)

Notre Dame Prep alumna, coach and teacher Bobbie (Bieszki) Hall has been honored as one of the best athletes in the history of the Catholic High School League. Hall is one of thirty-nine female athletes named to the CHSL list, which also includes Pontiac Catholic athletes Mary Haslinger '83, Vicki Morrow '83 and Bridget Syron '82.

Hall, who graduated from NDP in 2000, currently coaches JV basketball and assists in softball, and teaches English and health/PE in NDPMA's upper and middle divisions. A three-sport standout who earned all-state recognition in basketball, volleyball and softball, she was NDP's first Division-1 athlete to sign a National Letter of Intent. She owns the following school records in basketball: assists in a career (316); three-pointers in a game (6); second all-time in assists in a season (104); and second all-time in career steals (187).

On the boys side, eighty-five athletes were named as the best in CHSL history, including Jim Berra '74, Doug Brown '70 and Joe Przybicki '64 from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods; and John Hood '86 and Matt Strickler '83 from Pontiac Catholic.

Elias Khalil '88 (NDHS) authors book about Detroit's Cass Corridor

Elias Khalil from the NDHS class of 1988 co-authored a book about Detroit's Cass Corridor. The book is part of Arcadia Publishing's popular series, "Images of America," which chronicles the history of communities across the country. Each book celebrates a town or region, bringing to life the people, places and events that defined that community through historical accounts and photographs.

"The future of the Cass Corridor - now part of the dynamic, rebranded Midtown area - is bright. The area is anchoring the renaissance of Detroit as a lively urban neighborhood that is pedestrian and biker friendly, embraces social entrepreneurship and diversity in all their manifestations, and has a hip joie de vivre unique to America. Authors Armando Delicato and Elias Khalil share a love for Detroit and are committed to telling its story to the world." (Source: Arcadia Publishing)

Elias and his co-author, Armando Delicato, are having a book launch party at the Cass Café (4620 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Mich.) on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Learn more or purchase the book.

NDP Alumna on University of Notre Dame rowing team

Paige Aiello'09 (NDP)

Paige Aiello is preparing to begin her third season with the University of Notre Dame women's rowing team. The Rochester Hills, Mich., native looks to help whichever varsity boat she sits in claim gold yet again at the BIG EAST Championships and help the team to earn qualification for the NCAA Championship in 2012. (Source: University of Notre Dame Athletics)

In an interview with Notre Dame's athletic department, Aiello said, "Rowing is a sport in which you can always push yourself harder. The most rewarding part about rowing is sitting in a boat with seven other girls and knowing that they are fighting for you just as hard as you are fighting for them. There is a connectedness that goes beyond the race itself." Read the full interview.

Alum one of nation's 30 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award candidates

Molly Coldren '08 (NDP)

Central Michigan's Molly Coldren, who graduated from Notre Dame Prep in 2008, is one of thirty student-athletes selected for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

Coldren currently has a 3.52 GPA and in 2011 was named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV third team and was on the Academic All-MAC team.
Full Story

NDPMA NEWS

Two seniors set new records for boys' swim

Notre Dame Prep seniors Ruairi McGreevy, who is the son

of Mark McGreevy '76 (NDHS), and Hayden Guerra set new school swimming records on Wednesday, February 15, in a meet vs. De La Salle.

On February 16 at the team's final home meet, Guerra broke another record in a win against Hazel Park. This senior class has set fifty-one school records over the past two years of boys' swimming at Notre Dame Prep.

Alumna to direct NDP spring play, Our Town

Meredith Gifford '02 (NDP)

Meredith Gifford '02 (NDP) will direct Notre Dame Prep Players' spring play, "Our Town," which will run Mar. 30 through Apr. 1 at Avondale High School's auditorium in Auburn Hills.

Gifford is experienced on the stage, having majored in music and theater while a student at Viterbo University. After graduation, Gifford spent three years in South Korea acting in live shows that helped teach Korean children the English language. She currently is involved with Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester Hills, where she has been part of productions including "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "A Christmas Carol" and "Mary Stuart."

For information on purchasing tickets to see "Our Town," call (248) 373-5300 or visit www.ndpma.org .

Two of nine state-wide Class B scholar athletes from ND Prep

Sara Barron and Nathaniel Gaynor, two seniors at Notre Dame Prep, earned scholarships through the Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Award program. Barron and Gaynor, who is the son of Paul Gaynor '84 (NDHS) and grandson of the late Ray Gaynor '58 (NDHS), had two of the nine total scholarships awarded in class B in the state.

Sara Barron: Expects to graduate with nine varsity letters, including four each in track and field and cross country. Will attend Vanderbilt University and study business and pre-law.

Nathaniel Gaynor: Planning to play his second season of varsity lacrosse this spring and also played two varsity seasons of soccer. Served as a captain in both sports, his soccer team was a Catholic League finalist in the fall and his lacrosse team was an MHSAA Semifinalist last spring. Will attend the University of Michigan and study journalism.

CLASS REUNIONS

List of upcoming reunions in the planning stage:

If your graduation year ends in a 2 or 7, you should be thinking of planning a reunion in 2012. The alumni office can help you organize your special event. Call (248) 373-2171 ext. 3 or email rmiller@ndpma.org for details.

NDHS Class of 1962, 50-year

August 16, 2012 at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Contacts: Jerry Lesperance, jerrylesperance@yahoo.com; Jerry Alderman, trottinhorse@myway.com; Tom Lueck, TJLUECK@aol.com.

St. Michael Class of 1962, 50-year

Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Canterbury Village's King's Court Castle, Lake Orion.

A reunion information e-mail "Hot Line" has been established at stmikespontiac62@yahoo .com. Contact: Dick Stevens, dickstevens1@yahoo.com.

NDHS Class of 1963, 50-year

Date TBA, September 2013. Tentative plans for a reunion weekend include a Tigers game, dinner at a Detroit casino, and a Sunday morning Mass downtown.

Contacts: John McCabe, (586) 822-5153; Don Herman, (586) 781-0220.

NDHS Class of 1965, 50-year

Contacts: Dennis Berger, dennisaberger@aol.com, (909) 223-4483; Fr. Leon Olszamowski, lolszamowski@ndpma.org.

NDHS Class of 1972, 40-year

Contact: John Berra, (949) 357-3926, jmberra2003@yahoo.com; Terry Cirocco, (313) 884-7748, TJCIROCCO@MCKEENASSOCIATES.COM; Michael Montpetit, (734) 433-2399, mcmont1954365@aol.com.

Pontiac Catholic Class of 1972, 40-year

August 3 & 4, 2012 at Kennedy's (Waterford) and White Lake Park

Contacts: Maureen Horton-Phillips, (231) 233-6113, phillips@jackpine.com; Joanne Walters-Malito, (773) 520-7454.

Pontiac Catholic Class of 1977, 35-year

August 11, 2012 at Santia Hall in Keego Harbor. Reunion Committee: Paula, Frank, Bridget, Chuck, Liz and Mary are making contact with classmates via Facebook.

NDHS Class of 1987, 25-year

Contacts: John Childs, john.childs@delphi.com or swarthydog@yahoo.com, (248) 787-0616; John Vermiglio, jvermig1@comcast.net, (586) 212-4763.

NDP Class of 2002, 10-year

Contacts: Steve Skok, Skok@doeren.com; Bill Higgins, wbhiggins@gmail.com; Teresa Elliott, Teresa.Elliott@microsoft.com; Jane Dika, jane-dika@hotmail.com.

NDP Class of 2006, 6-year

June 9, 2012 at Rochester Mills Beer Co., in Rochester, Mich.
Contact: Maria Carnago, mariacarnago@gmail.com.

NDP Class of 2007, 5-year

June 16, 2012 at Rochester Mills Beer Co., in Rochester, Mich.

Contact: Marie Tashjian, marietashjian@gmail.com or Steve Cox Coxstev2@msu.edu.

For a complete list of reunions and event details, visit www.ndpma.org/reunions

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Discount tickets to Detroit Pistons games

Special pricing for ND community and alumni

Notre Dame alumni and friends can purchase tickets to select Detroit Pistons basketball games at a special discounted rate.

To purchase tickets, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=pistons&o=11946509&g=481

2. Click on the "Find Tickets" button next to the game you would like to attend

3. Enter PISTONS as your special code offer

4. On the next page, enter your email address in the spot on the right to create an account

5. Fill in your information to create an account and then continue using the prompts to select your seats

6. Select your seats and print your tickets right from your computer

If you have questions, please contact Julie Kherkher '01 (NDP) at (248) 377-8713 or Jkherkher@palacenet.com.

PRAYERS FOR ALUMNI

We pray for the sick:

Norman Kotarski, a beloved long-time educator at Notre Dame. Norm underwent the first of two major surgeries to treat his cancer on Monday, February 27. Norm appreciates your continued thoughts and prayers.

Joey Caretti, the twelve-year-old son of Joe Caretti '84 (NDHS) and Lisa (Verkest) Caretti (Regina '84). Joey received a cord blood transplant in January as treatment for leukemia. He celebrated his twelfth birthday in February, while in the hospital. The Caretti family appreciates prayers for God's strength and healing for Joey and the entire family.

Marne Housey, wife of Michael Housey '84 (NDHS). Marne was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in June of 2011. The tumor was successfully removed and Marne is undergoing chemotherapy to ensure that the tumor does not return.

Addison Puma, the young daughter of Vince Puma '92 (NDHS) - undergoing radiation treatments at St. Jude Children's Research Center in Memphis, Tenn., for an inoperable brain stem tumor.

John Kassak, friend of Michael Krupa '72 (PC).

We pray for those who have died:

Helen Peters, mother of Richard Peters '65 (NDHS) and Michael Peters '67 (NDHS). 2-26-2012

William "Bill" Elsey '66 (NDHS). 2-22-2012

John Dugas '85 (NDHS). Passed away suddenly on 2-19-2012

Gary Radzik '69 (NDHS). Twin brother of Glenn Radzik '69 (NDHS). 2-18-2012

Eileen Ryan, wife of Kevin Hennessey '75 (NDHS). 2-17-2012

Edward Eggly, father of Edward Eggly '63 (NDHS) and the late Alan Eggly '59 (NDHS). 2-10-2012

Joanne Erb, mother of Michael Erb '91 (NDHS). 2-7-2012

William "Bill" Loose, father of Chuck Loose '87 (NDHS). 2-3-2012

Leo Walter Romanowicz, the uncle of Michael Krupa '72 (PC). 1-30-2012

Thomas Quinlan '68 (NDHS). 1-26-2012

To view all prayers, visit www.ndpma.org/prayers.

Email your prayers and petitions to alumni@ndpma.org.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

You are invited!

March

10 - Alumni Irish Games

12 - Liturgy, 9:00 a.m. at the Pontiac campus

13 - Alumni Board of Directors Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

20 - Fashion Show and Shopping Gala at Cherry Creek

29 - Alumni Professionals Networking Breakfast

30-31 - NDP Play "Our Town"

April

1- NDP Play "Our Town"

10 - Alumni Board of Directors Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

25 - Admissions coffee at Notre Dame Prep (upper division, Pontiac)
26 - Alumni Professionals Networking Breakfast
27 - Liturgy, 9:00 a.m. at the Pontiac campus

30 - Last day to nominate yourself to the Alumni Board of Directors ballot