Notre Dame Alumni E-Newsletter
January 2012 
 
In This Issue
Alumni Art Show
Traveling Irish Dinners
Dave Coulier at NDPMA
Joey Caretti Update
Shawn Cencer '07
Bob Lantzy '64
Patty McCormick '08
Lower Division Move
Quick Links
Lower Division
Move to Pontiac
JK - 5th grade students could join the Pontiac campus as early as 2012.
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Join us on LinkedIn.

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We'll publish your news in a future e-newsletter or in the "Letters & Notes" section of the next issue of IRISH  (Spring 2012).  

Daily Mass

Alumni are invited to Mass each weekday at 7:00 AM in the chapel at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, Pontiac.

Notre Dame Annual Fund
Alumni support makes a positive difference for today's Notre Dame students. Your gift allows Notre Dame to enhance the quality of programming for children in the JK - 12 grades. Thank you for your support!
 

Dear  ,  

 

I hope your Christmas was merry and celebrated in the company of cherished family and friends. Here at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, we are beginning second semester classes and the campus is a flurry of winter sports and club activities. On behalf of everyone at Notre Dame, we wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012!

 

Please enjoy the updated alumni e-newsletter format. As always, you are welcomed to submit your news to the alumni office by calling (248) 373-2171 ext. 3 or emailing alumni@ndpma.org.

 

With every good wish for God's blessings in the New Year,

 

Rachel (Alexander) Miller '00 (NDP)

Director of Alumni Relations

  

UPCOMING EVENTS
Alumni Art Show opens January 26
Invitation to display work, attend opening reception

 

Display and/or sell your artwork in the Alumni Art Show, which will run January 26 through February 3, 2012, (weekdays, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM) at the NDPMA Pontiac campus. An opening night reception will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM. Join us and view the work of alumni artists. Wine and appetizers will be served. Cost is free.

 

 

 

At right:

Bryan Ureel '82 (NDHS) and wife Jamie in front of Bryan's acrylic painting, "Chamelions & Cicadas" at the 2011 Alumni Art Show.

 

 

 

 

To display your artwork in the 2012 Alumni Art Show:

Complete and turn in the art submission form and drop off your artwork before January 20, 2012. To arrange a time for dropoff, call 248-373-2171 ext. 3. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ART SUBMISSION FORM.

 

To RSVP for the opening night reception on Jan. 26, 2012:

Please email rmiller@ndpma.org by January 25, 2011 indicating your name, class year, and number of guests. All are welcome. You do not have to display artwork in the show to attend the reception.  

Traveling Irish Dinners
Ann Arbor & East Lansing, February 10
Traveling Irish

 

The Traveling Irish Dinner series continues with concurrent stops in the towns of the Wolverines and Spartans on Friday, February 10, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. Join us for complimentary dinner. Cash bar for spirits and soft drinks available. All alumni are welcome. We hope to see our young alumni attending school at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, as well as our alumni who live or work in the areas. Must be 21 and up to be served alcohol.

 

To RSVP: visit www.ndpma.org/irishdinners 

 
Dave Coulier "LIVE" at Notre Dame
Comedy Show to Benefit Fr. Bryson Scholarship FundDave Coulier
Dave Coulier 2
Actor/Comedian, Dave Coulier '77 (NDHS) to perform family-friendly comedy show at Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy on May 12, 2012.

 

 

Dave Coulier, who graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1977, will take the stage Saturday, May 12, at NDPMA in a special fundraiser to benefit the Fr. John Bryson, s.m., Memorial Scholarship Fund. Bryson was a Marist priest who taught and served at Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods for nearly 45 years. He died in May of last year at the age of 87. 

                                  

Coulier has been a regular face on television, first starring as Joey Gladstone in the ABC-TV sitcom "Full House" from 1987 through 1995. He also had a stint hosting "America's Funniest Videos." In between, he's acted in movies and continues a successful standup comedy routine at colleges and clubs around the country.

 

Presented by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, the comedy show is for all ages and starts at 8:00 p.m on Saturday, May 12. 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. 

 

For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit www.ndpma.org/davecoulier.

 

ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni show their support for Joey Caretti
Young son of NDHS alumnus fights leukemia

 

Thank you to all alumni who offered help or prayers for Joey Caretti, eleven-year-old son of Joe Caretti '84 (NDHS) and Lisa (Verkest) Caretti '84 (Regina). Thousands of get well cards were sent to Joey by members of the Notre Dame community, and many alumni attended or made a donation to the bone marrow donor drive, which was held on December 19, 2011 in Shelby Twp, Mich. Your continued prayers are sincerely appreciated by the Caretti family as they support Joey through a final round of chemotherapy and continue testing for a bone marrow donor match.  

 

To join the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry click here.

Alumnus designs performing arts center for Ground Zero
Shawn Cencer '07 (NDP) featured in NY Times
Shawn Cencer Ground Zero Design

 

Shawn Cencer '07 (NDP) is soon to be finishing his degree in architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Cencer was featured in the NY Times for his participation in a student architecture project to design a performing arts center at Ground Zero. Cencer traveled to NYC for the project and was quoted in the NY Times saying of his assignment, "My initial reaction was overwhelming - shock. It was hard to come up with an idea of where to begin." 

Read the article and view Shawn Cencer's design.  

Bob Lantzy '64 (NDHS) announces retirement  from coaching
After 41 football seasons as head coach at Utica Eisenhower
  
"Hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray!" Anyone who's followed Eisenhower's football program over the last four decades knows this was Eagle coach Bob Lantzy's celebration chant after Eagle victories, singling out players for playing an outstanding game or making a spectacular play. That signature victory celebration is a thing of the past now as Lantzy, the Eagles' only head football coach in school history, has decided to retire after 41 seasons and a 304-116 overall record.

"It wasn't as tough of a decision as I thought it would be," Lantzy said. "I think it will be tougher living with this decision than making the decision. It was demanding once I got home from Arizona in June until right now. I'm still not done yet. That's a long time and commitment."
(Source: Advisor & Source Newspapers, by Kevin Lozon) Full Story 

 

NDP alumna's research in China helps bone transplants
2008 grad hopes research will eliminate organ and tissue rejection  
Patty McCormick China
 
Patty McCormick '08 (NDP) is a senior at the University of Michigan studying engineering. She recently spent three months of research in China and also studied in Spain. But she is now back in Ann Arbor and looking forward to post-graduate life.

Patty was kind enough to spend a few minutes answering some questions from her high school alma mater for the January/February issue of our Blarney Stone publication.

NDHS alum published in new British-based literary magazine
Recounts childhood memories in "complicated city", Detroit
 

Ben Blackwell '00 (NDHS) authored an article recently for Boat Magazine, a new British literary magazine that twice a year chooses what the editors call a "complicated city" to live in for a month or so and write about it. The first issue was on Sarajevo, Bosnia, and the second, for which Blackwell wrote his article, is on Detroit. Next is London, England.

 

Blackwell's article, called 'Things We Left in the Fire,' recounts when his mother's Detroit house caught fire and how difficult it was sorting through what remained afterward. Erin Spens, Boat's editor-in-chief, says the article among other things discusses "the impressions of his feet in the cement sidewalk as a little baby and the baseball cards he left in the attic."

 

The issue also features an article by novelist Jeffrey Eugenides as well as a piece on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons. Find the magazine at Leopold's Books on Kirby, near Woodward. In addition to writing, which he does extremely well, Blackwell helps his uncle Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs, Dead Weather, etc.) manage Third Man Records in Nashville. He also continues in his role as drummer for the band The Dirtbombs.
Alumni gathered for a night at the Palace of Auburn Hills
College basketball game on December 10, 2011
 
Alumni from Notre Dame High School and Notre Dame Preparatory School, along with their guests, watched the University of Michigan Wolverines beat the Oakland University Grizzlies in basketball at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The annual event, which is generally a Detroit Pistons game, was hosted by the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors. Special thanks to Julie Kherker '01 (NDP) and Trent Thiry '00 (NDP) for their help in organizing this enjoyable evening.  
Annual alumni ice hockey tournament took place in Troy
6th annual event held on December 26, 2011 

 

Alumni from Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy matched up on the ice at Troy Sports Arena the day after Christmas. The 6th Annual Alumni Hockey Tournament was hosted by the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors.
  
All participants received a Notre Dame Alumni Hockey tee-shirt and towel. An after-game celebration was had at Buffalo Wild Wings in Troy. Special thanks to Mike Lesnau '06 (NDP) and Jim Gammicchia '99 (NDP) for their help in organizing the event and teams. 
To view more photos, visit www.ndpma.org/photogallery

NDPMA NEWS
LowerDivisionMovePlans underway for lower division move to Pontiac
School President: Will help unify Notre Dame community
  

The Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy board of trustees has given its stamp of approval to a proposal to move the school's lower division to the Pontiac campus. On December 12, after weeks of study, meetings with the NDPMA community and surveys from parents, the school trustees voted to set in motion a plan that ultimately could lead to a new permanent structure for junior-kindergarten-through fifth-grade students.

 

The exact timing of the endeavor has not been finalized, but it could be as soon as the fall of 2012 that lower-division students will be housed in temporary facilities in Pontiac. School officials have said that it might be three to five years before a permanent school structure is built and a lot depends on how well they do with an expected capital campaign to raise the necessary funds. Read the full article in Blarney Stone

 

 

Students collect and donate over 900 gifts for the needy
"The Great Give" helps Pontiac families
 
Great Give 2011
More than 900 Christmas presents were collected from students and staff of NDPMA for their needy neighbors. A Christmas tree in the school's main lobby was the scene of this overflow of Christmas charity and spirit. On December 13, Notre Dame students loaded the gifts and delivered them to the Whitmer Human Resource Center (WHRC) and Baldwin Center in Pontiac.

"The final information for the Great Give includes $5,678 collected during the Thanksgiving Food Drive and over 925 gifts collected during the Christmas Giving Tree portion of the Great Give," according to Cathy Zucarro of Campus Ministry. "The students, faculty and staff did an AWESOME job. In addition we adopted 15 students from WHRC and delivered their gifts, too! We have 699 students in the high school - we were hoping for 100% participation - we definitely exceeded that!"
 
AnnualFundAlumni giving to the Notre Dame Annual Fund has doubled
Increased participation and dollars support today's ND students

 

Thank you to all alumni who already have made a gift to the 2011-2012 Notre Dame Annual Fund. As alumni, our gifts strengthen and support our alma mater. With our help, Notre Dame Preparatory and Marist Academy students will receive a Marist education like we once did, full of rigorous academics, faith formation, and the beginnings of lifelong friendships. 
 
Our gifts support enhancements to curricula, which give Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy students the competitive edge as they prepare for college and life as adults. In addition, our gifts help deserving students and families experience a Notre Dame education through tuition assistance and academic scholarships.
 
Together, we can make a positive difference for today's Notre Dame students. Gifts of all sizes are encouraged - we simply ask you to do the best you can. If you haven't yet contributed, please make your gift online. Thank you for your consideration!

 

CLASS REUNIONS
View the 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.

 

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 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.

 

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 2007, 5-year

June 16, 2012 at Rochester Mills Brewery

Contact: Marie Tashjian, marietashjian@gmail.com.

 

We are currently looking for class representatives to volunteer to plan reunions for the following classes:

NDHS Class of 1967 - 45-year

NDHS Class of 1977 - 35-year

NDHS Class of 1982 - 30-year

Oakland Catholic Class of 1992 - 20-year

NDHS Class of 1992 - 20-year

NDHS Class of 2002 - 10-year

 

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

 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Births:

 

Lucy Marion Guest, born January 10, 2012. Proud parents are Michael Guest '95 (NDHS) and Michelle Guest. Proud uncles are David Guest '78 (NDHS), Stanley Guest '80 (NDHS), Alan Guest '81 (NDHS) and Andrew Guest '84 (NDHS).

MacKenzie Marie Van Drie, born November 6, 2011. Proud parents are Cheryl (Bowman) Van Drie '98 (NDP) and Matthew Van Drie.

David Robert Hindelang,
born October 24, 2011. Proud parents are Matthew Hindelang '00 (NDHS) and Emily (Kesek) Hindelang '00 (NDP).  

Weddings:   


Daniel Marchese '02 (NDHS) and Anna Dudek on December 28, 2011.

Kimberly (Majewski) Miller '02 (NDP) and Justin Miller in June 2011.  
   

Email your announcement to alumni@ndpma.org.

 
PRAYERS FOR ALUMNI
We pray for the sick:

 

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

 

Joey Caretti, the eleven year old son of Joe Caretti '84 (NDHS) and Lisa (Verkest) Caretti (Regina '84). Joey has been diagnosed with Leukemia and will be undergoing chemotherapy treatments and a bone marrow transplant in the coming months.

  

Addison Puma, the young daughter of Vince Puma '92 (NDHS) - undergoing radiation treatments at St. Jude Children's Research Center in Memphis, TN for an inoperable brain stem tumor. Since her diagnosis in September, 2011, Addison's parents say, "Addison has endured various treatments, an MRI, radiation simulation and a surgery to implant a port to receive sedation, not to mention numerous meetings and consultations. Through all of this she has been extremely brave, tough, feisty, patient and amazingly happy. She is so strong and kind and fun to be around even though she is facing more than any child should ever have to endure. We know her tough attitude and fighting spirit will make her one of the 1 percent to survive this terrible disease."   

  

Norman Kotarski, a beloved long-time and current educator at Notre Dame. Norm is undergoing chemotherapy as treatment for cancer and appreciates your continued prayers.    

  

We pray for those who have died:   


Chester Bury, father of Donna Kotzan, Vice Principal at Notre Dame Preparatory School, and Robert "Bob" Bury '71 (NDHS). Father-in-law of Joseph Kotzan '70 (NDHS). Grandfather of Kathy (Kotzan) Paul '08 (NDP), Karen (Kotzan) DeWitt '01 (NDP) and Michael Kotzan '05 (NDP). 1-8-2011  

 

Michael Pisani, grandfather of Jeffrey Pisani '05 (NDP). 1-4-2012  

 

Vincent Asaro, grandfather of Anthony Asaro '05 (NDP), Alysse Asaro (NDP) and Adriana Asaro (NDP). 1-3-2012  

 

Melvin Vollmer '59 (NDHS). 12-31-2011 

 

Ettore Scarchilli, father of Lorian Scarchilli '86 (NDHS) and Sylvan Scarchilli '88 (NDHS). 12-28-2011 

 

Gerald Carnago, father of Timothy Carnago '76 (NDHS) and Gregory Carnago (NDHS). Grandfather of Maria Carnago '06 (NDP), Michelle Carnago '08 (NDP), Gina Carnago '09 (NDP),and Gerald Carnago '11 (NDP). 12-22-2011

  

Patrick J. Cox, father of Shawn Cox '82 (NDHS). 12-18-2011

  

Thelma Marotta, mother of Dan Marotta '74 (NDHS) and Ken Marotta '76 (NDHS). 12-15-2011

  

Brian Laux '80 (NDHS), brother of Daniel Laux '75 (NDHS), Michael Laux '75 (NDHS), and Timothy Laux '78 (NDHS). 12-10-2011

  

Thomas Hindelang '61 (NDHS), brother of Ronald Hindelang '59 (NDHS), Robert Hindelang '64 (NDHS) and Fr. Joseph Hindelang '68 (NDHS), Principal of Notre Dame Preparatory. Sisters include Mary Hindelang and Ann Noble. 12-8-2011

  

Raymond James Etrych '71 (NDHS). 12-5-2011

  

Joseph Caporale '76 (NDHS), brother of Anthony Caporale '79 (NDHS) and Vincent Caporale '83 (NDHS). 12-5-2011

  

Thomas Wenner, father of Thomas Wenner '65 (NDHS), Richard Wenner '67 (NDHS) and the late Wayne Wenner '60 (NDHS). Uncle of Gary Podulka '65 (NDHS). 11-27-2011

  

To view all prayers and links to obituaries, visit www.ndpma.org/prayers.

 

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

 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

You are invited!

   

January

10 - Alumni Board of Directors Meeting, 6:00 PM

26 - Alumni Art Show Opening Reception, 7:00 PM

26, 27, 30, 31 - Alumni Art Show at NDPMA

 

February

1-3 - Alumni Art Show at NDPMA

2 - Liturgy: 9:00 AM at the Pontiac Campus

5 - Alumni Board of Directors Annual Retreat

10 - Traveling Irish Dinners in Ann Arbor and East Lansing

 

March

6 - Alumni Board of Directors Meeting, 6:00 PM

10 - Alumni Irish Games at NDPMA, 4:00 PM

12 - Liturgy, 9:00 AM at the Pontiac Campus