Written by McD

Alumni News & Class Notes

Class of 1954 Celebrates 55th High School Reunion

The Class of 1954 celebrated its 55^th reunion on Saturday, September 19 at the New Cumberland VFW. Forty-eight classmates from Harrisburg Catholic High School reminisced about their times in high school and caught up with each other on their lives then and now.

Class of 1959 Celebrates 50th High School Reunion

On Saturday morning, September 12, 2009, over sixty members of the Class of 1959 gathered at Bishop McDevitt High School to see old friends and make new memories.

National Honor Society students were on hand to provide tours of the school, and the alumni reminisced as they walked the halls once again.  Principal Sr. Mary Anne Bednar also met with the alumni and shared plans for the new school.  And, despite the rain, some of the '59 alumni stayed for the home football game (McDevitt won, 49-7, vs. Cedar Cliff).

That same evening, over 170 Class of 1959 alumni and family gathered for dinner and dancing at the Four Points Sheraton in Harrisburg.  Alumni and guests were each given a pencil sketch of the school, drawn by classmate Marlene Fickes Shillenn (extra copies are available if you contact the Advancement Office).  Alumni were also given a CD of their favorite songs from 1959.   It was a truly special evening for all who attended.  The Bishop McDevitt congratulates the '59 alumni celebrating their 50th reunion!

 

Crusader Reunion On The Other Side of the World

Bishop McDevitt High School recently received an email from one of its former faculty members, Mark Rado.  Rado taught in the Business Department and coached Football, Basketball & Baseball at McDevitt during the 1980-1981 school year. In 1985, he joined the Army is now a Colonel serving in Iraq.

It was a happy surprised for him to find a McDevitt alumnus, also serving in Iraq.  Colonel James (Jim) Pierce ’76 came to Iraq on a special assignment to document the history of the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, prior to the unit's inactivation in December 2009 as part of the overall drawdown of forces in Iraq. This was Rado’s unit, and far away from the Twin Towers on Market Street, it was discovered that there was a McDevitt connection.

Rado writes: “I only became aware of the fact that Jim was a Crusader as I formally welcomed him during a ceremony within the International (Green) Zone in Baghdad, Iraq on 21 June 2009! It was truly great to connect with a member of the McDevitt Community and was even better to reminisce with him about the many great students, faculty and family members that I came know during my time there."

“Jim did a GREAT job here as a historian and recently returned to Carlisle Barracks,” Rado added.  Pierce “is a shining example of all that is good about the Twin Towers of McDevitt and the MAGNIFICENT students it has produced.  I'm honored to have been part of this great institution and take great pride in the fact that I AM A CRUSADER!"  Those wishing to contact Colonel Rado may do so via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tom Burns '73 Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Mr. Tom Burns '73 who was recently inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.He was inducted into the hall at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, South Carolina where a permanent plaque was unveiled. Tom coached the Bishop McDevitt High School Baseball team from 1988-1994. 

Tom (right) celebrates the unveiling of his permanent plaque at the hall.

Tom (second from left) displays his award with the day's other inductee.

Class Notes

60’s

Mary Christianne Burke Jones ’61 lives in Costa Mesa, California, and teaches Travel In’s and Out’s at the local community college.

Carol Shuler Fernback ’61 retired after 33 years at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has survived two bouts with cancer. She retired as an Administrative Officer.

70’s

Sister Maria Louise Hughes, ASC ’74, directs the Institute of Religious Formation at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL.

90’s

Samuel Fenice ’92 is currently serving with the First Battalion, 108th Field Artillery, 56th Stryker Brigade, PA Army National Guard, 28th Infantry Division, in Iraq.

Emily Frey Nixon ’94 married Jonathan Nixon on March 10, 2007, and welcomed daughter Annabelle Grace on May 11, 2008.

Tim Roth ’95 married Angela Maiello on June 27, 2008. The couple is expecting their first child in July. They currently reside in New Jersey.

Abigail Frey Figueroa ’99 married Mark Figueroa on April 2, 2007. She has a daughter, Natalie Marie.

00’s

Alex Bush ’00 is currently an Associate Property Broker with AmWINS Brokerage of Pennsylvania. He resides in Manayunk, PA.

Cristio Monroig Cornman ’00 married Andrew Cornman. She and her husband welcomed a daughter, Addison Scarlet, in June of 2008. The family resides in Mechanicsburg.

Gina Fenice ’01 graduated from Notre Dame in 2005 and the University of Maryland School of Law in 2008. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth Grap Fritz ’01 is excited to announce the birth of her son, Michael, born March 2009.

Brian Zumbrum ’03 recently completed his second year of seminary with the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales. On August 15, 2009, he will profess his first vows at Salesianium High School in Wilmington, DE. He will then return back to Washington, DC, where he will continue his theological studies, while also serving as Co-Chaplain for Georgetown Visitation Prepatory Academy, and pursuing a Masters in Education Administration.

Alex Cawley ’04 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication of Arizona State University. He is currently a Sports Reporter/Weekend Anchor with the CBS affiliate, KFDM-TV Channel 6 in Beaumont, Texas. Recently, the weekend team was presented with a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters' Award for 2008, Honorable Mention for Best Broadcast for the November 15, 2008 telecast.

Megan Huffstutler Kopp ’04 graduated from Penn State in December with a degree in Secondary Education – Social Studies. She is still serving in the military in the Air National Guard. On December 24, 2008, she and her husband, Brandon, welcomed their first daughter, Evelyn Elizabeth.

Milvana Ban ’05 recently graduated from Lycoming University with a degree in Psychology and an Elementary Education Teaching Certificate. While at Lycoming, she had a successful swimming career, capping off her senior season at the MAC Conference Swimming Championships with a gold medal in the 200-yard backstroke and setting a school record in the 400-yard IM.

Patrick Cawley ’08 was awarded a Chubb Foundation Scholarship based on outstanding academic performance. Patrick is currently a freshman, majoring in History at the University of Kentucky.

Engagements

Kelli Brownewell ’94 and David Statt

Katherine Leiss ’03 and Brian Szeles ‘04

Chelsie Miller and Andrew Spotts, Faculty

Karen Roth ’00 and Brian Keating

Ashley Spiese ’95 and Ron Nein

Loribeth Tymorek and Jacob Frey ‘96

Weddings

Marie Elena Ciocci ’02 and Dennis Howe ‘02

Marisa Fenice ’95 and Stephen Swarney

Kristin Fialkowski ’02 and Drew Smith

Barbara Patrick ’82 and Matthew Brought ‘82

Samantha Raimo and Christopher Kellar ‘00

Juliana Zanetti ’05 and Michael Dugent


This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it