SPRING 2023 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS & FRIENDS In This Issue . . . SPOTLIGHT ON The Aquinas Capstone PAGES 8-9 WHAT’S NEWS David Eustis Named President of Aquinas PAGE 14 DONOR IMPACT REPORT PAGE 22
Aquinas Landmarkis published by the Office of Advancement for distribution to Aquinas Alumni & Friends. Staff Ted Mancini ’88, P’26 PRINCIPAL Joseph B. Knapp EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Meredith Kallfelz ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT, ENROLLMENT & COMMUNICATIONS Contributing Staff Bridgette Acker P’29 ENROLLMENT & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Lisa Clicquennoi ’84, P’13 DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR Valerie Clements ’96 ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT & EVENTS MANAGER Kelly Conlan P’21 & ‘26 AQUINAS FUND & VOLUNTEER MANAGER Jay Polston ’90 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT, MAJOR GIFTS & PLANNED GIVING Photos by: Sue Colombo Mandra Mayo Al Mosher The Aquinas Institute of Rochester In the Basilian Tradition In Partnership with Nazareth Elementary School and the Sisters of Saint Joseph MISSION STATEMENT The Aquinas Institute of Rochester is a Catholic, private, college preparatory, co-educational school educating in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers. Our mission is to teach all students goodness, discipline, and knowledge, supported through gospel values, within a comprehensive curricular and co-curricular program that will prepare them to be responsible and caring citizens. CONTENTS ON THE COVER Aquinas senior Mary Grace Schreiber wrote and published a book for her Capstone Legacy project called, God at the Center: A Catholic devotional for teens about how to live life with God at the center of all they think, do, and say. Read more on page 8. SPRING 2023 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS & FRIENDS In This Issue . . . SPOTLIGHT ON The Aquinas Capstone PAGES 8-9 FOCUS ON FAITH From Both Sides of the Altar PAGE 6-7 DONOR IMPACT REPORT PAGE 22 3 Principal’s Letter 4 Shamrock Week 2023 HIDDEN HEROES 5 Jack Owens ‘17 & Tyler Olbrich ‘17 From AQ to West Point FOCUS ON FAITH 6 From Both Sides of the Altar SPOTLIGHT ON 8 The Aquinas Capstone WHAT’S NEWS 10 Class Profile 11 Gene Oberst Retires 11 Aquinas Welcomes New CFO 11 Class of 1965 Donates Softball Scoreboard 12 Welcome In Wednesday Shadow Visits 12 Little Free Pantry Helps Maplewood Neighbors 12 New Addition 13 Lynd Scholars Reunion Picnic 13 New AP Course at AQ 13 Chiodo ’18 Earns RIT Honors Selects Mrs. Easton as Distinguished Teacher 14 David Eustis Named President of Aquinas ALUMNI EVENTS 14 Reunion Weekend 2022 ALUMNI NEWS 17 DeLucenay ’03 Becomes Youngest Permanent Deacon in the Diocese 17 Rebuilding Notre Dame: Update 18 Young Alumni Help Others Through Careers in Medicine 20 2022 Hall of Fame Inductions 23 2023 Hall of Fame - Save the Date! 24 Jin ’20 & Foster ’20 Reunite in Baylor vs. UAlbany Season Opener 26 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Michael R. Nuccitelli ’80 26 2022 Commencement Speaker Jennie Dede ’96 26 Alumni Notes 27 Li’l Irish 28 In Remembrance 29 Gifts In Memory & In Honor Of 32 Donor Impact Report
Dear Aquinas Community, As the 2022-2023 school year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on all of the joyous opportunities we’ve had to truly experience the full impact of our Aquinas community. We have all been together to celebrate many school masses this year and look forward to celebrating one more with our seniors before they graduate, we had a great Homecoming Spirit Week and pep rally, celebrated community together weekly in our Kumbaya gatherings, and celebrated once more with another successful Shamrock Week. The school is alive and buzzing with activity as is our tradition. Through it all, our students continued to excel. The Class of 2022 earned a combined total of over $13,000,000 in college scholarships ($105,000/student) and did almost 10,000 hours of service. As a class there were acceptances to some of the best colleges in the country including several ranked in the US News Top 50 National Universities. This fall, over 65 colleges and universities visited students on campus and Aquinas hosted a college fair of area colleges. We are continually working to provide great opportunities for students to be successful beyond our walls. You may recall that last spring Aquinas kicked off a comprehensive strategic planning process. In September, over 70 alumni, current parents, faculty, staff, and administration came to campus for a retreat day to draft objectives for this plan based on feedback gathered in the spring and summer from all of our stakeholders. The Strategic Plan; A Plan for Growth and Sustained Excellence will address needs and opportunities for growth in the areas of academics, advancement, Catholic identity, enrollment, facilities, finance, governance, and student life. On January 30, the Aquinas Board of Trustees formally adopted the plan. We are looking forward to using the goals in this plan to drive us into the future. I am grateful for the work that Dr. Anthony Cook ’99 did here in his time as president, including getting the Strategic Plan launched. I have also been fortunate to have had Mr. Raymond Shea ’66 as an interim president through the summer and the fall. You may recall a letter from our board chair, Nick Dobbertin ’01, regarding the transition plan to the new president as Ray returned to his retirement and his role as a trustee. Ray has been instrumental in seeing the bulk of the strategic planning process realized and has brought a wealth of experience and leadership to Aquinas. On March 2nd we shared some exciting news with our Aquinas community. After an extensive and thoughtful search process, The Aquinas Board of Trustees Presidential Search Committee selected Mr. David Eustis as the fourth president of The Aquinas Institute. As we begin this new chapter, I am honored to welcome Mr. Eustis and look forward to working together to achieve our mission of teaching all students Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. He will officially begin his role as president of Aquinas on June 19, 2023. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Landmark. There is so much to celebrate and so many things to be proud of as an alum, as a parent, and as a friend of AQ. The Landmark is just a small window into the excellent and exciting things happening at our alma mater. Aquinas evermore, Theodore Mancini ’88 Principal President’s Letter 3
4 For the third year in a row, Aquinas’ annual Shamrock Week was a success! The generosity and devotion shown by our Aquinas community from March 13th-17th, reminds us that our shared love of the maroon and white is not just unique, but unparalleled! We greatly surpassed our goals of $100,000 and 450 gifts by raising $136,743 from 517 Gifts! Each day we not only celebrated a different part of our incredible Aquinas community, but we also had generous matching gift donors step forward and each day we met our match! Because of your generosity, we raised $55,000 in matching gifts! Thank you to all of our matching gift donors! MONDAY: Class of 1983 in memory of Michael Ferrauilo ’83, sponsored by Tim Bell ’83, Sam Guerrieri ’83, and David Terry ’83 TUESDAY: In Honor of Gerry McGuire‘53, sponsored by the O’Donnell Family WEDNESDAY: In Honor of All AQ Parents, Past and Present, sponsored by Mike Nuccitelli ’80, and Tom Crilly ’80 THURSDAY: In Honor of Our Devoted AQ Alumni, sponsored by Tom Hughes ’65 and David Morgante ’96 FRIDAY: In Honor of All of Aquinas’Successes & St. Patrick’s Day, sponsored by Marty Kennedy‘74 We’d like to give a special shout out to the winners of the 2023 AQ Shamrock Week Class Cup. The Class of 1983 won for most dollars raised with $18,125 and the Class of 1962 won for most donors with 24. In addition, there were 111 donors who completed the Shamrock Week Hat Trick by donating again this year for their third Shamrock Week in a row! We know for sure that the success of Aquinas’ annual giving week could not have been possible without all of YOU! Thank you to all who donated and truly helped us sham-ROCK the week! AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 WHERE DOES THE MONEY RAISED GO? Money raised goes to the Aquinas Fund. Tuition covers about 80% of our school’s annual budget; the Aquinas Fund bridges that gap between tuition and the cost of educating each student. Aquinas Fund giving impacts every part of our community; faculty and staff professional development, academic programming, technology, athletics, arts and music. Every student is impacted by the Aquinas Fund!
5 As decorated athletes throughout high school, both were interested in continuing their athletic careers in college. Jack remembers his many recruiting visits, but for him, West Point was the clear standout. “I visited a lot of schools for lacrosse and football. Not a single school had the sense of purpose West Point had,” he said. “It was cool to talk to seniors at the academy and hear how one was slated to be a pilot, the other a doctor, and the last an infantryman, but all were going to contribute to the same goal.” Tyler admits he had some reservations initially, but just like Jack, that sense of purpose at West Point was what ultimately had him hooked. “When I was first contacted by the coaching staff I was reluctant because I thought the military was not for me. However, once I visited campus and learned about the history of the institution and the chance to be a part of something bigger than myself, I was sold,” he said. Jack went on to play football at West Point, and Tyler, lacrosse. Even in the early days, when Jack and Tyler were adjusting to West Point and the demands of college life, they were able to lean on their Aquinas experiences to help them through. “Both schools have a longstanding tradition and emphasize a family environment,” said Tyler. “My time as part of the Aquinas family made several aspects of the transition to West Point less challenging. My time as an athlete at Aquinas on the football and lacrosse team ultimately led to this opportunity, and I am extremely thankful for Aquinas and all my coaches.” Jack also says he would not have had the opportunity without his coaches and would not have succeeded without the values that he learned on the field and in the classroom. “Aquinas teaches goodness, discipline, and knowledge and the cornerstone of academy life is discipline,” he said. “Motivation can only get you started where discipline keeps you going – and you need to learn to keep going.” Jack, who majored in International Relations and Chinese, is an infantry lieutenant posted to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii at the 1-27 Infantry Battalion. He is currently on rotation in Central Luzon in the Philippines. In a few years he will be promoted to Captain and will decide if he’d like to extend his military contract. As for Tyler, he is currently training in Fort Sills, Oklahoma and is part of the Field Artillery Basic Officers Leaders Course. Once completed, Tyler will be stationed at Fort Drum, New York. When asked to share some words of advice for our current AQ students, Jack and Tyler said be bold, and keep an open mind. Jack, who almost didn’t attend the Academy for fear of failing, said, “You will never know what you are capable of until you try.” Hidden Heroes Jack Owens ’17 & Tyler Olbrich ’17 FROM AQ TO WEST POINT Aquinas alumni Jack Owens ’17 and Tyler Olbrich ’17, both recent graduates of The United States Military Academy, West Point, are exemplars of Aquinas’ Basilian motto Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge, and agree that those values were truly instrumental in helping to prepare them for their four years at West Point and life after. Jack Owens ’17 Tyler Olbrich ’17 Tyler Olbrich ’17 with parents Pat and Kelly.
6 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2020 WF ohcauts’sONne wFasi t h . . . | SPRING 2023 Deacon Mike celebrates his 70th birthday with wife, Kathi, their two children, their spouses, and six grandchildren. From Both Sides Deacon Mike Piehler ’64 and his wife, Kathi. The most powerful, dynamic and precious gift we will ever receive is the Gift of Faith. I have had the humble honor of living most of my adult life on Both Sides of the Altar, if you will. On one side of the altar, I am a husband of 50 years, a father of two children and a grandfather of six. I am an automobile dealer by profession. On the other side of the altar I have been an ordained Permanent Deacon for 39 years. Through business I have associated with the wealthiest 1% of our country. Through the Deaconate I have ministered to the poorest 1% of our country. I have enjoyed some of the finest resorts in our nation and I have slept on the floor of trailers in Appalachia. I have flown on private jets owned by millionaires and brought Holy Communion to the dying in nursing homes. My point is this: Through my Faith and the Grace of God I have gone places and met people and done things I never thought possible. My dear friends, the seed of Faith that is planted within us by the Holy Spirit at Baptism is very real. The most powerful, dynamic and precious gift we will ever receive is the Gift of Faith. If you and I want life to the full we must open that gift and allow it to be not just fed but nourished -- nourished by our parents, our Church and the Body of Christ. Aquinas Institute and the Basilian Fathers played a major role in nourishing and calling my Faith into action. Aquinas taught me that I have a dual nature, both human and divine. Aquinas taught me the value of Human Reason and Divine Revelation. Aquinas taught me the powerful truths of Hope and New Life in Christ. Truths that give us a life-long purpose and value – even when the world does not. Aquinas did not teach me culture. Aquinas did teach me the virtues of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge which gave me the tools to deal with and manage the secular culture in the times of my life. The Basilian Fathers inspired my Faith. These men were teachers, coaches and priests who lived together in community life to support one another. I liked that! I wanted some of that! So, after graduating from Aquinas in 1964, I joined the Basilian Seminary, which began with a year of Novitiate (a Monk-like life – Spiritual Bootcamp). After surviving that year in Pontiac, Michigan I was assigned to the Basilian House of Studies at St. John Fisher for my college education. Upon graduation I was assigned to Aquinas Institute as a teacher and a coach – I had come full circle. The Basilian life was my Call for six years after which it was also my Call to leave the Order. My Faith was being asked to grow in a different direction and to trust in God’s will. Please note: Those six years were not wasted. The lessons and charisms of those years have stayed with me my entire life and played a significant role in my choice to become a Permanent Deacon. Probably what I have enjoyed most about being a Deacon is the variety of people I have met, ministered to and ministered with. I have ministered with both Bishops and the Franciscan Sisters of Appalachia. I have ministered to those who live from hand to mouth on Food Stamps and Medicaid, as well as, witnessed the wedding vows of the rich and famous. I have had the joy of giving the young their First Communion and the pain of comforting those in intensive care units. From Baptizing the newborn to burying the dead, I have had the distinct honor of ministering in people’s lives at their happiest and their saddest moments. Please understand that none of this would ever be possible without God’s Grace which I have learned can touch every part of our lives. In closing, I offer this message to the Aquinas student body: Our Church has two dimensions – one is Religion and the other is Faith. You and I must always make the distinction between the two. Religion is the human institution
that has been given the divine work of teaching, inspiring and growing the Faith of the People of God. In its humanity Religion is not perfect. Like us, sometimes it too, is sinful. We must never let that reality about Church, however, take away or diminish our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our commitment to the Sacramental Life of the Church. Our Faith is not in an institution or an ideology. Our Faith is in a Person! That Person is the Son of God who lives and reigns today, in our midst, through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a critical and powerful truth that you will not learn in the secular world. However, you will come to know its truth and value through your personal relationship with Jesus Christ as you are called by name – to go places and meet people and do things you never thought possible. My prayer for you is that the Lord will work His wonders in your life, as He has in mine. All Glory, Praise and Honor belong to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. by Deacon Mike Piehler Class of 1964 of the Altar 7 As a Deacon, I was assigned to the Church of the Transfiguration, Pittsford, NY for 27 years. My wife, Kathi, co-ministered with me during much of that time. Kathi, who also has a Masters in Theology, was the Pastoral Associate at Transfiguration for a number of years and we would Team Preach on a regular basis. The ministry of a married couple preaching the Gospel together was well-received by the people of Transfiguration. This ministry was a significant sign of the Vatican II nature of Transfiguration under the leadership of its founding Pastor, Fr. Jerry Appelby and the Diocese of Rochester under the leadership of Bishop Matthew H. Clark. Mike (right) with Fr. Jerry Appelby (left), founding Pastor of Church of the Transfiguration and Bishop Matthew H. Clark (center) at the groundbreaking of Transfiguration’s Church building.
Spotlight On . . . There are many rites of passage for an Aquinas senior and as of last year, Capstone Day became another. Over two days in May 2022, seniors presented their Capstone Legacy projects to the Aquinas community, which was the first showcase of its kind since the Capstone was implemented. Parents, faculty, staff, and the Aquinas student body were invited to the fairstyle event held in the Field House. As we gear up for our second annual Capstone Day later this month, the excitement is building as the Class of 2023 prepares to prove that they have grown through the Basilian motto of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge, and exemplify the Profile of an Aquinas Graduate. “In 2012, when Aquinas announced it would be transitioning away from the New York State Regents, the school was presented with the unique opportunity to create an academic environment that challenges students to achieve at higher levels and become an even more rigorous college preparatory school,” said Aquinas principal Ted Mancini ’88. “With that came the need for Aquinas to create and develop assessments that would be a true representation of what our students know and are able to do as 21st century learners.” The Aquinas Capstone became one of those assessments. This multi-year project begins when a student enrolls at Aquinas and culminates during senior year. At each grade level, the Capstone requires a collection of evidence, application, outline, report, and presentation by students. The last stage of the Capstone, known as Et Hoc Est Legatum (My Legacy), seniors must prove that they have grown through the Basilian motto of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge, and exemplify the Profile of an Aquinas Graduate. To demonstrate this growth and the legacy they will leave behind, each senior is required to not only complete a physical project, but also submit a final paper, and give an oral presentation during Capstone Day in May. Students must complete each of these components to be eligible to graduate from Aquinas. “The project is a true opportunity for our soon-to-be graduates to showcase their academic, emotional, social, and spiritual growth as an Aquinas student as they transition into life outside of AQ,” said Mancini. In addition to showcasing the skills it takes to complete the Capstone – critical thinking, problem solving, research, public speaking, planning, self-sufficiency – it allows students to explore the topics they are passionate about, which often align with their future career plans and in turn, make the whole experience that much more meaningful. The Class of 2022 covered a wide variety of topics, some of which included: • Influence of visual art on social issues • How concussions impact high school students • Special effects in film and how they have changed over time • How video games affect brain development in youth • How NASCAR has changed and improved driver safety in the sport and for the everyday driver • The biology and chemistry of decisions • Sustainable farming in urban communities • Assistive technology, specifically for blind and visually impaired individuals • How blue light affects physical and mental health • How dance improves athletic performance • How music affects emotion • The nature of sound waves and how they interact with the world This year’s Capstone Day presentations will prove to be another great showing of what our seniors have achieved here at Aquinas. Miranda Shook ’23 began designing clothing and jewelry during the pandemic and decided that her Capstone would revolve around business as she hopes to own her own shop one day. “For my junior research paper I researched business and equality in business. I thought it would be a really good idea for me moving 8 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Mary Grace Schreiber ‘23 with the book she wrote and published for her Capstone Legacy project. The Aquinas Capstone
A digital rendering of Emma Rosato’s environmentally friendly home. 9 forward to do a website.” Shook also knew she wanted to make her presentation interactive, so in addition to her website, she will have a pop-up shop on Capstone Day to display her clothing and jewelry. Mary Grace Schreiber ’23 published a book called God at the Center: A Catholic devotional for teens about how to live life with God at the center of all they think, do, and say. This Legacy project was especially meaningful as it was inspired by Mary Grace’s own struggles with stress and anxiety. At its peak during her junior year, Mary Grace said, “I knew I needed to do something, I couldn’t keep living like that. I did everything I possibly could in terms of turning to God. I was reading devotionals and reflections every day, I was studying scripture, I was praying so much and it definitely helped me. Surrounding and consuming myself with these ideas that God is always there for us and He will help us and that we can cast our anxieties on Him really made me believe it.” Not only did it change her life, but Mary Grace began to wonder if she could help other people in the same way. “My grandmother was my faith role model throughout my whole life. When she passed away, I inherited a bunch of devotionals from her and after reading them, I wondered if I could write one.”That’s exactly what Mary Grace did. In fact, she wrote 75 devotions. After enlisting the help of her trusted peers and faculty members in the editing process, Mary Grace compiled her devotions and self-published her very own book. She has since presented the book to Mr. Mesue’s Theology classes, unveiled her book to the entire school at a Monday Morning Kumbaya, and will present a physical copy of the book on Capstone Day. When asked what she believes her legacy is here at AQ, Mary Grace said, “To quote Mr. Mesue, even in 100 years when we’re gone, the book will still be here, hopefully helping and inspiring others.” Emma Rosato ’23 combined what she learned while writing her junior research paper on climate change with her interest in architectural engineering to design an environmentally friendly home for her Legacy project. She also created a model of that home to show during Capstone Day. “My design includes a flat roof with a slight incline to get the rain water off for vegetation, a roof garden, a water collection system, geothermal heating and solar panels, large windows for natural light, LED task lighting, and a balcony for recreation and plant growing,” said Emma, who used sustainably built homes from around the country and around the world for inspiration. “The Legacy project as a whole was helpful because it reaffirmed that this is something I like doing,” said Emma. “This has helped me see what my future might look like and I really think I’m going to like it.” As far as her Legacy, Emma hopes to raise more awareness on how we can all help the environment. Ashley Gionta ’06, Capstone Coordinator and science department chair said, “I am so proud of what our seniors have accomplished and have been able to demonstrate through their final Capstone Legacy projects. As you can see, each idea is uniquely theirs. They’ve worked incredibly hard to prove that they have grown through the Basilian motto of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge, and truly exemplify the Profile of an Aquinas Graduate.” Sarah Kretchmer’s ‘22 Legacy project explores how genetics impact an athlete’s success in sports. Peter McAuliffe ‘22 presents, The Nature of Sound Waves and Acoustics. How Blue Light Affects Physical and Mental Health, by Erin Heh ‘22. Angelina Sanchez ‘22 creates a crime scene for her Legacy project on forensic science.
University of Akron Alabama A&M University Albany College of Pharmacy Alfred University Allegheny College Alvernia University American University Arizona State University – Tempe University of Arizona Belmont University Binghamton University Bluefield State College Bowie State University Bowling Green State University Bryant University Buena Vista University Canisius College Case Western Reserve University Cazenovia College College of Charleston University of Cincinnati Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clark Atlanta Clarkson University Cleveland State University Coastal Carolina University The College of Saint Rose Connecticut College Cornell University Daemen College University of Dayton Delaware State University Duquesne University D’Youville University East Carolina University Eastern University Eckerd College Elmira College Elon University Emory University Erie Community College Fairfield University Fairfield Dickinson University Finger Lakes Community College Fisher College Fisk University Fordham University Fort Valley State University Franciscan University of Steubenville Gannon University Genesse Community College George Mason University Gettysburgh College Graceland University Hampton University Harris-Stowe State University University of Hartford Hartwick College Hawaii Pacific University NUMBER OF SENIORS: 122 COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: 828 COLLEGE PROFILE: Public: 49% Private: 51% REPORTED ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED: $13,049,000 (average of $105,234 per student) NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS: 35 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: 9,690 Total (79 hours/student vs. 64-hour minimum) CLASS PROFILE class of 2022 The Class of 2022 was accepted into the following colleges and universities: High Point University Hilbert College Hobart William Smith College Hofstra University Hult International Business School Indiana University – Bloomington University of Iowa Ithaca College Jacksonville University James Madison University John Carroll University Johnson and Wales University Johnson C Smith University Kansas State University Keiser University Kent State University Keuka College Lake Erie College Lake Superior State University Lawrence University LeMoyne College Lincoln University Lock Haven University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Maryland University of Maine Marquette University University of Maryland – College Park Marymount Manhattan College Marywood University University of Massachusetts – Boston Mercyhurst University Michigan State University Miles College University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Misericordia University Missouri University of Science and Tech Monroe Community College Morehouse College Morgan State University Nazareth College University of New Hampshire University of New Haven New York University Niagara University Norfolk State University University of North Carolina at Charlotte North Carolina Central University Notre Dame College Nova Southeastern University Ohio University – Main Campus Onondaga Community College Pace University Paul Smith College of the Arts & Sciences Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Purdue University Quinnipiac University Robert Morris University Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester Institute of Technology University of Rochester Saint Francis University Saint Joseph’s University Saint Leo University Saint Louis University Savannah College of Art and Design University of Scranton Seton Hall University Shoreline Community College Siena College Simmons University Slippery Rock University South Carolina State University Spellman College University of South Carolina St. Bonaventure University St. John Fisher College St. John’s University St. Lawrence University St. Thomas University Stonehill College Stony Brook University SUNY at Albany SUNY Buffalo State SUNY College of Technology at Alfred SUNY College at Brockport SUNY College of Environmental Science SUNY College at Geneseo SUNY Morrisville SUNY Fredonia SUNY Maritime College SUNY College at Oswego SUNY College at Plattsburgh Syracuse University The University of Tampa Temple University Texas Tech University The Culinary Institute of America Ohio State University Thiel College University at Buffalo University of California – Los Angeles University of California – Merced University of California – Riverside University of California – Santa Cruz Utica College Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Polytechnic Institute Wake Forest University Walsh University West Virginia University Wilkes University Wingate University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University 10 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2021 | SPRING 2023 What’s News
Gene taught for eight years at St. Mary’s Canandaigua and another eight years at Cardinal Mooney before coming to Aquinas in 1989. “I knew early on there was a real spirit here, it’s always been that way, a real family,” said Gene, who would spend the next 33 years teaching history and government at AQ. Scott Wise ’00, fellow Aquinas faculty member and Gene’s former student, credits Gene as one of the reasons he decided to become a teacher. “His class pushed me to be a better student and prepared me for college, not just learning facts, but learning how to think critically,” said Scott. “Gene is a good, kind man who was always a shining example of what Aquinas, and educators in general, should look like. He has helped to educate countless leaders and community members with a solid foundation in not only government, but life as well.” While Gene will miss seeing the students every day, he looks forward to spending more time with his own children – all five of whom are Aquinas graduates: Patrick ‘01, Maria ‘03, Kevin ’05, Theresa ‘08, and Andrew ’11. Looking back at his 49 years in Catholic education Gene said, “I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a great life and I’ve had a great career.”We thank Gene for his dedication to Aquinas and wish him all the best in retirement! Gene Oberst Retires After 49 Years In Catholic Education 11 As the 2021-2022 school year came to a close, Aquinas said farewell to longtime history and government teacher Gene Oberst, who retired after nearly fifty years in Catholic education! Aquinas Welcomes New CFO Linda Steinkirchner recently joined Aquinas’ executive leadership team as the school’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). An accomplished finance executive, Linda brings over 30 years of experience in not-for-profit financial management and operations. She most recently held positions as Associate Vice President for Financial Affairs & Controller, and Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at St. John Fisher University. Prior to higher education, Linda was the director of finance at the Center for Disability Rights, Inc & Regional Center for Independent Living, and the Vice President for Finance and Operations at the Strong Museum of Play. “I’m thrilled to join the Aquinas family and leverage my not-forprofit experience to assist the school in furthering its mission. I believe education is transformational for the student and the family.” Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Linda has served on the Boards of several organizations including the American Diabetes Association, The Exhibition Alliance (formerly the Gallery Association of New York State), and the Upstate New York College Collaboration (UNYCC). She lives in Brighton with her husband, Paul. Class of 1965 Donates Softball Scoreboard The Class of 1965 generously purchased and donated a new scoreboard to the girls softball program! A formal dedication of the scoreboard was held last spring and brought both members of the Class of 1965 and our AQ softball players together. We’d like to extend a sincere ‘thank you!’ to the Class of 1965, as this will be enjoyed by our Lady Irish and softball fans for years to come!
12 12 As you drive out of Aquinas, you may have noticed that off to the left there is now a Little Free Pantry, which was built by recent AQ alumnus Lucas Sherron ’22. The pantry, constructed for Lucas’ Eagle Project, is an outreach to the neighbors here in the Maplewood community that invites everyone to “Take what you need. Leave what you can.” Accessible 24-hours a day, the Little Free Pantry allows anyone to take food or personal hygiene items as they need. Likewise, donations may be directly placed there at any time. Lucas’ project supports neighbors who are facing food insecurity, and empowers our students and families to make an immediate change in our neighborhood. Lucas, who is now in his freshman year at the Rochester Institute of Technology, celebrated his Eagle Court of Honor just this past January. The ceremony celebrates the achievements of an individual who has reached the pinnacle of Scouting and attained the final rank of Eagle. Little Free Pantry Helps Maplewood Neighbors Welcome In Wednesday Shadow Visits So many of our alumni (and current students) can recount, in detail, the day they came to shadow at Aquinas. For many, that day was all it took for them to know that AQ was where they were meant to be! We invite prospective students to come spend a day at Aquinas to experience the faith, the classes, the students, the teachers – the tradition! THE WELCOME IN WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS: 7:30 a.m. - Arrival at Aquinas 7:40 a.m. - Brief presentation for families 8:00 a.m. - Students depart for a full day at AQ / Parent tours available 2:30 p.m. - Student pick up If you know a prospective student who will be entering grade 6 – 11 in the fall of 2024-2025, be sure to sign him/her up for a Welcome In Wednesday shadow day. Fall dates and registration will be available soon online at www.aquinasinstitute.com/visit! AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 What’s News For more information, please call the Enrollment Office at (585) 254-2020 x1071. Individual on-campus tours are also available by appointment. New Addition Room 308 underwent a complete transformation prior to the 20222023 school year. What was once the middle school technology room is now a modern, multipurpose space that offers flexible classroom design, is an eSports facility, imagineering lab, and home to Aquinas’ virtual reality capabilities. With inspiration taken from the MAGIC Center at RIT, everything from the lighting and flooring, to the furniture and paint, were carefully considered said Mr. Bill Marche, Aquinas’ Director of Educational Technology. The idea is to create a classroom environment that doesn’t feel like a classroom so that students can tap into their more creative side and think outside of the box. “It’s no longer just, ‘here’s the content you have to memorize,’” said Marche. “It’s all about seeing that education is an experience.” While room 308 is located within the middle school, all grades have access to the space.
13 Aquinas art teacher and fine arts department chair, Lorin Easton, earned special recognition alongside former AQ student Vanesa Chiodo ’18. Vanesa, a recent graduate of The Rochester Institute of Technology, was the recipient of RIT’s Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar (OUS) Award, which celebrates the top 1% of undergraduate students who achieve academic excellence while also giving back to the community through civic or volunteer work. Recipients of the OUS Award select a high school teacher who had a profound influence on their academic development and has been an inspiration in their life to formally recognize at the awards ceremony. Vanesa selected art teacher Lorin Easton as that influential person. “It was due to Mrs. Eason that I fell in love with the beauty of art and its ability to capture emotions and tell stories. I never would have guessed that I would eventually pursue a career in art and if I had never had the honor of getting to know and learn from Mrs. Easton, I am certain that my future would be extraordinarily different,” said Vanessa in an acknowledgement read at the OUS awards ceremony, which Mrs. Easton attended. “I am beyond blessed to be nominated as Vanesa’s honored high school teacher,” said Mrs. Easton. She is an amazing person and I look forward to seeing what’s next for her.” Vanesa, who majored in museum studies at RIT, is now a student at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She hopes to pursue a career in art law. Chiodo ’18 Earns RIT Honors, Selects Mrs. Easton as Distinguished Teacher Lynd Scholars Reunion Picnic Several Lynd Scholars got together over the summer at AQ to catch up with Kathy and Ed ‘52 Lynd who have generously supported several student scholarships over the years. In fact, the couple has awarded 43 students from the Classes of 2000 – 2022 who have been the recipients of the prestigious Kathleen L. Lynd Leadership Award and the Kevin P. Lynd ‘80 Memorial Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to two rising seniors each year who demonstrate personal character, loyalty to Aquinas, academic excellence, and leadership amongst peers. Kathy and Ed’s love, support and loyalty is greatly appreciated! New AP Course at AQ If you page through Aquinas’ Course of Studies, you will notice a new addition to our Advanced Placement (AP) offerings this school year. AP Art and Design, which was piloted during the 2021-2022 school year with just three students, is officially the 14th Advanced Placement course currently being offered to Aquinas students. This an intense introductory collegelevel design course led by Aquinas art teacher and fine arts department chair, Mrs. Lorin Easton. Ellise Gatti ‘23, one of the students chosen for the pilot program – and no stranger to taking AP courses – knew immediately that this was something she wanted to be part of. “I love art and I love drawing, that’s always been my thing,” she said. “What I found really cool about the course was focusing only on 2D digital art. Being new to digital art made it a little more difficult, but it was really fun.” The course takes students through a two-section structure including the sustained investigation, which requires that students conduct an inquiry-guided investigation of one big idea through art research, practice, experimentation, and revisions; and the selected works section that demonstrates skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas. Both sections require written explanations of the work. Students then submit to either the AP Drawing or the AP 2D Art and Design exam and depending on their score, will hopefully earn college credit. Ellise plans to study business in college, but would like to take courses in art as well. “This definitely helped me figure out how to draw what I feel and express emotion more through art,” said Ellise. “I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in art, not just good at it.”
14 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 What’s News On March 2, 2023, the Chairman of the Aquinas Board of Trustees, Nick Dobbertin ’01, announced that Mr. David Eustis had been named the fourth president of The Aquinas Institute of Rochester. Mr. Eustis is a true education executive who has dedicated his career to Catholic education. Currently, he is the Headmaster of Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut – an all-boys Catholic school enrolling over 600 students. Since taking on the role in 2017, Mr. Eustis has been integral in strengthening the school’s financial position. Under his leadership, his team turned an operating deficit into an operating surplus, doubled the school’s endowment, and stabilized enrollment despite declining birth rates. Prior to Xavier, Mr. Eustis was President and Chief Administrator at Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, Connecticut (2013-2017), where he was also successful in growing the school’s total endowment and stabilizing enrollment. While he has worked for the past ten years in school leadership, he spent the 21 years prior with Junior Achievement Worldwide where he served as head of East Coast fundraising and consulted with Western European JA offices on philanthropic strategies. “I am honored to be named president of Aquinas, and to become part of the incredible and longstanding tradition the school has here in the Rochester community,” said Mr. Eustis. “My experience in Catholic school leadership is a true reflection of the passion I have for Catholic education. I look forward to building on the school’s legacy of preparing young men and women to attend the nation’s top colleges and universities, while instilling Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge in our students.” Mr. Eustis will replace Dr. Anthony Cook ‘99, who notified the Board of Trustees in June of his intention to step down from his role as president, a position he had held since February 2020. “We are grateful to Dr. Cook and the leadership he provided to Aquinas throughout the pandemic and his time as president,” said David Eustis Named President of Aquinas Nick Dobbertin ’01. “In the search for his successor, we were presented with qualified local and national candidates, and Mr. Eustis was the clear standout. His approach to school leadership from a business and strategic perspective, while maintaining a focus on mission, will be a great asset to Aquinas.” While Mr. Eustis is a Boston native, the move to Rochester is a sort of homecoming for the family as his wife, Eileen, is a Pittsford native. Mr. Eustis is committed to finishing the current academic year as headmaster at Xavier, and will begin his new role as Aquinas president on June 19, 2023. Thank you to the Aquinas Founders’ Classic Golf Tournament participants who came in swinging to support the 25th year of the tournament. Because of you, we raised over $91,000 this year! The charitable funds raised at this year’s tournament help offset the rising cost of an Aquinas education, and provide deserving students an opportunity to attend AQ. FOUNDERS’ CLASSIC RAISES $91,000!
15 Reunion Weekend 2022 Aquinas spent the weekend of September 9th – 11th celebrating our alumni with a special emphasis on those whose class years end in 2 and 7. Alumni who made it back to campus were able to enjoy student-led tours of the school, Aquinas sporting events, Mass led by Fr. Norman Tanck, CSB ’62 and brunch. The Class of 1970 joined in on the festivities as well, as they were finally able to celebrate their 50th reunion after a two-year delay! This year’s Alumni Reunion Weekend will be held Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1, 2023 and will celebrate those whose class years end in 3 and 8. More details to follow soon! Alumni Events CLASS OF 1970 CLASS OF 1962 CLASS OF 1992 CLASS OF 1964 CLASS OF 1997 CLASS OF 1967 CLASS OF 2012 CLASS OF 1953
Alumni Events AQ is Coming to a City Near You! Aquinas made stops in nearly two dozen cities across the U.S. in 2022 and caught up with so many of our Li’l Irish alumni! If you’ve moved out of the area, drop us a line at alumniupdates@aquinasinstitute.com so that we can let you know when we’re coming to a city near you! Atlanta Chicago Phoenix Houston Austin Naples Washington DC San Diego Orlando Ft. Lauderdale Charlotte Sarasota Raleigh The Villages Tampa Dallas West Palm Beach Boston 16 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Los Angeles Jacksonville
17 Alex DeLucenay ’03 was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano on May 21, 2022, making him the youngest permanent deacon in the Diocese of Rochester. As a board-certified ambulatory-care pharmacist and associate professor of pharmacy practice at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher University, Alex said this is where his desire to pursue diaconal formation began. In 2016, Deacon Tom Jewell, a Campus Minister at St. John Fisher, invited Alex to attend an information session. Knowing only that a deacon is somebody who serves at the altar and preaches every once in a while, Alex was drawn to learn more. With encouragement from friends, family and his wife, Mary, Alex knew he needed to pursue diaconal formation. “I felt God drawing me closer to this particular ministry in His church, telling me that this is something He wanted me to do, to serve His people,” said Alex. While the five-year formation process to become a permanent deacon was academically rigorous, Alex emphasized that it was a very joyous time. Being able to meet so many different people who serve in various ways in the church was incredibly special. “I grew tremendously in my faith, and built upon the teachings of both theology, morality, and scripture that I gained from Aquinas,” said Alex, who credits his time as an Aquinas Peer Minister to helping him develop his faith further. Along with his family, Alex notes that Aquinas as a whole planted the seed for this journey. “Through the Basilian values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge that were instilled in me at Aquinas, I learned that my purpose here on earth isn’t just for me, but to bring the joy of Jesus to all those in our community, particularly those most hurting and most in need of the healing love of God.” Deacon DeLucenay ministers at St. John the Evangelist Church in Spencerport. DELUCENAY ’03 BECOMES YOUNGEST PERMANENT DEACON IN THE DIOCESE Deacon DeLucenay ’03 with wife, Mary, and daughter, Sarah. Alumni News In our last edition of The Landmark, we featured an article on AQ alumnus Ray Colaruotolo ’72, who was selected from among the top stone carvers in the world to help rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Since that article, Ray has been back and forth from the States to Paris creating and restoring beautiful stone carvings! In an update from Ray he writes: A carving I just finished. The original was damaged from the fire and this is a copy of it. Tradition has it on the back of the stone, the part that goes into the wall, that the stone carver would sign and date the year it was done. The original carver was Sebastian Dubois, and the year was 1235…almost 800 years ago! I was about to sign my name and year, but thought out of respect to Sebastian, I would put his name first, followed by my name and year. This will be installed next week. I hope that Sebastian is looking down when it’s installed saying, ‘You did a good job, my Brother!’ REBUILDING NOTRE DAME: UPDATE
18 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Alumni News Young Alumni Help Others Through Careers in Medicine We recently caught up some young alumni who have something in common…a passion for helping others! Dr. Amber Parker ’12, Dr. Michael Yodice ’13, and medical candidates Andrew Nguyen ’12 and Warren Carter ’16 took time out of their busy schedules to share with us where their paths to the medical field began, what inspired them to pursue medicine, and where they hope to be in the future. AMBER PARKER, MD ’12 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND SCHOOL: Cornell University College of Human Ecology, BS in Human Biology, Health, and Society with a minor in Applied Exercise Science through a collaborative program with Ithaca College. MED SCHOOL: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Class of 2022 MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Orthopedics. After medical school, I was accepted into the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program where I’m currently a firstyear resident. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? I was first exposed to the idea of being a physician when I was younger and met my first AfricanAmerican female physician at a hair salon who took the time to talk to me about her career. I was already fond of science and anatomy after dissecting a frog in middle school, but this experience connected my interests in science and the human body to the larger field of medicine. Through various clinical experiences, I was able to see that medicine was more than anatomy and physiology, it was humanity. HOW DID AQUINAS HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER? At Aquinas, I was able to take classes in anatomy and biological sciences that helped me gain some of the foundational skills I would need for college and medical school. Outside of academics, I was able to fill my time with dance and theater with Nazareth Academy Dance and a starring role in Aquinas’s production of Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle. My experience as a dancer led me to orthopedics. As a lifelong dancer who has dedicated hours to honing my craft, I have developed a strong visuospatial awareness, along with an innate and concrete awareness of every bone, joint and muscle in my body and their functionality. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT BEING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD? For me, the draw of orthopedic surgery is that via our tools, ranging from a small suture anchor to large implants, we restore that function through reconstruction. The ability to give back functionality to a patient moves beyond simply tinkering with the “nuts and bolts” of the body; as orthopedic surgeons, we are providing the opportunity of “doing life” in a way that is unique and intimately meaningful for our patients. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 15 YEARS? For the future, I look forward to being an educator in the field of medicine, mentoring young black women who hope to join the field, and of course keep on dancing. MICHAEL YODICE, MD ’13 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND SCHOOL: Siena College, BA in Biology MED SCHOOL: Albany Medical College, Class of 2021 MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Internal medicine, 2nd year resident, Geisinger Medical Center WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? During a ski club trip in 10th grade, I fractured my collar bone and needed surgery. I was fascinated by the process of surgery and wanted to learn more about how the body works. I decided to take biology the following year and knew medicine was the right choice for me. It ended up being my favorite subject. HOW DID AQUINAS HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER? I was part of an eight-year combined degree program with Siena and Albany Medical College, which focused on humanities, ethics, and social service. Aquinas not only taught me the skills to be successful academically, but instilled the values which led me to focus on service in medicine. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT BEING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD? I am grateful to be part of the team treating patients in the acute setting during their hospitalization. It is truly rewarding to see patients improve after making the correct diagnosis and deciding on treatment. I also enjoy following up with these patients in clinic and working to manage their chronic conditions to prevent future hospitalizations. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 15 YEARS? I am currently preparing to apply for a fellowship and hope to be practicing as a gastroenterologist.
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