WINTER 2024 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS & FRIENDS In This Issue . . . FOCUS ON FAITH Service As a Way of Life PAGES 4-5 HIDDEN HEROES Preserving Our History PAGE 9 DONOR IMPACT REPORT PAGE 36
Aquinas Landmark is published by the Office of Advancement for distribution to Aquinas Alumni & Friends. Staff David Eustis PRESIDENT 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 Kelly Conlan P’21 & ’26 AQUINAS FUND & VOLUNTEER MANAGER Jay Polston ’90 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT, MAJOR GIFTS & PLANNED GIVING Janine Wagner ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT OFFICE MANAGER Photos by: Katie Carangelo P’25 & ‘27 Mandra Mayo P’25 Al Mosher P’10 & ‘12 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 From students to teachers, there are 12 Aquinas alumni who are current AQ faculty members. Read more about why they chose their profession and the teachers who inspired them on page 6. WINTER 2024 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, PARENTS & FRIENDS In This Issue . . . FOCUS ON FAITH Service As a Way of Life PAGES 4-5 HIDDEN HEROES Preserving Our History PAGE 6 DONOR IMPACT REPORT PAGE 34 3 President’s Letter FOCUS ON FAITH 4 Service As a Way of Life SPOTLIGHT ON 6 From Student to Teacher HIDDEN HEROES 9 Preserving Our History WHAT’S NEWS 10 Class Profile 11 Back to School 11 Enrollment Events 11 Sue Smith Retires 12 Aquinas Earns Gold on AP® School Honor Roll 12 Fall Athletic Teams Win Big 12 Principal Mancini ’88 Earns Catholic School Administrators Award 13 Esports Enters Year Two at Aquinas ALUMNI EVENTS 14 Alumni Meet for Lunch 15 Shootout for Soldiers 16 Reunion Weekend 2023 18 2023 Founders’ Classic ALUMNI NEWS 20 Young Alumni Educators 22 2023 Hall of Fame Inductions 26 2023 Commencement Speaker: Father John Huber, CSB ’81 27 2023 Distinguished Alumnus, Michael J. Piehler ‘64 28 Pickett ’17 is Living NBA Dream 30 Alumni Notes 31 Li’l Irish 32 In Remembrance 33 Gifts In Memory & In Honor Of 36 Donor Impact Report
Dear Aquinas Alumni and Friends, When I began my term as the fourth President of Aquinas on June 19, I was immediately humbled at the passion and love for this school. Being an outsider can have its challenges, but I have been welcomed with open arms from a wonderful school community including students, families, alumni and friends. You have all made my transition so much easier with the outpouring of support that you have offered to me. The fall semester got off to an incredible start! We welcomed 718 students to start the school year, and they have delivered from the opening bell! We began the year with a reminder to all of our students about the words that mean so much to so many people in the Aquinas community, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.” From all of my conversations with alumni, trustees, donors and faculty it was important that we place a renewed emphasis on living those words, the roots of what the Basilian Fathers brought to Dewey Avenue. This is how we began our year and how we will work together moving forward. The fall athletic season created incredible joy around our campus. Winning a Section V Championship is a big accomplishment as we all know. Well, Aquinas won three Section V Championships in boys soccer, girls soccer and cheerleading. Not only that, the boys soccer team went on to win the New York Class A State Championship. To be able to raise four banners in one season is a testament to the true dedication of our coaches and young student-athletes. In addition, our middle school cross country team secured the Private/ Parochial League Championship. As we enter the ever so important recruiting season for new students to attend Aquinas next year, it is as challenging as ever with the declining birth rate in Monroe County. A continued effort to maintain a safe campus, challenging academic curriculum and rigor, and a strong external brand campaign will be at the forefront of our efforts. We are also excited to welcome a new Director of Communications to campus beginning in January to help us craft and tailor our message to the Rochester community. A year ago the Aquinas Board of Trustees approved a new strategic plan for the school. We have begun to put that plan to work with a continued emphasis on Catholic identity, facilities, academic rigor, enrollment, finance, governance and student life. To the thousands of stakeholders who helped us craft the plan, I say thank you! Our working title is Planning for Growth and Sustained Excellence. I look forward to continuing to visit as many AQ alumni as possible over the next several months. I plan to “hit the road” this winter to see some great folks that wear the maroon and white from a distance. I hope to meet as many of you as possible and, together, generate the necessary resources to keep AQ shining for years to come. Aquinas Evermore, Dave Eustis President President’s Letter 3
4 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Focus On Faith . . . 4 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 Service As a Way Hser Paw ’24 Like graduating seniors everywhere, Aquinas students must complete a specified number of academic credits to earn their diplomas. Unlike graduating seniors everywhere though, Aquinas students must fulfill another requirement to earn their diplomas, which is service to the community. Broken up by semester over their four years of high school, the minimum 64 hours is not difficult to achieve and in fact, most students go above and beyond that. For instance, the Class of 2022 completed 9,690 total hours of service or roughly 79 hours per student, and the Class of 2023 did even more with 11,759 total hours, which is 102 hours per student. “While it’s a requirement, it’s more about the mission and the ministry of who we are. So reaching out to people, connecting with them, not just providing goods to them, but building relationships is what it’s all about,” said Jodi Schott, Aquinas’ Director of Mission and Ministry. She, along with the Theology Department and Aquinas’ Community Service Coordinator, Sister Dora Christian, SSJ, is responsible for the service program. Not only do they help coordinate individual opportunities, but they organize large scale service opportunities that may include an entire class or the entire school. Freshman Service Day, Sophomore Service Day, Middle School Service Day, Book and a Blanket, and Thanksgiving Food Baskets are just a few. Sister Dora, who tracks student hours, says the average number of hours students are completing is going up each year. “I think it’s phenomenal, I’m amazed that over half in every class right now already have their required hours done and we’re still a month out from the due date,” she said. “I keep pushing the St. Joseph the Worker Award. Colleges look at service, it’s a resume builder and I really try to push that starting freshman year.” The St. Joseph the Worker Community Service Award is given to high school students who complete 20+ hours above the minimum required for their grade level. Students who earn this award all four years of high school earn the St. Basil the Great Award their senior year, which is presented at the Academic Awards Night ceremony in the spring. Six seniors from the Class of 2023 earned the St. Basil the Great Award, up from three in 2022 and 2021. “Part of our core Christian message that comes from Christ himself is about serving other people and reaching out to those in need, looking out for the least among us, the poor, the marginalized,” said Schott. “When we have service as a way of life here at Aquinas, we’re instilling that Catholic value in every student and teaching them how to carry this on for the rest of their life. It’s not just something to be done, but something that they’re called to do.” Aquinas senior Hser Paw knows all about this calling and while she has done a lot of service here in the Rochester community, the impact she is making extends much further. Hser, who spent the first four years of her life in Mae La, a Karen (pronounced Kah-Ren) refugee camp in Thailand, thinks often of the life she has now, and the Karen children who, despite suffering the effects of civil war and persecution, are still fighting to receive an education. “The kids affected by civil war are constantly on the move with their families. Most of the schools, there’s no concrete, they’re made out of wood they find and sometimes it’s just a tunnel that they dig out,” said Hser. “I’m very lucky to be here, I’m attending school, I’ve been given opportunities that my parents and my generation back in Mae La don’t have, so what can I do with the opportunities that I’ve been given? I realized there were little things I could do now that would make an impact.” In a reflection she read to the entire school at Mass, Hser said, “My call is to serve God’s children, the children who are suffering and are not heard.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing. In 2020, with the help of her church sister, Bethany Htoo, 9th Grade Service Day
the two decided to start collecting money and donations that would provide PK-3 children in Mae La and the surrounding areas with books, backpacks, paper, school utensils, umbrellas, jackets, rain boots and snacks. So far, Hser and Bethany have worked with five schools over four missions including Living Word Mission School, No. 11 Primary School, Peh Hsa Kee School, Baw Ka Ta Village School, and Ko Kay Primary School. They hope to work with more schools in the future and turn what they’re doing into a true non-profit organization. Until then, Hser keeps track of each mission in a red notebook meticulously detailing who they’re supporting, what they’re collecting, and who has donated. In their private Facebook group – Former Karen Refugee & Karen Refugee Support United, they connect with their of Life 5 Thanksgiving Food Baskets Middle School Service Day Book and a Blanket Karen children who received new school supplies donated with the help of Hser Paw ’24 Karen children pose with new school supplies donated with the help of Hser Paw ’24 A Karen refugee school house donors and are able to post photos from those they’re supporting as well as thank you notes that they receive. Going back to her reflection that she shared with the school, Hser ended by encouraging her fellow peers to take a look inward and see how they can express Christ’s love through service to others. “I would like you to ask yourself what you can do to be the better change in your community and in the world. It does not have to be grand; it could be participating in mission collections, attending school events, picking up empty water bottles, or wiping the table down after lunch for those who will be sitting there next. These little actions go a long way and before you know it, with God’s guidance, you can influence and inspire. It is time that we reflect and realize what God is calling us to do.”
6 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2020 What’s News Spotlight On . . . There’s something special about Aquinas. At times it can be hard to describe, and to be honest, it may be better felt than put into words, but it’s as real as the marble statue of St. Thomas Aquinas that stands steadfast in the main hall. There’s a certain magnetism that holds nearly all of us who have had a connection to the school to the spot. It’s the reason alumni come back for reunions each year and why so many of the students who grew up to be teachers feel called to teach in the very place they spent their high school, and for some, their middle school years. Currently, there are a dozen alumni who teach at Aquinas. Together, they make up about 20% of the faculty, and combined, their teaching experience exceeds 225 years! They represent graduating classes that span five decades and teach a variety of subjects across the curriculum. They are dedicated professionals with a passion for teaching and, of course, a passion for AQ. BOB D’ETTORE • Class of 1973 SUBJECT AREA(S): Physical Education and Principles of Coaching YEARS TEACHING: 47 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 47 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I chose to become a teacher because my teachers and coaches were some of the most influential people in my character development and I wanted to be able to do that for others. My love for athletics and coaching is why I chose Physical Education. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? Jerry McGuire was tough but fair. John Uriah (AD) was kind and always had the best interest of athletes and his coaches in mind. Bob Rosmarino pushed you beyond what you thought you were capable of. Nick Teta was a great coach who taught the game of football to us. Fr. Burke recognized your potential and pushed you to achieve. Fr. Carter was a man of great vision and was a very powerful leader yet he never lost the common touch. I feel like I incorporated a little bit from each one of them in my own development as a teacher. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? See above! Those influences along with a love and loyalty to Aquinas, even when I was in grammar school, lead me back to AQ. I felt I wanted to give back what I was blessed with while at Aquinas. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I’m hoping my legacy will be that I was a teacher who cared about his students, a teacher that was fair, and a teacher that was passionate about teaching. I especially want to be known as a teacher who not only imparted the skills and knowledge of my subject, but that I also had an influence on my students’ character development because my lessons taught goodness and discipline…that I recognized opportunities to teach “life lessons.” As a coach I want to be remembered for those exact same things! JEFF PAGE • Class of 1990 SUBJECT AREA(S): US History and Government 11 and AP American YEARS TEACHING: 28 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 28 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I wanted to coach high school sports and teach history. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? Mrs. Knapp who challenged me to be a better math student just by saying, “I heard you were a good math student, when are you going to start showing me?” And Mr. Pilliter, who made you think on a higher level. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? There was an opening in the history department and an opportunity to coach JV soccer. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I always wanted to put teaching first and to be well-prepared in the classroom because I have known and heard people say that some coaches are only in the classroom to coach their sport and are not there to be good teachers. TRICIA SADLER • Class of 1991 SUBJECT AREA(S): Social Studies and Religion 6 YEARS TEACHING: 26 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 9 Why did you choose to become a teacher? As the oldest of six, I can remember teaching and playing school. I also had many elementary teachers who inspired me with the care they showed and the “family” environment they created. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? I had many teachers and coaches along the way who inspired me to guide students to reach their full potential and cared for us like we were their own children. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? When the opportunity to teach 6th grade opened, I welcomed the chance to continue the family tradition, and to pass on the values, guidance, and high academic standards that AQ set for me for future students. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I hope students will look back fondly on their TEAM 6 experience. I want them to remember the family environment we created, the encouragement I gave them to reach their potential, and the AQ traditions I passed on to them so now they too are part of the legacy. 6 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 6 From Student to Teacher
7 DANIEL ESLER • Class of 1996 SUBJECT AREA: Chemistry YEARS TEACHING: 15 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 11 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I’m a people person with some introverted tendencies, so I like being with students and the bustle of a high school classroom, but I also like when things are calm and quiet and people are working in small groups or analyzing/learning on their own. In short, I like the academic and social aspects of the educational setting. I also like sharing information and the creativity it takes to make something as esoteric as Chemistry palatable for teenagers. Lastly, I think adolescence is an important period in life. I like being with young people and bearing witness to the tumult of their dramatic lives. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? I loved Mrs. Knapp for her consistency. I loved Mrs. Maffucci for her humor. I loved Mr. Ferris for his passion. There are plenty more who I could mention as well, but class is starting momentarily. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? Familiarity, and my connection to the Maplewood neighborhood. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I hope my students will remember me as an advocate for their intellectual and psychological development, as a cheerleader for their journey. SCOTT WISE • Class of 2000 SUBJECT AREA(S): Economics, AP Macroeconomics, Smart Money and Psychology YEARS TEACHING: 18 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 11 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I wanted to have an impact on people’s lives. I wanted to help people in their journey through life, even if I am only a small stop. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? I had many teachers that inspired me. Two that had a big impact were Mr. Oberst and Mr. Heyman. Mr. Oberst taught me to think about how the government and politics in a way that I never had before. He helped me to understand why we should be active members in our society. Mr. Heyman helped me think about my life in a spiritual way. His Life/Death class helped me think about my life in terms of how God fits into it. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? After working in an urban, suburban and rural settings, none felt like home. Aquinas had an opportunity for me to come and teach here and I took full advantage of it. It is “home” for me. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I have been lucky to teach every senior for the past 11 years. If one of them was impacted by something I said or something they learned in class, that makes me happy. My legacy is how my former and current students participate in our society. If they are making positive changes in this world, then I would say my legacy and the legacy of AQ is in a good place. MEGAN (DOBBERTIN) BARBOUR Class of 2005 SUBJECT AREA: Theatre YEARS TEACHING: 8 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 6 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I love watching young artists discover their voice and their passion. Which AQ teacher(s) inspired you as a student? I adored Vonda McLennon’s Biology class. She was all the best kinds of teacher rolled into one: she was funny and made the material fun to learn, she knew how to explain it five different ways in case you didn’t get it the first time, and she would not let you off the hook for less than your personal best. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? Aquinas Theatre shaped a lot of who I am as a person, and I hope to give that same gift to the next generation: a space to become exactly who they want to be...even if they don’t know who that is yet. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? Every good teacher’s legacy is their students. I hope my students learn compassion, understanding, curiosity, and drive from me, and then go on to give to others in the same way. RYAN HARE • Class of 2005 SUBJECT AREA(S): Physical Education & Health YEARS TEACHING: 11 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 5 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I thought about what I was passionate about; my health and sports felt like a great fit. I tried many areas in this field but when I started the teaching program, it felt so natural. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? Obviously Coach D’Ettore and Ms. Mattioli inspired me. They allowed everyone in their class the opportunity to be active and try different areas of activity. It was my favorite part of the day, I was able to get out of my shirt and tie and just move and be creative and free for 40 minutes. I would say Mr. Cook and Mr. Mooney because I always felt like they believed in me. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? I grew up in this neighborhood, walked by this building everyday going to and from school, and then was able to attend. It has always been part of me. I really enjoyed my time here and wanted to be able to help more students feel the same way. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I hope when all is said and done, I will have made Aquinas a special place to as many people as I can. ASHLEY (POPOVICH) GIONTA Class of 2006 SUBJECT AREA(S): AP Biology, Living Environment, Science & Technology Department Chair, and Capstone Coordinator YEARS TEACHING: 11 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 11 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I chose teaching as a profession because I love the impact one can have on individual children. I want to foster a love for STEM. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? All of the teachers I had at Aquinas have made an impact on me but the teacher that really sparked my love for science was Bryan Mooney. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? I returned to Aquinas because at AQ I have the ability to share my faith with the next generation and teach my students the values of discipline, hard work, and service to others. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? As a teacher, leaving a great legacy is arguably the most powerful thing you can do. The message I want to instill in my students is that with hard work, dedication and resiliency, almost anything is possible. In addition to our alumni who have come back to teach, there are also several alumni here at Aquinas on staff including: Elyssa (Place) Beck ’10 Paraprofessional Anthony Bianchi ’81 Athletic Director Lisa (Glor) Clicquennoi ’84 Database Administrator Andy DiMaria ’97 Campus Safety Officer Stacy (Colombo) Fronckowiak ’00 Executive Assistant Bob Higgins ’02 Dean of Students Vicky Lopuchowycz ’98 Registrar Ted Mancini ’88 Principal Ray Manioci ’08 Director of Counseling Bill McGrath ’65 Transportation Coordinator/Bus Driver Jay Polston ’90 Associate Director of Advancement for Major Gifts & Planned Giving Dan Provenzano ’92 Equipment Manager Dennis Sadler ’62 Campus Safety Jerry Sussina ’69 Supply Clerk
8 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 Spotlight On . . . ANTHONY TARANA • Class of 2008 SUBJECT AREA(S): Social Studies 7 and US History & Government 11 YEARS TEACHING: 1 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 1 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I enjoy helping people and always enjoyed school at Aquinas. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? Mr. Christanis was always entertaining and allowed learning a new language to be fun. Mr. Page is very thorough and made learning about history very enjoyable. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? I had a student teaching assignment here and got hired after. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I want to be remembered as someone who cared about helping students not just in academics, but life. BEN BOSTICK • Class of 2009 SUBJECT AREA(S): Academic Intervention Services / National Honor Society Advisor YEARS TEACHING: 7 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 6 Why did you choose to become a teacher? My sister, Amanda (Class of 2003), is a teacher. I have always looked up to her and respected teachers for who they are and what they do. I enjoy the idea of coming alongside students and helping them navigate their school years – doing what I can to help them see success and plant a foundation for success in the future. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? Picking one or a few is tough! I had a lot of really good ones that I think would spark some good laughs and memories from grads around my time. I realize now that each of them helped shape the student I was and the teacher and man I am today. They all taught me more than just the subject or content of the curriculum, and I have a deep appreciation for their dedication to us. Can we talk about AQ teachers without mentioning Coach (Mr.) D’Ettore though? What made you decide to return to your alma mater? I think any AQ grad will tell you that there’s something about Aquinas that always sticks with you. It kind of gives “Aquinas Evermore” a whole new and personal meaning. Being able interact and teach students in a place where my three siblings and I experienced so much and made so many memories reminds me of my thankfulness for the opportunity I had to be a student here. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? One of the cool aspects about AQ is that its legacy is so rich and deep and much greater than myself. The legacy I hope to have is one of consistency. Consistently doing my best to love Jesus, consistently doing my best to love others like Jesus, and consistently doing my best to have everything I do reflect those two goals. BILLY LOMBARDI • Class of 2013 SUBJECT AREA(S): Social Studies 8 YEARS TEACHING: 7 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 5 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I wanted to positively impact the lives of young adults the way many of my teachers at Aquinas (and throughout my life) impacted me. Which AQ teachers inspired you as a student? This is a hard one to answer because it felt like so many inspired me as a student. If I had to name just a few, I would have to say Mr. Page, Mrs. Baschnagel, Mr. Shook, and Mrs. O’Meara. Each one of them I had at different points in my five years at Aquinas. Each of them contributed to me having a positive experience, and with each of them, I believed they truly took an interest in you as a young man or woman. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? I wanted to give back to the school that I feel gave me such a great high school experience. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? That I worked, and did everything I could, to uphold the same standard of excellence that was set by the thousands of alumni who came before me. PETER HUBER • Class of 2017 SUBJECT AREA(S): Earth & Life Science YEARS TEACHING: 3 YEARS TEACHING AT AQ: 3 Why did you choose to become a teacher? I chose to be a teacher because I want the world to be better off because I was here. I can think of no better way to make an impact then inspiring the next generation. Which AQ teacher(s) inspired you as a student? Mrs. Krickmire and Mr. Flood (who I teach with now!) showed me the power a good role model can have on a person. What made you decide to return to your alma mater? Aquinas has always been a home for me. It was natural for me to think of AQ as I start my education career. What do you hope your Aquinas legacy will be? I hope my legacy will be one of helpfulness. Every person deserves a mentor that cares about them. I hope I can be that person to my students. There are a number of scholarships at Aquinas set up in honor and in memory of some of our beloved faculty members. • Rev. Thomas Dugan, CSB ’48 Endowed Scholarship • Gerald F McGuire ’53 Endowed Scholarship • Basilian Fathers of East Rochester Endowed Scholarship • Richard J Pilliter ’63 Scholarship • The Raymond Manuszak and Family Endowed Scholarship • Mary Lou Knapp Memorial Endowed Scholarship To give to one of these scholarships, scan the QR code and select ‘other’ for fund to support. Include the name of the scholarship where prompted. If you are interested in starting a scholarship in honor or in memory of a teacher who inspired you, please contact Jay Polston ’90, Associate Director of Advancement, Major Gifts and Planned Giving, at jpolston@aquinasinstitute.com or (585) 254-2020 x1061.
9 Specifically, they’ve been charged with the very important role of managing the archive room, which is a treasure trove tucked beneath the cafeteria that holds the story of Aquinas. “Dave and I used to come and volunteer and one day, Chris Grout ‘88 brought us down to what we call the archive room, which was really just a closet with a lot of history of Aquinas in it,” recalled John. “She said ‘Someday, I’m going to get down here to organize this’, so Dave and I offered to do it. It took us a long time, but it’s all organized now, so you can pretty much ask for anything and we can go down there and get it for you,” he said. And when he says ‘anything’ he means it. What the two organized was 120 years of Aquinas artifacts and nostalgia. The archive room holds Basilian history that dates back to when they first came to Aquinas, Catholic school history when Aquinas was first called Cathedral High School, all sorts of old athletic helmets and equipment, posters from all the different plays and musicals, every yearbook beginning with the first in 1903, films of all the different football games from when they used to play at Red Wing Stadium, photos, letterman jackets, safety jackets, copies of the Maroon & White newspaper dating all the way back to 1932, trophies, and so much more. “We sorted things out, categorized it, filled filing cabinets, started shelving everything, and we’re maxed out,” said Dave of the space. The two are starting now to take pictures of things so that they might eventually be able to put them online for others to see. Despite some space constraints, John and Dave encourage anyone with Aquinas memorabilia worth hanging onto to reach out to the Advancement Office at alumniupdates@aquinasinstitute.com. Likewise, if any classmates are getting together for a reunion or similar event, they can reach out to the Advancement Office if they’d like to display specific Aquinas items. “Dennis Sadler once said at a reunion for the color guard several years back, ‘If these walls could talk,’ and that’s been in my mind ever since,” said John. “If these walls could talk, if these kids could hear the past classes that walked these halls, what an honor it would be. That’s the main reason I’m doing what I’m doing.” It’s apparent that even decades after John and Dave graduated from Aquinas, their hearts, which are almost certainly maroon, are still here and maintaining the archive room is truly a labor of love. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dave and John recently received the Advancement Office’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, which is given to an individual or individuals who are committed in and around our Aquinas community through volunteerism and philanthropy through gifts of their time, talent, and treasure. Should you be lucky enough to have a conversation with either John or Dave – listen – you will undoubtedly learn something new about Aquinas that will make you appreciate its legacy even more. “There are a lot of stories down in the archive, I don’t know if I can say one is more special than another,” said John. Whether it be stories of the Basilian Fathers at Aquinas; the Forensic Arts Team winning a national championship; the band and color guard performing at NFL halftime shows and in the Macy’s Day Parade; the Class of 1967 (briefly) making the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest consecutive basketball dribbles; or when the football team beat Boys Town, Nebraska, tore down a goalpost, marched all the way to the RKO Palace, took the stage and sang the Alma Mater to a packed cinema audience – they’re all stories that are documented with artifacts that live on in the archive room, a place that Dave summed up beautifully. “It’s remembering, it’s the history, it’s what Aquinas is.” Hidden Heroes PRESERVING OUR HISTORY If you happen to be walking the halls of Aquinas on a Wednesday morning, you may very well run into Dave Behr ’66 and John Palermo ’67. The two alumni, who have been friends since their high school days on Dewey Ave, are regular volunteers with Aquinas’ Advancement Office, and have been for over 13 years now. Top: John Palermo ’67 (left) and Dave Behr ’66 (right) in the Aquinas archive room. Left: Archive memorabilia fills a display case at Aquinas for all to enjoy. Aquinas memorabilia housed in the school’s archive room.
CLASS PROFILE University of Akron University of Alabama University at Albany Alfred University University of Arizona University of Arkansas Binghamton University Boston College Bowling Green State University University at Buffalo Buffalo State Canisius College Case Western Reserve University The Catholic University of America Champlain College College of Charleston University of Cincinnati Clarkson University Clemson University Cleveland State University Coastal Carolina University University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Connecticut Daemen College University of Dayton University of Delaware DePaul University Dickinson College Duquesne University D’Youville University East Carolina University Elmira College Elon University Emmanuel College Endicott College Finger Lakes Community College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Fordham University Frostburg State University Gannon University The George Washington University Grambling State University Hartwick College Hawaii Pacific University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Houghton College Howard University Indiana University Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University John Carroll University Johnson and Wales University Kalamazoo College Kansas State University Kent State University University of Kentucky NUMBER OF SENIORS: 115 COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: 730 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE: 100% REPORTED ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED: $14.5 million COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: 11,759 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS: 37 NHS FOR DANCE ARTS MEMBERS: 3 NYS SCHOLAR ATHLETE TEAMS: 17 class of 2023 The Class of 2023 was accepted into the following colleges and universities: Kettering University Keuka College LeMoyne College Lehigh University Life University Long Island University Post Louisiana State University Loyola University Chicago University of Maine at Fort Kent University of Maine at Presque Isle Marist College University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Mercer University Mercyhurst University Merrimack College Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Michigan Technological University University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Mississippi Monroe Community College Nazareth University New College of Florida University of New Hampshire Niagara University North Carolina A&T State University University of North Carolina Ashville North Carolina Central University University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina Wilmington Northeastern University Notre Dame of Maryland University The Ohio State University Oregon State University Pace University Palm Beach Atlantic University Paul Smith College of the Arts & Sciences Pennsylvania State University PennWest California University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh at Bradford University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Providence College Purdue University Quinnipiac University Robert Morris University Roberts Wesleyan College University of Rochester Rochester Institute of Technology Sacred Heart University Saint Francis University Saint Joseph’s University Saint Leo University Saint Louis University Saint Louis University Madrid Siena College Skidmore College University of South Carolina South Carolina State University Spellman College St. Bonaventure University St. John Fisher University St. John’s University St. Lawrence University Stevens Institute of Technology Stonehill College Stony Brook University SUNY Brockport SUNY Cortland SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry SUNY Fredonia SUNY Geneseo SUNY Morrisville SUNY Oswego SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Syracuse University The University of Tampa Temple University University of Tennessee Knoxville Utica College Valparaiso University University of Vermont Villanova University Virginia Commonwealth University Washington & Jefferson College Wentworth Institute of Technology West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Virginia University Widener University University of Wisconsin – Madison Xavier University Class 10 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2021 | WINTER 2024 What’s News
For 22 years, Sue was an integral member of Aquinas’ math department teaching courses in Pre Calculus, Pre Calculus Honors, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Mathematical Modeling. She also chaired the department for a number of years. Sue’s passion for Aquinas went beyond the classroom as she took on additional responsibilities from helping guide the school through Middle States Reaccreditation to organizing faculty and staff Secret Santa exchanges in December, and moderating the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). While a moderator for NHS, Mrs. Smith organized five mission trips for students, which for her, are cherished memories. “Our first two mission trips were to Jamaica. We built a home each time for an impoverished family,” said Sue. “Next we went to Gallup, New Mexico to work with Navajo families. Our last two trips were to Burgaw, North Carolina to rebuild after Hurricane Florence. The service work we did was the least of what was gained.” As a true believer in Ghandi’s famous quote, Sue not only lives by, but encourages the rest of us to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Her love for AQ is clear, but when asked why Aquinas, she had a quick reply. “That’s easy, the students! Working with young minds and turning some of them on to mathematics was very rewarding. Outside of traditional curriculum, young adults have so much to learn and so much to offer. I love the saying, ‘You learn to teach and you teach to learn.’” While a teacher at Aquinas, Sue had the honor of handing her two children – Sara ’04 and Adam ’08 – their diplomas at graduation, which were extremely special moments. This past June, she had the honor of handing her grandson, Nikaulas, his Aquinas diploma as well. Sue and her husband, Lon, recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on a cruise. Now, in retirement, she says she looks forward to more fun travel adventures. Sue Smith Retires 11 Mrs. Sue Smith received a heartfelt sendoff at the end of the 2022-2023 school year as she set out to start a new adventure – retirement! Fall and winter are busy times of year and in enrollment, we’re already planning for the 2024-2025 school year! There are many opportunities for prospective students and families to visit campus and experience the faith, the classes, the students, the teachers and the tradition! Welcome In Wednesday Shadow Visits are highly recommended for prospective students. These days provide an opportunity to spend an entire school day with a current Aquinas student. Families attend a brief presentation at 7:40 a.m. Students depart for their shadow day at 8:00 a.m. and then parent tours, led by Aquinas Student Ambassadors, are available. Multiple shadow dates are available each month through May 2024. For more information and to register, please visit AquinasInstitute.com/visit. Of course, individual on-campus tours are always available by appointment. To schedule, please call the Enrollment Office at (585) 254-2020 x1071. Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge Enrollment Events Back to School On Wednesday, September 6, Aquinas proudly began its 121st school year! Faculty and staff were elated to see the smiling faces of our 718 new and returning students, who were ready to start the year strong! One of the truly special parts of being a private Catholic school is our tight-knit community, which comes from all over – even overseas! Our students this year are from 22 different school districts across four counties, and eight foreign countries including China, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Spain, and Sweden. Please keep our Aquinas students in your prayers for another successful school year! Thank you to our photographers who helped capture some of these first-day photos: Katie Carangelo P’25 & P ’27 and Al Mosher P ’10 & ’12. Sue Smith (left) with colleagues and friends Judy Epstein (center), and Dawn Vasso (right).
12 12 College Board announced that The Aquinas Institute of Rochester has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Gold distinction. The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. Only 30% of eligible high schools earned this recognition. Aquinas had 70% of seniors who took at least one AP exam during high school, 42% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 33% of seniors who took five or more AP exams! Aquinas currently offers 15 AP courses. “AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement, and potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Aquinas principal, Ted Mancini. “Aquinas continuously works to expand access to these collegelevel courses and our students have proven that they’re up to the challenge.” 12 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 What’s News Aquinas principal Ted Mancini ’88 was honored this fall with the Lighting the Fire for Catholic Education Award. Presented annually by the Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State (CSAANYS), this award is presented to Catholic school leaders who inspire and help promote Catholic education. Mr. Mancini has an extensive background in Catholic education, serving in a variety of positions as teacher, department chair, theatre director, middle school director, and principal throughout more than three decades at Aquinas. In addition, Mr. Mancini also serves as an executive board member and president of CSAANYS, and serves as a Diocesan School Board member with the Diocese of Rochester. Principal Mancini ’88 Earns Catholic School Administrators Award Fall Athletic Teams Win Big There has been a lot of excitement at Aquinas as our fall athletic teams finished their seasons BIG! On November 11th, the Aquinas boys varsity soccer team beat Byram Hills in a 3-2 overtime win to capture the Class A state championship! Congratulations to the team and Coach Gleason ‘94 on this outstanding accomplishment. Girls soccer ended their season with a Class A Section V title and our varsity cheerleaders won the Class CI Section V crown. In addition to our varsity teams, modified cross country was named Private Parochial League Champions! We are incredibly proud of our student athletes and look forward to more success in the upcoming seasons! Aquinas Earns Gold on AP® School Honor Roll
13 Esports Enters Year Two at Aquinas Aquinas has always offered a wide variety of co-curricular programs for students to get involved in, and beginning last school year, Aquinas added another – Esports. For those who are unfamiliar with Esports, it’s organized multiplayer video game competitions that can be played individually or as teams. Initially, Aquinas started with just a high school team, moderated by Aquinas science teacher Liam Flood, but with interest from the students, a middle school team was added in the spring, which is moderated by fellow Aquinas science teacher Peter Huber ‘17. “I ran videogames club just for fun for about nine years, and the kids would ask me every year about starting Esports,” said Flood. “It looked like it was going to happen before COVID, but then that was put aside, until last school year,” he said. One of the catalysts for starting the Esports league at Aquinas was the completion of room 308, which houses the school’s virtual reality capabilities and five high-end MSI gaming machines that the kids use for competition. Depending on the game, some will use the keyboard and mouse, however, others will bring their own Xbox or PlayStation® controllers, which are compatible with the gaming machines. Aquinas is a member of the High School Esports League (HSEL) and Middle School Esports League (MSEL), which allows our Aquinas students to compete with students nationwide. Eighth grader Liam Williams – who has been a member of the middle school team for two seasons said, “Instead of just playing at home, it gives me an opportunity to play for Aquinas.” Last year, in its inaugural year, Aquinas did quite well, achieving the following: • Fall 2022 Regular season 6th place in Eastern Regional in Rocket League® • 2022 State Quarterfinals in Rocket League® • Fall 2022 Eastern Regional Championship Quarterfinals in Rocket League® • Spring 2023 Regular Season 13th place in Eastern Regional in Rocket League® • Spring 2023 Eastern Regional Championship First Round in Rocket League® • Spring 2023 Middle School National Championship 3rd Place in Minecraft® This year, Aquinas is competing in Rocket League®, Chess, and Super Smash Bros™, with plans to add Valorant for the high school team this spring. As far as the benefits of having Esports at Aquinas, Liam Flood said, “It’s another skill kids can show off and positively represent Aquinas with.”
14 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 Alumni Events In addition to building a stronger faith and solid academic foundations, Aquinas students graduate with friendships and bonds that truly last a lifetime! Whether getting together for lunch, golf, a regional event, or “just because”...our alumni are connected to each other, and their alma mater, like no other! CLASS OF 1951 CLASS OF 1959 CLASS OF 1966 CLASS OF 1970 CLASSES OF 1951-1953-1962 SO MANY OF OUR ALUMNI GET TOGETHER REGULARLY FOR LUNCH! AQ grads from the Class of 2017 and 2019 were out to brunch when they ran into former Dean of Students, Mrs. Battisti!
CLASS OF 1964 GOLF OUTING Aquinas alumni, friends, and family enjoying an Amerks hockey game in April. Alumni from the 1960s, 1980s, 1990s and 2010s got together in Pittsburgh for one of Aquinas’ regional events. Aquinas lacrosse alumni Ryan Doherty ’09, Gavin Conlan ’21, Dan Nowakowski ’18, Daniel Riordan ’01, and Nate DelVecchio ’18 participated in this summer’s Shootout for Soldiers event in Canandaigua, NY. Over 24 hours, lacrosse teams play 24, one-hour games to raise money for veterans. This year’s event raised over $83,000! The goal of the event is three-fold: to create awareness about the challenges veterans face when they return home; to engage civilian and military communities at the event to foster empathy and understanding and create dialogue; and to raise money to benefit local programs that assist veterans. SHOOTOUT FOR SOLDIERS Pictured from left to right: Ryan Doherty ’09, Gavin Conlan ’21, Dan Nowakowski ’18, Daniel Riordan ’01, and Nate DelVecchio ’18. 15
Reunion Weekend 2023 Aquinas’ annual Alumni Reunion Weekend, held September 29th – October 1st, was full of fun, friends, and great weather! Several alumni from class years ending in 3 and 8 came back to campus to see old friends, classmates and teachers, break bread, attend Mass, watch Li’l Irish sporting events, tour the school with current students, and relive their days on Dewey Ave. Thank you to everyone who made the weekend so special! CLASS OF 1953 CLASS OF 1963 CLASS OF 1968 CLASS OF 1973 CLASS OF 1973 16 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024 Alumni Events
17 CLASS OF 1993 CLASS OF 1993 CLASS OF 2003 CLASS OF 2003 Aquinas Student Ambassadors CLASS OF 2013 CLASS OF 2008 CLASS OF 1983
Tournament Sponsor Lunch Sponsors Advantech Industries Inc. James Gizzi P’20, ’22, ’26 Crosby Brownlie David DaMelio ‘85 Denali Water Solutions LLC Jeffrey LeBlanc ‘89 Janitronics Inc. Beverage Tent Sponsors Compass One HCM Ali Visca P’18, ‘21, ‘23 Cooley Group, Inc. Chris Martins ‘86 Healthy Glass Tinting Marybeth McConnell ‘93 Tee Package Sponsor In Memory of Bob Bell '57 Cart Sponsor Whitney & Company Bill Shaheen '72 & Billy Shaheen '07 Dinner Sponsors Admar Supply Company The DiMarco Family ‘54, ‘86, ‘90 Rochester Colonial Manufacturing Corp. The Gionta Family ‘48, ‘55, ‘68, ‘79, ‘86, ‘08, ‘10 Trident Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Peter Noto ‘81 Gold Sponsors T. Bell Construction Corp. Timothy Bell ‘83 & Cissy LeBlanc ‘89 Boyd Capital Karl Khuns ‘99 Bru Kitchen & Sports Bar Joseph Tarana ‘10 Edgemere Development, Inc. John ‘68 & Charlie ‘06 Oster, Chris Roland ‘06 Genesee Regional Bank Nicholas Dobbertin ‘01 M & T bank Kevin Foy ‘79 Monroe Extinguisher Co., Inc. Monroe Kitchen Equipment, Inc. The Curtin Family ‘72, ‘01 Omega Tool Measuring Machines Michael Nuccitelli ‘80 The Roland Family Spoleta Construction Michael Spoleta ‘78 UBS Financial Services, Inc. Vincent Battaglia ‘76 & Paul D’Aituolo ’90 Wegman Companies Inc. Phil Wegman ‘61 & Jay Wegman ‘96 Hole-in-One Sponsor Piehler Jaguar-Land Rover Michael Piehler ‘64 19th hole Sponsor Lecesse Development Corp. Salvador Leccese ‘60 Pin Sponsors Class of 1959 Lunch Bunch Cooley Group, Inc. Chris Martins ‘86 Dejoy & Co. Daniel Crilly ‘06 ESL Federal Credit Union Leo Iacobelli ‘82 Flaherty Salmin CPAs Paul Salmin ‘74 Fraley & Fraley Thomas Fraley ‘90 Rev. John F. Gagnier '69 Holy Cross School Iacovangelo Brothers ‘58, ‘59, ‘65 The Lum Family Dr. Timothy Lum ‘84 Thomas Fence Company Anthony Thomas ‘96 Thank You to Our 2023 Founders' Classic Supporters who came in swinging to support the 26th year. Because of you, we raised over $105,000! Hole Sponsors Barclay Damon, LLP Thomas Cronmiller, Esq. ‘74 The Class of 1990 The Conlan Family Patrick & Kelly Conlan P’21, ‘26 Convergint Technologies Deloitte & Touche LLC James Brennan ‘88 EFPR Group Robert Porretti ‘64 & Mario DiLuigi ‘85 Elmer W. Davis, Inc. ERB Financial Frontier Abstract & Research Services Timothy O’Sullivan ‘80 & Brian O’Sullivan ‘88 In Memory of Anthony James Joseph '67 In Memory Of Anthony Joseph '93 Landfried Sunshine Sealers Theodore Mancini '88 P'26, AQ Principal The Nuccitelli Brothers ‘90, ‘92, ‘99 NYRA Trophies and Awards The Paint Doctors Ralph Myrthil ‘86 Sean Patton '84 Dr. Timothy Randolph '98 Regional Distributors, inc. The Schwab Boys ‘63, ‘83, ‘87, ‘87, 90, ‘94, ‘96, ‘18, ‘18 Christie Simonetti Scholarship Fund The Stonehouse Sisters '96 & '97 Tricom Communications James Crary ‘76 Villa of Hope WCI Realty / The Rick Borelli Team Richard Borelli P’17 Western NY Produce Richard & Teckla Bohme P’17 & ‘20 Driving Range Sponsor Zenger Group Putting & Chipping Green Sponsor Brown & Brown Insurance Jason Mull ‘93 The Daley Family Alumni Events 18 AQUINAS LANDMARK | WINTER 2024
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