Message From Our Alumni President
Welcome to spring; what happened to out like a lamb? Thank you to those who responded to the alumni survey as Xavier undertakes its strategic plan. Your feedback is critical as we support Xavier in delivering on its promise to make the best of each man. Your feedback demonstrated the importance of community, the call to support each other and the students, your interest in helping Xavier maintain its brand, and the importance of staying connected through communication about Xavier.
Thank you to Fran DelMastro ’97, who is contributing 10 percent of each bill for every alumni who dines at his Italian restaurant, Panizzo, in Rocky Hill. I have been there, and it is great for a family or for a date. Stay tuned for the state of the school provided by our Headmaster, Dave Eustis, in April; and Houli Day in May. Through the alumni survey, several folks offered to be involved with Alumni Association activities, and you can expect a call from the Alumni Association Resource Committee in response to your interest. For those who want to be involved, you are already invited, please email us.
Brian Farrell '86, Alumni Association President
[email protected]
Artie Kohs: One Of A Kind
We could go on and on. The tributes to Artie Kohs, who died Sunday, March 19, have been unending. As a coach, a teacher, an athletic director, a family man, a parishioner, a mentor, a friend, you name it. The school's first hire, first athletic director, first coach in multiple sports, impacted thousands of lives. Here are just a few of the hundreds of tributes from social media posts and stories.
"One of Artie’s great sayings was, 'There are two types of people in this world, givers and takers.' Art Kohs was a giver." Brother Lawrence Harvey, C.F.X., former Xavier Principal.
"Xavier has loss part of its soul." former Xavier football coach Larry McHugh, Artie's first hire.
"Mr. Xavier. Her ate, drank, and breathed XHS." Joseph Monarca, Class of 1967.
"A Xavier man through and through. He helped create the brand from day one." Xavier Headmaster Dave Eustis.
"His caring personality and laughter will echo in the gym for years to come.” Current Athletic Director Dan DeConti, Class of 2001.
“Artie was so very proud of his kids and grandchildren. He loved watching them play and coach." Former Athletic Director Tony Jaskot, Class of 1969.
"An irreplaceable man with an irreplaceable heart. He was a leader in the best sense of the word." Paul Tarbetsky, Class of 1970.
In honor of Kohs, the funeral procession drove through Xavier on March 24, the lead cars pausing in front of the school before proceeding. Xavier students, in single file, lined the sidewalks in a powerful tribute.
For the obituary please click here.
Middletown Sports Hall Of Fame
Rick Murray '85, a three-time .400 hitter in high school who played college baseball; Dave Pierson '68, who played soccer and baseball in high school before making his mark as an umpire; and former Giants tight end Will Tye are among those with ties to Xavier who will be inducted into the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame. Bernard Pacholski, uncle of the late Harold ray, a Xavier grad and former Xaverian Brother, and members of the 1968 American Legion Post 75 baseball team also are entering the Hall. The 27th induction dinner is April 24 at the Elks Club in Middletown with a social hour starting at noon followed by the 1 p.m. induction ceremony.
Tickets are $45 ($15 for children under 12) and can be obtained by contacting Johanna Bond at the Middlesex County Chamber (860-347-6924, [email protected] Tickets can be purchased through April 15.
Players with Xavier ties on that Post 75 team included Joe Jaskot ‘68, who won six games as a top pitcher; former Director of Guidance Rich Magner ‘69, who hit .359; and Scott Cichon ‘70, winning pitcher in the state title game who pitched in the Mets’ farm system. Others Xavier grads on that team included Mike McMahon ‘68, P.J. Daniels ‘69, Rich Riordan ‘69, and Joe McCabe ‘69.
Support Xavier At Panizzo Italian Restaurant
Xavier is proud to partner with Panizzo in Rocky Hill, owned and operated by Fran DelMastro, Class of 1979. Beginning Sunday, March 6, through the end of June, 10 percent of gross sales to any Xavier alumni, current Xavier family or family of Xavier alumni who mention the DINE TO DONATE program will be donated to Xavier. That includes dining in, taking out, delivery, or catering. Join us for terrific Italian Street Food at Panizzo and help support Xavier! Here is the outstanding MENU.
Around The Campus
Artists On Display: Seniors Christopher Beaudoin and Nicholas Cusano each had some of their artwork on display at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme as part of the Future Choices 2022 program. The juried art show awarded honorable mentions to Beaudoin for his works “On the Road” and “Faded Camera.”
Wollen West Point Bound: Mitchell Wollen '22 earned an appointment to West Point. Wollen will attend the U.S. Military Academy in the fall. "Serving my country is a great opportunity," Wollen said. “Another big factor was my uncle Joe. He was a brigadier general in the Army who recently passed away. He always had a big impact on me from a young age, and I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.” Wollen, who has led numerous service initiatives of his own accord, also is a talented swimmer.
Simko Headed To Air Force Academy: Lukas Simko '22 will attend the United States Air Force Academy. His father Stephen graduated from Xavier in 1991 and from the Air Force Academy in 1995. His mother, Colonel (Ret) Gigi Simko, graduated from the Air Force Academy. “I’ve never been able to picture myself going anywhere else for college."
2,450 Items Collected: Xavier students brought in 2,450 toiletries that will be distributed by St. Vincent De Paul. The Outreach Program at St. Sebastian Church in Middletown came up with the idea and enlisted Xavier to help in the month of March. The freshman class brought in the most items, 1,031.
Junior Retreat: Sixty juniors attended the Junior Retreat March 17-19 at the aptly named Wisdom House in Litchfield. It is yet another step on the way to becoming senior leaders.
SCC Scholar Leaders: Adam Chasse and Aidan Pesce are Xavier's SCC Scholar Leaders for the 2021-2022 school year. Chasse is a National Merit Commended student, and a member of six honor societies. He is a valued member of both the hockey and baseball programs. He was chosen as captain of this year’s hockey team. Pesce has a GPA above 4.00, is a member of six honor societies, editor of the school newspaper, part of the state championship Robotics and indoor track and field teams, and is captain of the sailing team.
Xavier Earns Multiple SCC Honors: Xavier had one SCC Player of the Year and four SCC Coaches of the Year in a highly successful winter season. Dylan Reynolds '22 was the SCC Division I Player of the Year in hockey. The Coaches of the Year from Xavier: Mike Cunningham (wrestling), Bill Evison (Division I swimming), Chris Stonier (boys indoor track), and Karl Sundquist (boys hockey).
Volleyball Recognition: Brady Higgins and Rory McCormack were selected for the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association Boys High School All-America Watch List.
Alumni Updates
Joe Witkowski '06 was an All-State baseball player at Xavier for coach Rich Magner, a three-time Big East champion at St. John’s, and a minor league player. Today he leads a band, Joey Wit and the Destination. He's headed to perform some shows in England in April before stops in Boston, New York and New Haven later in the month. For more on Witkowski’s music, click here.
Timothy Brough '15 received his B.S in Chemistry, with Merit, from the United States Naval Academy in 2020. He has since graduated from Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C., and has been assigned as a Naval Officer to serve on the Nuclear Ballistic Submarine USS Maine out of Bremerton, Wash. Separately, he earned his Wilderness EMT and Wilderness First Responder Certification from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Lander, WY, and spent two summers mountaineering and climbing Mt. Denali in Alaska.
Class of 1972 50th Reunion Dates Set
The 50th reunion for the Class of 1972 will be Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. More details to come, but the evening of Oct. 28 will involve getting together for food and drink and a Xavier football game. Stay tuned for more emails and visit the Class of 1972 Facebook page.
Remembering Our Xaverian Brothers
Brother John Baptist, C.F.X. (Francis A. Neylon). Born Oct. 7, 1917, Somerville, MA. Died March 17, 1998, Xaverian House, Danvers, MA.
Brother John Baptist spent 63 years as a Xaverian Brother, one of four long-serving religious educators in his family: Brother Joachim, Sister Anne Denise and Sister Catherine (Magdalen Joseph). Brother Baptist spent 20 years as a missionary in East Africa. It was there that he taught Ben Jipcho, who would go onto to win a sliver medal in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the 1972 Olympics. Jipcho visited Brother Baptist for a week in May 1973, using the Xavier track to train for a professional season in which he had 18 wins in 20 starts in the mile. Brother Baptist taught at several places in the U.S. beyond Xavier. In retirement he worked at community kitchens at various stops along the way. The Xaverian Menology concludes his bio by saying, “This man who delighted in baking Irish bread for the Brothers died at Xaverian House in Danvers on St. Patrick’s Day, 1998.”
In Memoriam
David Pasquale, Class of 1968: For his obituary please click here.
Wayne Little: For his obituary please click here.
A Few Reminders
If you are looking for general information and news on the school, go to xavierhighschool.org. If you are looking for sports news, please go to our athletic website, xavierfalcons.com.
Alumni newsletters are archived on our website, xavierhighschool.org, under the Alumni & Giving section.
If you're a published author, we'd like to hear about it. We have a number of books on our shelves from Xavier graduates, but would love to showcase more.
If you know of an alumni who is not getting the newsletter, please have them email [email protected] with their name, address, email address & phone number. You also can email [email protected] with alumni news.
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