May Alumni Newsletter

 

Xavier graduated 182 at its 56th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 21. A few highlights from that and the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday evening, May 20. Two members of the 2022 graduating class were twins Benjamin and Michael Pitruzzello; they were the fourth Pitruzzello brothers to come here. Their father Carl is the Class of 1986. Xavier presented an award to the 19 alumni fathers, grandfathers, and guardians of Saturday’s graduating seniors. They each received a special engraved medal. Pitruzzello was one. So, too, was Hans Fjellman, Class of 1967, whose grandson Matthew Stevens is in the Class of 2022. That drew a loud roar from the crowd. As did the recognition of Brother Thomas Ryan, C.F.X., for his 25 years at Xavier, and all the major award winners.

 

Valedictorian: Aidan Higgins of Rockfall, who will attend Harvard and major in English Literature.

Salutatorian: Matthew O’Connor of Cromwell, who will attend UConn as the recipient of the STEM Presidential Scholarship to study Actuarial Science. 

Loyalty & Service Award: Mitchell Wollen of Wallingford, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Falcon Achievement Award: Drew Kron of Hebron, who will attend UConn as a Division I scholarship baseball player. 

Principal's Academic Achievement Award: Dylan Misenti. He will attend Bryant University and is the son of Jeff Misenti, Class of 1986. This was awarded at the close of the Baccalaureate Mass.

A few numbers from graduation:

$2.2 million: What the Class of '22 earned in scholarships next year.

$8.5 million: What the Class of '22 earned over the next four years.

25: Number of students attending UConn

2: Number of students going to both Harvard and Yale. Also, number of students going to a military academy (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy).

Alumni President's Message

Congratulations to the class of 2022 and welcome to the Alumni Association!  Your Alumni Association is developing our schedule for next year, including a volunteer sign-up to facilitate your opportunity to be involved next year. If you would like to be involved, we will make room for you at an event or on a committee to help drive the engagement of your Xavier Alumni Community. On behalf of the Alumni Association, have a safe and blessed summer. Should you need anything, you are always welcome to connect with us through our alumni email.

Alumni Association President Brian Farrell '86

[email protected]

College Networking

The 2022 graduates received lists from the previous three graduating classes so that when they get to their particular college they can network with other Xavier grads attending the same school. If you'd like to network with those from your college, please let us know what college you attended or are attending, and your email address.

Brian O’Neill ’74 worked for Pfizer for 35 years as a medicinal chemist before retiring five years ago, and now he consults for smaller companies.

David Boraks '77 is a climate reporter the National Public Radio affiliate WFAE in Charlotte. 
Boraks also has worked for many newspapers, including the Middletown Press, Waterbury Republic-American, the Hartford Courant, and the Charlotte Observer.

Brian Devins '93 lives in Weston, Fla.. He is a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Dania Beach Station, Miami Sector. His previous stations were Yuma, AZ, and Nogales, AZ. "I was detailed to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Miami, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. I was also a Federal Air Marshall from 2002-2006." 

Nick Finnell '03 is Senior Manager, Sales Special Projects, for JA Solar USA, which sells solar panels.

Joe Perrelli '11 is a project manager for Martel Construction Inc., in Bozeman, MT. "My first project with this company was building a large lodge in Yellowstone National Park ... I had grizzly bears, elk, moose, deer, bison, etc., outside my cabin most days!"

Gavin O’Connell '18 graduated May 22 Magna Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a double major in International Relations and French. Gavin was also recognized before graduation with an Academic Excellence Award, which is presented each year to fewer than 80 graduating seniors who have proven to be exceptional students. These students have been selected by their respective departments as the most outstanding in their chosen fields. Gavin plans to complete his post-graduate studies at URI to obtain an MA in International Relations with a concentration in Diplomacy and Statecraft.

Colby Dahl ‘21 earned his private pilot’s license and is continuing his education at Liberty University toward a degree in Aeronautics. He was recently inducted into the Tao Sigma Honor Society.

Sam Baker '21 received the Joseph E. Sheerin Merit Prize in the Study of Classical Languages and Literatures as Assumption University honored 84 students with academic awards at the annual spring Honors Convocation on April 11. 

Steven Berry '83 and his wife Suzanne, Mercy '83, celebrated their 25th anniversary.

Tim Boyle QB/WR One-Day Camp June 25

The Tim Boyle QB/WR one-day camp will be held at Xavier on June 25 from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The costs is $60; the camp is open to those in grades 5-12. A T-shirt is included in the fee. Boyle is the former Xavier quarterback now playing for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League. Register here.

Class of 1972 50th Reunion

To register for the Class of 1972 50th reunion, click here.

Around The Campus

• New lights will be installed in the chapel in June.
• On Thursday night, April 28, Xavier held its Academic Achievement Night in which more than 70 awards were handed out. The master of ceremonies was National Honor Society President Selorm Dogbey '22, an example of a Xaveir student who has melded athletics, extracurriculars and academics seamlessly. Principal Brendan Donohue told those students gathered: "The fact that you are here tonight means that God has given you a great gift. With that gift comes the responsibility to use it wisely. Congratulations to all of you, and keep using your gifts to make yourself and the world a better place."
• Noah Howell '22 earned Eagle Scout status. His Eagle Scout project was raising funds, planning, and constructing improvements to the East Hampton Food Bank vegetable garden, which is maintained by the Belltown Gardening Club. The food bank helps those in need in East Hampton.
• The EJK Car Show, which benefits the Eric J. Kalber Scholarship Fund, once again attracted cars of all makes and years as the front parking lot was filled on May 8. The event honors the memory of  Kalber '04, who was killed in an automobile accident in 2005. There were some real classics at the show, even one that is closing in on being 100 years old, a 1925 Ford dump truck. Then, to name just a few more, a 1965 red Pontiac GTO, a ‘49 Chevy, a ‘33 Plymouth Coup, a 2007 Ford Roush Mustang, a 2013 Chevy Corvette 60th anniversary, and a 1987 Jaguar XJS. The show raised about $3,700 for the scholarship fund.
• Sophomore Kyle Levesque received the first Joseph W. Morelli '02 Memorial Scholarship for excellence on the Xavier wrestling team. Joe was an outstanding wrestler who died from a rare form of cancer in 2018. A Facebook page can be found here.

What's New With You?

We are interested in any and all news of our alumni, from milestones to personal and career achievements. You can email [email protected] with alumni news.

In Memoriam

Gerald J. Harvey, father of  former Xavier Principal Brother Lawrence Harvey, C.F.X.: For Gerald's obituary please click here.

John P. Bozzi Jr, Class of 1967: For John's obituary please click here.  

A Few Reminders