Connecting the Dots with Shawn Young

In this edition of Connecting the Dots, we are changing the nature of the story a little bit. One of the things I truly enjoy about this job is working with the classes to help plan their reunions.  It is wonderful to run into so many people who share a passion for this school. Getting together to plan the reunions usually evolves into several meetings at various local establishments, where I have the pleasure of sitting in and listening to great conversations about the good old days. Whether the good old days are the 1950's, or 2005, the stories have all been great to hear, and I try to commit those to my memory, which by the way seems like it is getting harder every year.  So that gave me the idea for a new direction for the Connecting the Dots feature.  This school has a long rich history with lots a great events, and wonderful characters in this story. Before I was the Alumni Manager here at McNicholas, I taught history for 26 years, so I love hearing great stories, and trying to pass them on.  So from time to time, when I hear a great story I am going to pass it on.  I think it will be fascinating for all of us to learn a little history of Rocket High!
 
So this story starts off with the Class of 1962 as they are getting ready for their reunion this fall.  The class fell in love with the new Café and thought it would be a perfect place to hold their reunion.  In our conversations, I always try to learn more about the class and some of their classmates. While talking golf and sports with Dick Schuler '62 he mentioned Bill Sander '62 and asked if I had ever hear of him. The name sounded familiar to me, but I could not place the story. After hearing the story, I knew why the name sounded familiar. A few years ago, an alum stopped in and gave me on old football.  It is a game ball from 1960 and now sits in the library. The Rockets were playing a school called De Porres. In this game, Bill Sander set a school record by scoring 44 points, and of course, the Rockets won. Bill Sander went on to playing running back for The Ohio State Buckeyes. Not only was Bill a running back for Ohio State, but he led the Buckeyes in rushing and touchdowns his junior year.  

Bill, Will or Billy?

Now, we need to be clear about the name for a second, because it is about to change.  Billy was the name until about ten, but it was his mother's favorite. During his high school years, he was known as Bill, but to some of his high school friends he was known as Horse, but his mom was not fond of that one. After a loss to Woodward, Coach Gieser coined the name Pink Pony. In college Coach Woody Hayes always called him Will, and I guess you do not argue with Coach Hayes!  

Bill was known as the Pink Pony after a loss to Woodward thanks to Coach Gieser
Coloring provided by Rick McNally '62
Will had a successful career as a player and student at OSU. Here is what the football program in 1965 had to say:
 
"Will Sander, a senior from Cincinnati, was the workhorse in the Buckeye backfield last year, carrying 147 times for 626 yards and seven touchdowns.  He is very dependable and rarely makes a mistake.  Will is an honor student in engineering with a 3.73 average.  He attended McNicholas High School in Cincinnati, where he played full back and defensive end. He is one of the hardest workers on the squad. His best games last year were against S.M.U and U.S.C, when he gained 118 and 120 yards respectively. He was only caught one time for a loss in his 147 carries. He gives a full out effort each play."
 
After his education at McNicholas and Ohio State, Bill worked for General Electric and retired in 2002. After retirement he took up high school basketball officiating at age 50 and did that for twenty more years,until a heart attack to take him off of the court. He has raised four children, and is PaPa to seven grandchildren.  
"In retirement I attempted to resurrect a moribund and almost non-existent golf game and failed, Bill said. "I spend spare time now cursing the relentless advance of terminal CRS syndrome and devastation of 'Hereafter' affliction."  Thank you Billy/Bill/Will for sharing your story with us!

To see all of Bill's rushing records at McNicholas please click here.

 
If you are getting together with your class for lunches or dinners, maybe you have a tradition that your Rocket friends have been doing for a while, or maybe like Will, you a have a classmate that the rest of us should get to know, I would love to come out and put you in the next newsletter. Just give me a call at 513-231-3500 X 5850 or email me by  clicking her e .
 
McNicholas High School announces Alumni Awards Recipients

Archbishop McNicholas High School is pleased to announce the recipients for our alumni awards. In conjunction with the establishment of these awards, McNicholas is also pleased to announce a special event on October 9, 2017, in the Café and Student Union where these new awards will be presented. (Archbishop McNicholas was ordained a Dominican priest on October 10, 1901.) The following day, October 10, the recipients will be introduced to the  students at an all-school assembly.
 
Selection
The McNicholas community had the opportunity to nominate for this award.  All three awards were selected by a committee of school representatives.   Thank you for all of the nominations. All nominations received will be eligible next year.  If you would like to nominate someone for next year, please click here.

Awards

The Full Stature Special Achievement Award is presented to an alumni who exemplifies the ideals and mission of Archbishop McNicholas High School and the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is presented to an individual in recognition of his or her accomplishments which bring honor to self and school and whose service, leadership, and concern for McNicholas support, strengthen, and exemplify the school's mission. This award is bestowed as a lifetime recognition and will not necessarily be presented annually. This years recipient is  Jeff Osterfeld '78.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to one male and one female McNicholas graduate  who have honored Archbishop McNicholas High School by their outstanding professional achievements, volunteer activities, and community-organization advocacy. These alumni have shared their affection for McNicholas and its community and have been shining e xamples of high moral and ethical standards and values learned at Archbishop McNicholas High School.This years recipients are  Mike Clark '84 and  Anna Michael Herbert '00

 
The Archbishop McNicholas Outstanding Service Award  is  presented to a member of the McNicholas community who has made, through years of tireless effort, significant contributions of time, talent, and treasure to the growth of Archbishop McNicholas High School. This years recipient is  Sr. Judi Keehnen '59.

Calling all Rockets!
 
Hearing on Penn Station Stadium lights set for July 26 

The City of Cincinnati has set the hearing date for Archbishop McNicholas High School's request for a conditional variance for lights for the stadium. McNicholas needs as many supporters as possible to attend this meeting at the Hearing Examiners office downtown. This will be important for our ability to succeed with our initiative.
Hearing Date: Wednesday, July 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Hearing Location: 805 Central Avenue, Suite 500, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Reference Request: Archbishop McNicholas High School requests conditional use approval to construct lighting at the stadium on the property, variances from height regulations to construct the associated light poles, and any other related relief required under the Zoning Code.
Once at the building and suite, please check in by signing in. Attendees will be instructed which room the hearing will be held. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure enough time for the check-in process as it could get crowded. The hearing will start promptly at 1:30 p.m.

A note from the Director of Development

Thank You For a Great Year

Speaking for the entire Administrative Team at McNicholas High School, I would like to express a giant "thank you" to the alumni of Archbishop McNicholas High School for an outstanding 2016-2017 school year. Your deep love for our school was evident in the time, talent, and treasure you gifted this year. I am sure we set records in all these areas. We saw your time and talent contributions every day at school with the volunteer work you provided to us on various committees reunions and projects. We could not have accomplished many of these tasks without your help.

As far as treasure, it was a record year for the Annual Fund at McNicholas High School with a 42% increase over the 2015-2016 school year. Our alumni represent 75% of our Annual Fund donors, so you can see the impact you had on our tremendous increase. Our biggest increase in the Annual Fund this year was in the area of Tuition Assistance, which is very key for us in our goal of being able to assist as many young men and women as possible to have a quality faith-based McNicholas education. Our alumni also contributed over $13,000 to the Alumni Scholarship Fund which is used to grant scholarships to sons and daughters, or grandsons and granddaughters of Alumni. Our alumni attendance at "McNick at Night" also had a great increase this year.

So thanks to all of you for supporting us at McNicholas. We have already started working on some exciting new things for the upcoming year. 
Have a great summer.
Mark Doran
Director of Development

Alumni football golf outing in July


The football program will be hosting the Alumni and Friends Golf Outing  at Vineyards Golf Course this year, on Saturday, July 29. The cost is $75 for a day of golf and fellowship. This will be a 2 p.m. shotgun start; please arrive around 1 p.m. to register.  If you are able to join us for dinner only, that cost is $25. For more information about this event, or to sign up  please click  on this link  or you email   Steve Rice  or call Steve at 513-910-2750.


McNicholas Athletic Hall of Fame

The McNicholas community is asked to nominate former athletes and coaches for a variety of recognitions:.
  • Hall of Fame - induction of former athletes for outstanding achievement in their high school athletic endeavors
  • Good Fellow Award - for outstanding support of McNicholas athletics
  • Honored Teams - to be recognized at the annual sports evenings for team accomplishments
  • Sr. Roberta Baumgartner Women's Sports Award - for outstanding dedication to the development of competitive sports for women
Criteria for Nomination to the McNicholas Hall of Fame
  • The athlete must have graduated from McNicholas at least five years prior.
  • The athlete must have demonstrated the highest standard of sportsmanship during his/her years of athletic participation while at McNicholas.
  • The athlete must have excelled in athletics during his/her years of athletic participation at McNicholas, ie. all-league, all-city, all-state recognition.
  • McNicholas accepts nominations of former coaches and administrators. Nominees must have served McNicholas athletics for a minimum of 10 years and must be inactive for at least 3 years prior to induction.
  • Collegiate or adult athletic participation is not a primary part of the criteria for selection.
It is preferred that nominations come from the community rather than the selection committee members. An individual making a nomination is asked to provide an address and phone number in case additional information supporting the nomination is required. No anonymous nominations will be accepted.  Deadline for nominations is September 1 of the year prior to the event.  Click here to submit a nomination electronically.

Click here to download the Hall of Fame  Nomination Form and submit to:
Rob Heise, Director of Athletics Archbishop McNicholas High School 6536 Beechmont Avenue Cincinnati, OH  45230

Girls Night Out-Friday, July 28

The Annual Girls Night Out will be held Friday, July 28 from 7 to 10 pm in the McNicholas Courtyard.  Come mix and mingle with other McNicholas moms, alums and friend.  Enjoy appetizers, beer, wine or pop and amazing raffles and games!  Frozen margaritas also available.  FREE gift with pre-registration by July 21 .  Must be 21 to join us!  Proceeds from the event benefit the football program, but all moms and friends are invited to come have fun!  Register at
http://bidpal.net/gno2107
Reunions for 2017

Class of 2002 at the 15 year reunion

The reunion season has begun!  The Classes of 1997 and 2002 have already held their reunions. All others are in the planning stages. You can click on the link here to see where your class is in the planning process. 
Alumni Updates

Any news?
Do you have news to share? Let us know what you've been doing since graduation! Update your information by completing our  alumni update form   on the McNicholas webpage or call the Alumni Office at 513.231.3500. ext. 5850.

Karen Loaring Razo '74 is celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary on July 25 with David Razo. He is the Maintenance Engineering Supervisor at WKRC-TV for the past 35 years. She is also celebrating 21 years with DeanHouston, Inc. (advertising/marketing) this year as Office Manager.

Mary Heitker Deming '84 welcomed her second grandchild, granddaughter Elizabeth Ann on June 14.

Anne Ewers Libby, '85, is working at the University of Colorado medical school in Aurora, CO. She's a tenured full professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine.  Dan Libby '85 , is the Director of Field Operations for an engineering consulting firm in Denver. Their daughter Kate (18) is attending Creighton University in the fall. Son Joe (16) is a junior at Mullen Catholic HS in Denver.

Cory Deming '08 is presently a pilot for Delta Private Jets. He was recently promoted to Captain of their Excel fleet.
In Memoriam

This list is generated from local obituaries and information received from the family and friends of our alumni and current students. Please contact the alumni office  if there is incorrect or missing information. 

Alumni

Beth Ann Roll Cremerin '54; Sister of the late Mary Roll Zistler '50.

James J. Steigerwald '60; Father of Beth Steigerwald Sammons '89, Karin Steigerwald Leaton '92, John '96, Julie Steigerwald Leppla '00, Eric (attended), Brother of Richard '62, Gayle '65, and Dan '76. 

Sharon Thien Latham '65; Mother of Tim '95, Brother of Carol Thien Fellers '67, and Edward (attended).

Karen Krome Eberly '68; Sister of Jeanine Krome Schmolt '69.

Patrick F. Doyle '72; Brother of the late Joseph '66, Terry '68, Kathleen Doyle Lach '75, Daniel Doyle '79, uncle of Heather Doyle Ferris '93, Bridget Doyle Kent '96, Thomas Lach '02, Julia Lach McNeal '04, Tim Lach '06, and Emilie Doyle '09. 

Rosemary Norris Holland '73; Sister of Donna Norris Glaser '66, and Dale '68,


Distinguished Family and Friends

Evelyn M. Meier; Mother of Carole Meier Phifer '60.

Margaret M. Tingley; Mother of Hank '66, Sharyn Tingley Walker '67, mother-in-law of Marlene Bauman Tingley '68.

Marilyn J. Wirthlin; Mother of Debbie Wirthlin Carter '71, Greg '72, and Dale (attended).
Quick Links for Alumni