Homecoming Weekend is coming up

We would love to see you back on campus the weekend of Sept. 20 and 21. 

On Friday night Sept. 20 under the lights, the Rockets will be taking on Purcell Marian at 7 p.m. at the Penn.  You can join other Rocket fans by the Rocket Pavilion in the Paradise parking lot for tailgating beginning at 5 p.m.  Plenty of food will be available with the LaRosa's Food Truck, Kona Ice, and the best grill in the land at the McNick concession stand located inside the stadium. 

To get the best spot for all of the fun - b uy your VIP Parking and get up close to all the action in the Paradise lot.  $20 gets you close to the entrance gate, and right in the middle of the tailgate area.
Click here to buy your VIP spot:  https://mcnhs.weshareonline.org/2019homecoming

Also this year, the Athletic Boosters are holding a  Golf Ball Drop. This will be happening right before kick-off on the baseball field.  Buy your $10 chance to win the Golf Ball Drop  and y ou could win $700, $200, or $100 if your ball lands closest to the target. There are only 300 chances available so buy yours today.
Funds raised go to the McNick Athletic Boosters to help fund our athletic teams needs. 
Click here to purchase chances:  https://mcnhs.weshareonline.org/2019homecoming


On Saturday, September 21, the  Boosters will once again be hosting the annual golf outing at Legendary Run Golf Course.  Registration, lunch, and driving range open at 11:30 a.m. A shotgun start will begin at 1:30 p.m.  Dinner, awards, and auction begin at 6 p.m.  Cost of this event is $125. Please contact Susan Rohlfs at 513-231-3500 x 5142 for more information. 

To print off a registration form click here.

To pay register and pay online click here


Call your friends and come up for the fun all weekend long. 

ROCKETOBERFEST - planned for Oct. 5

Please mark your calendar now and plan on joining us for the first ever Rocketoberfest from 4 - 9 p.m. in the Courtyard on October 5. We will have a variety of local craft brewers represented with many of their beer flavors available to sample. Food trucks will be available as well.  The price for admission is $20 and includes admission, one 14 oz. pour, and 4 -4 oz tastings. There will also be a VIP ticket for $30 which includes, plus 2 additional tastings, access to the event an hour early for VIP members only, and a lounge area inside the school. To purchase tickets please click here. 

Make a difference, and join the McNicholas High School "Explore" Program.

We're looking for alumni speakers/volunteers, to visit with students in the classroom, to share and provide real-world, or hands-on learning experiences, including career advice, skills or passion/hobbies.
The "Explore" sessions are scheduled on Thursdays, on the following dates:

September 12, 19, 26
October 3
November 7 
December 5
January 9, 16, 23
February 6, 13, 20
March 5, 26
April 2, 23
May 7
All sessions begin at 1:15 p.m. and end at 2:10 p.m
For more information, please contact Patti Benigni Dold '71, at padold@aol.com .

Alumni Bowling rolling into its 6th year

The McNicholas Alumni Association will be running a mixed-couples bowling league again this winter.  This mixed-couples league will begin on September 14.  We will be bowling the second Saturday of each month at Cherry Grove Lanes. The arrival time is 8 p.m.,and we usually start bowling around 8:30 p.m. We bowl 2 games per night.  The cost is $95 per person, or $380 for a team of four for a total of 8 weeks of bowling. Currently we have 44 people in the league.  Cherry Grove Lanes has allowed us to expand this year up to 56 bowlers, so we are looking for 12 more people. Sign-ups will end September 1 or when all spots are filled.  If you cannot get a foursome, we might able to pair you up! 
 
If you are interested, please contact Alumni Manager, Shawn Young at 231-3500 ext. 5850 or email  prior to paying, just to make sure spots are still available.  To pay online please click here. 
 
You do not need to be an expert bowler-I am proof of that! This is about getting out and having some fun this winter.

Rocket trip to Keeneland

The McNicholas Alumni Association is hosting the fifth annual bus trip to Keeneland. The trip will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2019.  The bus will leave McNicholas at 9:00 a.m. and return after the last race.  The cost for this event is only $45 per person, or $60 if you want a seat in the grandstand. This package includes the bus ride to and from Lexington, tickets to the races, light appetizers, and beverages for the ride!  Once there, we will set up a tailgate area as well.  

This year I have reserved 2 buses, and have ordered 100 tickets. So clear your calendars, and start talking it up with your friends.  For tickets you can either send in a check to McNicholas High School Attn:  Shawn Young 6536 Beechmont Ave. 45230 or you can pay online by clicking here.


Alumni gather to help at Joseph House

On Saturday, August 10, members of two alumni groups
 (the St. Nick and Veterans Memorial crews)
 worked together to host a cookout for a group of 35+ veterans who are in a drug and alcohol rehab program and live at The Joseph House in Over-the-Rhine. There was a mountain of food...burgers, metts, brats, potato salad, baked beans, mac and cheese,  chips, watermelon, brownies and pie. Everyone had their fill and the leftovers were divvied up to enjoy again later. We were under the impression that this was a feast compared to the food that the guests are served on a regular basis.

It was a perfect day to grill out, visit, and encourage a group of veterans who have fallen on tough times but are working hard to overcome. We hope to get the chance to visit with them again. 
Alumni Association announces first Craft Fair

Calling all alumni who do crafts! Please save Saturday, November 9, for the first McNicholas Craft fair. We would like to know how many of you would like to participate. The McNicholas Alumni Board believes that there are enough alumni, parents, students, and friends of McNicholas who are talented crafters that we could fill the Café and more! All items must be handmade or handcrafted. We do not accept vendors. If you are interested, the pricing structure will be: 8' X 8' space will be $30.00 by Nov. 1, 2019; 8' X 10' space will be $35.00 by Nov. 1, 2019; After Nov. 1 all spaces will be $40.00

Each crafter is required to donate one craft item per space (minimum value $15.00) to be raffled off with proceeds going to McNicholas. All other money is yours to keep. We would love to see many of you get involved with the craft show and see all of the beautiful and unique items you will be selling. If you have any questions, please contact Sister Judi Keehnen. In your message please include your name, year of graduation (if applicable) and the craft/s you will be selling.

To reserve a space on line - Click here.

Reunions for 2019 rolling

If your graduation year ends in a 4 or 9, you are up for a reunion in 2019. The Class of '99 celebrated their reunion last weekend! The Class of '69 will celebrate its 50th reunion on September 27 and 28. Please check our website to see as new reunion dates are announced. 


Rocket Service Corner - S potlight on alumni making a difference

This is a new feature for the newsletter, and it is one that I hope catches on, and that you find helpful.  Many people contact me about publicizing about service/ fundraising opportunities that would be interesting to our alumni community.  We would like to focus on service that you and your Rocket friends have done, or help support you in your effort to spread the word about an upcoming event to the Rocket alumni community. You can send in your request for help, or your story to Bridget Kahermanes '66 prior to the first of the month.  Bridget is the chair of the alumni service committee. 



There are all kinds of ways of "paying it forward". This month, our spotlight is on Jane Spencer Pirman '65, and Betty, the Wonder Dog.

When Jane retired in 2011, she searched for a way to keep busy and do a little good in the world. She decided to take a job as an aide to special needs children in the Milford School District.  There, she worked with children with mental and physical disabilities. She LOVED it!!...but after the third year, realized that the physical part of the job was becoming too much and she found herself back at the 'what to do in retirement' drawing board. 

If you know Jane, you know she has a wonderful dog named Betty. Jane began exploring the therapy dog programs in the area. She realized she could do a lot of good with a therapy dog. So, in September 2015, Jane and Betty took the test to become a therapy team.  Betty was a natural and proved to be unshakable!  Amazingly, with no training, Betty tested with a perfect score!! Betty is a 130 pound Black Mouth Cur.  This is a breed used primarily for hunting. 'Ol Yeller was a Black Mouth Cur!  

Over the past four years, Betty and Jane have been busy. They have visited a shelter for abused girls in California, KY.  Betty worked her magic. Everyone of them melted when she was around. They would lay near her, or on her and just love on her. Some cried on her.  Betty never failed...she loved them all back!  

They have visited many schools and colleges for stress days.  At UC on one occasion, over 400 students waited in line for a chance to pet this big, lovable dog.  When Turpin High School experienced three suicides, Betty and Jane, along with other therapy teams, were called in to soothe the students.  At Turpin, over 1000 students passed through the gymnasium hugging, crying and seeking comfort from the therapy dogs.  

Two years ago, Betty and Jane re-tested for a special assignment. They began bi-weekly visits to the young patients at Cincinnati Shriner's Hospital for Children.  This was probably the toughest assignment for Betty and Jane.  Many children were burned head to toe.  She feels these were the hardest visits, but truly the most rewarding. They knew, that for that hour they visited these seriously injured children, they could help them to forget about the pain and just love on Betty!

One of Jane's special memories...Betty and Jane were called to visit a patient at Bethesda North Hospital who requested a large dog.  At 130 pounds, Betty is one of the largest therapy dogs in this area, so she more than fit the bill. They visited Mr. Jeff at Bethesda North, then at his nursing home and finally at hospice.  When he passed, his family requested Betty and Jane attend the funeral.  So, they traveled to Findlay, Ohio, for the family funeral. Jane thinks it's pretty rare when a dog, even a therapy dog, is asked to attend a funeral!
 
More recently Jane and Betty have participated in "Read to the Dog," programs in the public libraries and schools such as St. Veronica.  She was amazed how many shy children will read out loud to a dog and often pause to show pictures in the book to Betty!  During the school year, they make weekly visits to the special needs classes. The teachers and counselors tell us the therapy dog visits are the highlight of the school week for most of the kids.

Jane admits it takes a lot of time and effort to own and share a therapy pet, but she feels the rewards of bringing smiles to the faces of those in need is immeasurable and makes it all worthwhile. If you know of a need for a therapy dog visit, you can contact the agency Jane and Betty work through- 
THERAPY PETS OF GREATER CINCINNATI
SUSAN STEINHARDT, PRESIDENT
P O BOX 1392
WEST CHESTER OH 45069  
513-604-9108


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

Terry Doyle '68 has been coaching the girls varsity softball team for a total of  11  years. This year he selected as Coach of the Year in the GCL Coed Central Div.  The team regular season record was 17-4, 13-0 in the league.  The postseason record was 1-1. 

Christiane Hazzard '17 was featured on Cincy Lifestyle for her power lifting. To watch the episode click here. 

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

Mary Ann Riggs Huebschle '50;  Mother of John '77 and Patricia Huebschle Rohrkemper '82.

James E. Hornschemeier '54; Husband of Marilyn Monahan Hornschemeier '57, Father of Pamela Hornschemeier Ecker '77, Brother of the late Jane Hornschemeier Hirschauer '55.



Distinguished Family and Friends


Mike McDonald; son of Barrett McDonald '59 and Dianne Johnson McDonald '62 .

Glen A. Smith; Husband of Dorothy Dillman Smith '59, Father of Scott '81, Steve '83, Stacey '89. 


Quick Links for Alumni