preston echoes - Preston High School

Preston Echoes
. . . Revisited
A publication for alumnae, parents, and friends of Preston High School Spring 2010
Alumnae Reunion Unites Women Across America
Over 200 alumnae and former
faculty came from near and far to
converge at Preston High School
on March 27 for the 2010 Alumnae
Reunion. Alumnae first joined in a
liturgical celebration with Reverend
Paul Ruwe of St. Benedict’s
Church. Afterwards, additional
alumnae joined the celebration
with a formal welcome ceremony
led by Jane Grendell, principal,
and Peggy Sobier ’63, Director of
Advancement, who updated alums
on life at Preston in 2010.
attributed much of the participation
to Facebook where alumnae are
able to reach out to long lost friends
and encourage fellow classmates to
return to Preston for the occasion.
Alumnae from all over America
joined together in the celebration.
Women came from as far as
California, Maine, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah,
Florida, Texas, New Hampshire,
Nevada, Massachusetts, Ohio,
Maryland, and Hawaii.
Classes that were celebrating
anniversaries included
’55, ’60, ’65, ’70,
’75, ’80, ’85, ’90,
’95, ’00, and ’05.
The reunion ended
with a luncheon with
alumnae reminiscing
and looking over
old yearbooks and
scrapbooks. The classes
of ’70 and ’75 boasted
large turnouts and they
Alumnae Service Award
The 2010 Alumnae Service
Award was presented to
Zandra Coles-Lightbourne
’65. This generous lady is
always ready, willing and
able to do whatever she can
to help the school and truly
exemplifies the Preston
spirit.
Photo: (L-R) Peggy Sobier, Zandra, Sr. M Carmella,
Zandra’s daughter, Iolani Lightbourne ’04, and
Zandra’s mother, Ruby Coles.
A Note From the Principal
Dear Alumnae,
Jane Grendell,
Principal
It’s hard to believe that we’re three-quarters of the way through another school year already. It
doesn’t seem so long ago that we were welcoming the Class of 2013 and now we’re preparing
to bid farewell to the Class of 2010! As you can see from the articles in this Newsletter,
Preston has been full of life over the past several months. In late March, over 200 alumnae
came back to Preston for our annual Reunion. It was a real pleasure to welcome “home” so
many of you and to hear stories about your Preston adventures and life since then.
As I write this, representatives from IBM are here to conduct their annual “Women in Science and Engineering
Day” for freshmen. They are presenting a workshop on “The Sweet Science of Chocolate & Rain Forest Walkway”
in individual classrooms, followed by a presentation to the whole class that gives students a sense of the vast array
of career opportunities available in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Day
concludes with an informal “meet and greet” in the school library to which students from Grades 9-12 with a
strong interest in pursuing STEM-related careers are invited. We’re certainly grateful to the folks from IBM for
joining us in our efforts to promote non-traditional career choices for our young women students.
Our National Honor Society recently inducted the Sophomores and Juniors who were selected for membership in
this prestigious organization at a school-wide assembly. (Senior members were inducted in a separate ceremony
last December.) Guest speaker at this event was alumna Tracy McSwiggin Attis (’91) whose address related to the
ceremony’s theme of “Crossing the Bridge of Adversity: Diving into New Waters.”
During our recent Easter break our intrepid student adventurers, under the stewardship of Señora Ana Varela who
chairs our foreign language department, traveled to Spain and Portugal.
Graduation this year will occur on Saturday, June 5th, at 2:30 PM. Recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumna
award is Frances Maturo ’64, Executive Director of ADAPP (Archdiocesan Drug Abuse Prevention Program),
who will address the graduates and their families and friends.
The Sisters of the Divine Compassion will mark the 125th anniversary of their founding by Mary Caroline Dannat
Starr (later Mother Mary Veronica) and Msgr. Thomas Preston with a year-long series of events. First will be
Founders and Family Day on Sunday, June 27th, celebrated on the campus of Our Lady of Good Counsel in White
Plains. The day begins with an outdoor Mass at Noon, followed by a picnic lunch, music and games for children.
All are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.divinecompassion.org.
Best wishes,
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Panther Homecoming
Class of 1955
Class of 1960
Class of 1970
Class of 1980
Class of 1985
Class of 1965
Class of 1975
Class of 1990
LOVE at First Sight
Class of 2000
SAVE THE DATE
for the 2011 Alumnae Reunion
(celebrating the Class of ‘51, ‘56, ‘61, ‘66,
‘71, ‘76, ‘81, ‘86, ‘91, ‘96, 01, ‘06)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Bob and Dorothy Sparaci Ferguson at the 1960 Senior Prom (left) and
at Dorothy’s 50th Reunion this year (right) after 48 years of marriage.
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Panther News
College Alumnae Breakfast
Reunites Students from Past
Four Graduating Classes
Calling All Golfers!
Westchester Bank
presents
The Preston High School
2nd Annual
Golf Classic
at Pelham Bay/Split Rock Golf Course
Friday, May 7, 2010
In addition to the Alumnae Reunion
held on March 27th, Preston hosted
their Annual College Alumnae Brunch
to celebrate graduates from the Classes
of ‘09, ‘08, ‘07, and ‘06.
Over 200 young women gathered
in Preston’s gym on January 9th to
reconnect with former classmates
and to share their post-graduation
experiences with Preston’s current
senior class.
7:00am Registration and hot buffet breakfast
8:00am Shotgun Start
1:00pm Awards Luncheon with Open Bar
Please contact Mary-Kate at 718-863-9134 x143 or e-mail
mboland@prestonhs.org for more information.
Tell Us Your News...
Email: mboland@prestonhs.org
May They Rest in Peace
Suzanne Bigone Timper ’70
Margaret Wukich ‘52
Artemis Makas ’07
Laura Panattieri Dougherty ’75, sister of Dona Panattieri Frank ’77
Sr. Patricia Graham, RDC ’56, sister of Ellen Horey-Thiede ’53, Joan Graham
Fleischacker ’61, and Catherine Graham Schoenberg ’68
Jane McGee ‘69, sister of Antoinette McGee ‘66, sister-in-law of Eileen Schelorke McGee, MD ‘71
and daughter of the late Betty McGee, longtime secretary at PHS
Mary Taylor, mother of Joanne Taylor ’70; Gilbert Sers, father of Tina Sers Gandolfo ’70; Patricia Caringi,
mother of Preston History teacher, Julie Ristich; Marion Dziuma Bollerman, grandmother of Alex ’03,
Erica ’04, and Katie ’08 Dziuma and mother-in-law of Fran Zodl Dziuma ’70; Edward Geideman, father
of Keri Geideman DeFillipi `94 and Susan Geideman Klimowich `92 and uncle of Jen Geideman `00;
John P. O’Connell, grandfather of Kelly Hughes ’06 and Ann Byrne ’11; Joel W. Attis, father of Jenny
Attis Roff ’01, father in law of Tracey McSwigin Attis ’91, and brother-in-law of Caroline McDermid Attis
’63; Michael Walsh, father of Francine Walsh ’81 and Christine Walsh Economos ‘81; Theresa King,
mother of Marie King ‘75; Joan Florio, mother of MaryLynn Florio Ventola ’60; Patricia Walsh, mother
of Patricia Walsh Valonis ’73, Diane Walsh O’Neil ’74, Mary Walsh Anban ’75, and Lorraine Walsh ’78;
Kevin O’Neil, husband of Diane Walsh O’Neil ’74; Edward Bowles, grandfather of Julia Wall, Preston
Admissions Director; John P. Squitieri, father of Rose Squitieri Ciminera ’77 and Angela Squitieri Lichti
’80; Tommy Kelly, brother of Sr. Anne Kelly, RDC ’54.
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What’s New?
1950’s
Ann Kane Richards’55 and her husband, Jim, celebrated their 50th anniversary in Florida on September 26,
2009. Lillian Tocci Candreva ’56
became a grandmother for the third
time when her daughter, Debra, and
son-in-law, Erick Barns welcomed Dylan on January 13, 2010.
1960’s
Barbara Gallichio Litrell ’61 has
won a seat on the City Council of Sedona, Arizona where she lives; Diane
Gilcher Cunningham ’65 recently
retired as an Obstetric Registered
Nurse.
1970’s
Nancy Martucci Weihe ’70 has five
children and four grandchildren and
her husband recently retired from the
NYPD as a sergeant; Laura Cardali
Labella ’70 will have a new son-inlaw next summer as her daughter,
Elizabeth, recently became engaged;
Members of the Class of 1978 met at
the Wicked Wolf in Throggs Neck for a
mini reunion in December of 2009 (as
pictured in photo below from L-R) Top
row: Ruth Evers, Rose Marie Santora Darrigo, Laura Nardi, Lisa
Sauro Nulty, Patricia Fournier,
Arleen Phelan McManus, Toniann Nastasi, Marie O’Neill, Bottom row: Noreen Donovan, Chrysantha Cicalo, Eileen O’Hanlon
Story, Robin Fritz Sgueglia, and
Patricia Carroll Klumbach.
Alumnae News
1990’s
Victoria Smiles Police ‘95 and her
husband Dominick are proud to
announce
the
birth of their son,
Dominick Louis
(photo at right),
who entered the
world on October 16, 2009.
Dominick Louis is grandson to Marian Grimaldi Police ‘72 and nephew
to Marisa Police ‘97;
Melinda
Colon ’97 married
David Pantoja
on October 30,
2009 (photo at
right); Adriana
Occhicone ’97
is engaged to Michael Balzano;
Shannon Pisaniello Coscia’98 and
her husband, Michael, welcomed Natalie on October 19,
2009. Big sister,
Sophia, and big
brother, Charlie,
are very excited
(photo at right);
Members of the
Class of 1998
(Erin Mulligan
Williams, Tiffany Percan, Melissa Wagner, Jean
Zarnoch Kwartler, Danielle Visvader, Kimberly Reina, Amanda
Eugui, Erica Lanza-Gallo, Dana
Rinaldi-Pedatella, Sharon Hoffman, Kristina Caramele, Jaime
Roublick, Kathryn Baumann,
Maria Vidal, Stephanie Halloran,
Meliza Peña- all pictured below) met
1980’s
Maria Pignataro ’84 welcomed a
baby girl, Lily Rose, in November of
2009.
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for a mini reunion at Tosca’s in Throggs
Neck on March 5, 2010.
2000’s
Lauren Stoltze ’00 graduated from
Ross University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently a staff
Veterinarian for New York City Veterinary Specialists in Manhattan; Laura
Driscoll
Hendrie ’00
and her husband, Brian,
welcomed
a
baby boy, Dylan Brian, on
September 29,
2009 (photo
at right); Scott
& Jennie Attis Roff `01 welcomed Jules Roff on
September 9, 2009 in North Carolina.
Big sister Sadie is 2 years old; Melissa
Carrasquillo ’02 lives in Huntington Beach, CA where she owns her
own company, Status Seafood, and is
planning a December 2010 wedding
in South Africa with her fiancé, Jethro
Naude; Iolani Lightbourne ’04 will
participate in the Vancouver Marathon
to raise money for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society on May 2, 2010; Kelly
Lugo ’05 and Bill Brandt welcomed
a baby girl, Gabriella Brandt in 2009;
Sarah Cartagena ’05 married Kevin
Guzman on May 31, 2009; Christina
Murphy ’09 was inducted into Sigma
Alpha Lambda, the National Leadership and Honors Organization at Boston University.
Faculty & Staff
Preston English teacher, Kristin Sample, and her husband, C.K., welcomed
a baby boy, Jackson Patrick, on February 12, 2010; Preston Fine Arts teacher,
Kristin Horvath Larsen, and her
husband, Greg, welcomed a baby
boy, Trevor Ryan, on December 10,
2009; Ellen Gaughan Porcaro ’67,
long-time Preston Faculty member,
and her husband Bill welcomed
twin grandbabies on March 26,
2010. Blaise Christopher and Luke
William were born to their daughter, Lauren Porcaro Dormant and
her husband, Chris.
Panther Spirit
The Pajama Game
Mother-Daughter Luncheon
The Preston Players
proudly presented their
production
of
The
Pajama Game in early
February to enthusiastic
fans. The production
was directed by Stephen
Abel and produced
by Joseph De Bona,
both Preston English
teachers. A handful of
the performers had the
incredible opportunity
to learn from one of
Broadway’s finest as they
prepared for the musical.
Broadway’s own Randy
Skinner choreographed
two dance numbers for
the school production.
Athletic Panthers
Varsity Basketball
Tradition is alive at Preston High School as
students celebrated the bonds they share with
women in their lives, including their mothers,
aunts, grandmothers, and sisters, at Preston’s
annual Mother-Daughter Luncheon.
Over 220 guests attended the event, held in
late February at the Marina del Rey, which
included a buffet brunch, entertainment by
Entertainment & Sounds Unlimited, raffles,
and a rose ceremony honoring the Preston
Seniors and their female role models.
The Athletic Department finished up their winter seasons
with Varsity Basketball, JV Basketball, Freshman Basketball
and Varsity Swimming. The Step Team continues to practice
and perform at a variety of events and competitions and the
Cheerleading Team was a Finalist in the Bronx County CYO
competition.
JV Basketball
Swim
Step
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Freshman Basketball
Cheerleading
Around the Grounds
International Diversity Day at Preston
The Preston High School campus was buzzing with excitement
on Friday, March 5, when the school held an International
Diversity Day where the students and faculty celebrated the
various
nationalities
represented
at Preston
with food,
music and
dance. The
celebration
was
held
in honor of
P r e s t o n ’s
Founders
Day which,
in the past, has been celebrated by learning about the school’s
founders and the principles they stood for. This year Sr. Laura
Donovan, Dean of Students, along with the Student Council
and members of the Parents Association held a school-wide
celebration with the goal of teaching the student body about
new and different cultures, just as founders Monsignor Thomas
Preston and Mother Mary Veronica would have done in their
time to teach justice and peace.
Music in Our Schools
In the past few years, the instrumental program at
Preston has nearly tripled in size. There has also been
the development of new choirs and events focusing
on the musical talents of our students. On March 24
Joanna Fusco, Music teacher, organized a Music in
Our Schools celebration to celebrate what the National Association for Music Education has officially designated as “Music in Our Schools Month” in March.
Alumnae and members of the community were kind
enough to donate instruments and funds to purchase
new equipment that was utilized in the celebration.
The evening culminated in a variety of performances
from student-choreographed dance routines and singing duets and trios to performances by the Wind Ensemble, Step Team, Gospel Choir and newly formed
A Cappella Choir. The evening was a huge success!
Each student and faculty member designed a button for
themselves depicting the flag or flags of the countries where
they or their ancestors came from. The students brought in food
that was representative of their heritage and over forty countries
were represented; from Saint Lucia and Peru to Germany and
Greece. Students performed traditional Pilipino dances, Irish
dancing, Jamaican dancing and others.
Compassion is Contagious
The student club, Compassion
Connection, has continued to
spread their compassion to the
Preston community and beyond
during this academic year as they
organized multiple collection
drives including a holiday food
drive, weekly Food Fest Friday
collection drives to help feed
the hungry, shoe and coat drives,
and a holiday toy drive. Their
most recent accomplishment
was raising $1,850 to help send
a little girl from the Bronx,
Janaya, who has Hypoplastic
Left Heart Syndrome, to Disney
World through Make A Wish
Foundation. The club organized
a Dance Marathon to raise funds.
Over 75 students and faculty
members attended the event
where they hula hoped and
danced their way through the
evening while eating pizza and
cotton candy and also jumping in
a Bouncy Castle, all in the name
of Make a Wish Foundation.
PRESTON ECHOES...revisited.
A publication of the Office of School Advancement, Preston High School, 2780 Schurz Ave., Bronx, NY 10465
Director/Peggy Hearn Sobier ‘63, (718) 863-9134 x195, psobier@prestonhs.org
Associate/Mary-Kate Boland, (718) 863-9134 x143, mboland@prestonhs.org
We welcome your comments and suggestions. For more news, photos and events, log-on to www.prestonhs.org
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Preston High School
Office of Advancement
2780 Schurz Ave.
Bronx, NY 10465
www.prestonhs.org
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 5432
White Plains, NY
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Mentoring Opportunity for Alumnae: The Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) program and its incoming freshman
students are in urgent need of mentors for next year. The financial commitment to become a time sponsor is small, but
your impact could be enormous. If you are interested, in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Julia Wall
or Farrah Eaton in the Preston Admissions Department (718-863-9134 x132).
Mother’s Day Tribute
Acknowledgment Form
My commitment to Preston is stronger than ever!
That’s why I’m participating in the Mother’s Day Tribute and supporting the mission
with a contribution for educational development. I understand that this gift, along with
my cumulative support this year, will be acknowledged in Preston’s Annual Report.
Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift of:
$100 (Century Club level)
Maroon &
$50
White Circle
$35
$500
$________
Matching funds are available from my company. I’ve enclosed a form.
Mother’s Day is May 9th so please reply right away!
__________________________________ ______
My name (including maiden name if applicable) PHS Class
____________________________________________
Address
____________________________________________
City, State, Zip
Thank you for acknowledging my Mother’s Day honoree, designated below, at the Tribute
Mass, at Preston’s May Crowning ceremony and by mention in the PHS Annual Report.
____________________________________________ Living
Deceased
Name of Honoree
The honoree is/was my:
Mother
Daughter
Teacher
Friend
________________
To name an additional honoree, receive extra Tribute cards, or for questions about the
Mother’s Day/Father’s Day programs, please call Preston’s Advancement Office at
718-863-9134 x195 or email psobier@prestonhs.org.
Celebrate dad with a special PHS
FATHER’S DAY TRIBUTE
Here it is! A meaningful way to acknowledge dad’s role in instilling the strong,
loving values that govern the choices and
actions of our lives. We have once again
extended the Tribute Program to include
DAD. He’ll be proud and pleased – and
so will you.
*Your honoree will be individually
named at a special June liturgy at
Preston
*His name and yours will be noted
in the Father’s Day Scroll in the Annual Report
* A beautifully-designed Father’s Day Card, with appropriate sentiment and message, will
be sent to you right away so that
you can present it to Dad by
June 2oth.
Please pay tribute to:
_________________________
Name
living
deceased
__ I wish to make Dad’s donation
separately; send a contribution form
along with the greeting card.
__ My extra gift of $ _______ to
honor my father is included here.