Chaminade Family Personal Notes

Arthur O’Connor '54 and his wife of 58 years, Marcy, have moved to Bay Village of Sarasota, a Continuing Care Retirement Community.  They have lived in Sarasota since 1986. Art is a Co-founder and former President of the Chaminade Southwest Florida Alumni Chapter.

Chuck Mansfield ’62 and Tom Kiley ’62  have co-authored a new book (the sixth published book for Chuck Mansfield), THE PERFECT SEASON: The Untold Story of Chaminade High School’s First Undefeated and Untied Varsity Football Team. It is an inspirational story of how faith, persistence, desire, and brotherhood can make great things happen.

Chuck Mansfield ’62 and his wife, Mame, have co-authored a new book.  Kevin Courageous: A Journey of Faith, Hope and Love is the brainchild of the authors, who are Kevin’s paternal grandparents. They conceived of writing such a work in the wake of the tragic illness that befell their second grandson, Kevin Sean Mansfield, on February 23, 2018. One week after being stricken, Kevin, with his mother by his side and still in his hospital bed, opened his eyes and emerged from a coma. He could not yet speak or stand or walk or take care of any of his personal needs. Quite miraculously, Kevin resisted death and his family gives thanks to the Lord for sparing him and giving him renewed life.

Charles Ruff '66 has sold his orthodontist practice this past spring after practicing for 40 years and is now working part time. He is still teaching at the Harvard Department of Orthodontics also part time. He is looking forward to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with his wife, Rebecca, in November.

Robert Hussey ’67 was elected by the membership of the Mercedes Club of New York as the 2019 Member of the Year. Bob has been instrumental in the immense success of the “Great Marques Concours d’Elegance” car show, which has become the largest Concours Car Show in the northeast.

Richard (Dick) Kearns '68 and his wife Maureen (Mo) were honored at the 2020 Monsignor James McDonald Memorial Golf Outing on August 31, 2020, a fundraising event which is held annually to support St. Aidan School (Williston Park).

David Maloof ’76, an international attorney, human rights activist, and writer, had contacted the mayor of New York City, Hon. Bill de Blasio on May 28, 2021 to request that a parade be held to thank the essential workers who supported the city in its time of need during the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic. The mayor had agreed to arrange this parade and on July 7, 2021 2400 hero “essential workers” marched down Broadway in NYC in the city’s “Hometown Heroes” parade. Our hometown heroes were certainly recognized and applauded for all their efforts during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Joseph Castrigno '86 and Sherry Lynn Herr were married on April 18, 2020.

Paul Annunizato '87 is involved with several volunteer services, one of which is The Homeland Security Foundation. His focus was to expand its reach to the west coast. The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation West was sworn in on November 12, 2019, where Paul holds the seat of Vice Chair of the Federal. Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation.

Captain Mike Flatley ’89, USN, and Don Caetano ’89 had an impromptu reunion at the York College in Queens for the opening of a COVID-19 vaccination site on February 24, 2021.  CAPT Flatley serves as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for the Department of Defense at the site, while Caetano is the External Affairs Director for the regional office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Mike served on active duty from 1993-1999, has been in the Navy Reserve since 2002, and works for Pratt & Whitney in his civilian life.  Don has worked for FEMA since 2010 after retiring from a 20-year career in the United States Marine Corps.

Frank Scaturro ’90 and his wife, Kathleen, have adopted a beautiful baby boy, John Francis Scaturro (born June 30, 2021)

Sean O’Connell ‘92 published his first book,  Release the Snyder Cut.  This nonfiction book documents an historic Hollywood controversy about a lost Justice League film that fans had to fight to see. The film hits HBO MAX in March, 2021.

William Hussey '95 and his wife Moira welcomed their third child, Charlotte Grace, on November 10, 2019.

Kevin Flanagan '98 and his wife Jen welcomed their son, Declan Jeffrey, on July 16, 2020.

Michael Dolce '99 (CHS faculty) and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their daughter Molly Ann on October 8, 2020.

Peter Dubon ’99(CHS Faculty) and his wife, Erin, welcomed their son Matthew James on December 16, 2020

Ian Callery '00 and his wife Elise, welcomed their daughter, Madeleine, in March 2020.

Gregory Licalzi ’00  and his wife, Kim, welcomed their daughter Evelyn Carol on August 3, 2021

Andrew Corcoran '01 (CHS faculty) and his wife Amada welcomed their son, Bennett Thomas, on July 1, 2020.

Timothy Andre ’03 married Danielle Bastow on October 10, 2020

Stephen Loewenthal ’03 and his wife, Stefanie, welcomed their son Zachary Caleb on April 12, 2021

Thomas Scida ’03 and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their daughter Charlotte on April 12, 2021

Joseph Castiglie ’04 and his wife, Maria, welcomed their son Anthony Thomas on June 11, 2021

Sean Costigan '04 and his wife Michelle welcomed their son, Griffin Philip, in June 2019.

Vincent Jeffrey '04 (CHS faculty) and his wife Jessica welcomed their daughter, Caroline Mary, on July 16, 2020.

Patrick Kemp '04 (CHS faculty) and his wife Meaghan welcomed their son, Owen Thomas, on March 25, 2020.

Christopher Safrath '04 (CHS faculty) and his wife Michelle welcomed their daughter, Poppy Reese, on January 7, 2020.

Joseph Gambino ’06 and his wife, Ellie, welcomed their daughter Zoё Alexandra on September 14, 2020

Joseph Amorizzo '07 and his wife Casey welcomed their daughter, Isabella Carlene, on December 5, 2019.

John Ibarra ’07 and his wife Samantha welcomed their son John Brian on February 16, 2021

Kristopher Kalibat  ’07 and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their son Brooks Kristopher on April 21, 2021

Matthew Kelly '07 married Kimberly Brower on August 28, 2020.

Thomas Mansfield ’07 and his wife, Brea, welcomed their daughter Faith Marie on October 7, 2020

Kristofer Seibt ’07 has joined the West Point Department of History as an instructor. CPT Seibt earned an MA in European History , Politics, and Society from Columbia University, where his research focused on German colonialism in Africa during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. He commissioned through ROTC at Providence College, where he earned his BA I History with a minor in German. He has previously served in cavalry and military intelligence assignments in Germany and Hawaii.

Kevin Taylor ’07 and his wife, Alison, welcomed their daughter Blair Camilla on January 15, 2021

Patrick Tulley ’07 and his wife, Kelli Anne, welcomed their daughter Grace Kathleen on January 25, 2021

Kenneth Caccavale ’08 married Paula Fastuca on March 21, 2020

      Paula Fastuca and Ken Caccavale were supposed to have an almost 200-guest wedding in mid-March, but they had to postpone it because of the coronavirus. The couple decided to have a small wedding ceremony on the roof of their apartment building with their immediate family on the day they were supposed to get married. The couple's family set up a makeshift altar for them on the roof, and their neighbors cheered them on from other roofs and fire escapes while they said their vows.

Timothy Pond ’09 married Kaitlin LaCasse on October 10, 2020

Christopher Ambrosio '10 and Taylor Colleen Curley were married on October 4, 2019. In photo: Raymond Moylan '10, Andrew Napolitano '10, Joseph Guarino '97, Daniel Carter '10, Matthew Austin ’09,  David Portmore '10, Christopher Ambrosio '10, Matthew Ambrosio '16, Luke Bonomo '11, Gregory Gerner '10, Mr. Daniel Petruccio (Faculty), Michael Lagumina '10

Alex Cotton '10  graduated from the FDNY academy on February 12, 2020  with the distinction of being the Valedictorian of his class. He will serve his city as an FDNY EMT.

Frank Soler '10 married Gianina Alagia on May 7, 2021

John Felbinger '13 married Veronica Kelleher on December 27, 2019.

Oliver Roberts '14, a second year Harvard Law student, will be arguing a case against the IRS in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, on behalf of low–income taxpayers. As a student attorney in the Harvard Legal Services Tax Clinic, Oliver has spent this past semester representing low–income taxpayers against the IRS. Oliver had also spent undergraduate years interning at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, for the House Oversight Committee in Washington, DC and for multiple congressional offices.

Straton Podaras '16 Signs with LA Angels

Straton Podaras '16 will soon be moving from the East Coast to the West Coast. The Chaminade alumnus and collegiate baseball player has signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an undrafted free agent.
During his time at Chaminade, Straton played baseball all four years and served as captain. He also participated in Emmaus and the Student-Athlete Leadership Program.
He completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. It was during his final year there that he performed his best season. Straton was also named one of 16 semifinalists for the Buster Posey Award, an honor given to the nation's top catcher annually.
Best of luck, Straton – go Flyers!

Congratulations to Matthew Vowinkle of the Class of 2017 on being the second pick of the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. Vowinkle has been drafted to FC Cincinnati! 

As a freshman soccer player, Vowinkle was voted Best in League. His sophomore year, he was given the rare opportunity to join the Varsity Soccer team here at Chaminade. As his high school career progressed, Vowinkle was not only voted Gatorade's New York State Player of the year, but he also became a two-time All-American player for soccer. Upon graduating, Vowinkle received a full scholarship to Hofstra University to play for the Hofstra Pride.  Coach Mike Gallagher said of Vowinkle, "Matt was one of the most complete players we have ever had. He is immensely talented, but his hard work and grit impressed me the most."

Gonzalo R Vazquez-Jimenez ’18, a fourth year Chemistry major and Biology major in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recently earned distinction as a co-author of a research paper that is published in Molecular Neurobiology, a prestigious science journal. Gonzolo cowrote the piece "The Intersection of Parkinson's Disease, Viral Infections, and COVID-19", along with Simon G. Moleer Ph.D., Provots and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor, Biological Sciences, St. John's College of Liberal ARts and Sciences. Ph.D. students Alberim Kurtishi and Benjamin Rosen also coauthored the paper, which explores the relationship and numerous similarities between Parkinson's disease and COVID-19.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34033061/

Luke Valentino '21 and Kieran Morse '21 came in first and second place, respectively, as recipients of the 2021 Steven McDonald Memorial Scholarship Award from the NYPD With Open Arms organization. Pictured are the award recipients with Patti Ann McDonald P'05 (third from left), widow of Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and paralyzed in Central Park in 1986, along with other representatives from the organization.

The scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors within the NYPD community living with special needs or those who are family members of a special needs individual. Congratulations, Luke and Kieran!

On May 15, 2021, current student Mark Stephen was awarded the highest rank of Eagle Scout.

Adam Giardina (CHS Faculty) and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed their son Michael Alfredo on October 2, 2020.

John Mazzello (CHS Faulty) and his wife, Diana, welcomed their son Luke Joseph, on August 26, 2020.

Peter Micheels – uncle of Michael Ingrassia ’94 (CHS Faculty) – December 21, 2020

Ana Moz (CHS staff) and her husband Wilfredo, welcomed their daughter, Nicole, on January 27, 2020. 

John Nuzzi (CHS staff) and his wife Keely, welcomed their daughter, Sienna Grace, on March 28, 2020.

Irene Rabbitt – mother of Clare Morosoff (CHS Staff), grandmother of Peter Carriero ’96 (CHS Faculty) and mother-in-law of William Carriero ’69 (CHS Retired Faculty) – June 6, 2021

Benjamin Volpe (CHS faculty) and his wife Theresa, welcomed their daughter, Cecilia Wren, on April 5, 2020.