In This Issue: Alumni Appeal Business Appeal Joey Gase (X11) Alumni Hall of Fame

January 2010

Xavier High School Foundation

The Xavier Foundation is grateful for all pastors, par-ish leadership teams, and all the wonderful volunteers that worked to raise funds for Xavier through the Foundation’s 2009 Parish Appeal. Under the leader-ship provided by Pat and Cathy McAllister (Parish of John XXIII) chairs, and Don and Mary Chizek (St, Pius X) associate chairs, we have raised $372,000. We would like to recognize the follow-ing volunteers who served as parish chairpersons for the Appeal:

All SaintsLori (Takes) Stock (R81) Steve & Mary (Bader) Kray (R79)

Immaculate Conception Diane (Fagan) Ropp (R85)

St. JosephPaula & Steve Peot Kent & Sara Sodawasser

St. JudeRichard & Kathy Colwell Paul (L79) & Nancy (Babor) Charipar (L80)

St. LudmilaNancy Pitlik Lehia Roberts

St. MatthewJohn & Dana (Klein) Miller (R76)Monica Straub & Joe Kennedy

St. Patrick - Cedar RapidsChris & Dawn (Lane) Martin (L84) Mike & Debbie (Lane) Himmelsbach (L85)

St. Patrick - FairfaxPat (L77) & Lois SlaterJim & Laurie (Lefebure) Neuhaus (L80)

St. Pius X Mike & Jody EskerPaul & Gail Williams

St. Wenceslaus Dave Martin John Svoboda

St. Elizabeth Ann SetonPaul & Carol (Steepleton) Steingreaber (R83)Marc & Teresa Daubitz

John XXIIIMike & Ellen BouchardJoe & Lorraine Blanck

We want to thank all of our generous donors that make it possible to have an outstanding Catholic high school in our community. Contributions are still being received. If you would like to contribute, please visit our web site www.xavierfounda-tion.org, or mail your gift to the Foundation office, P.O. Box 10956, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0956.

Xavier Foundation Parish Appeal

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Business Appeal 2010

The Xavier Foundation 2010 Business Appeal will kick-off with a breakfast meeting on Thursday, February 4, 2010 on the Xavier campus.

Randy Scholer, attorney with Simmons Perrine Moyer & Bergman, PLC, and Douglas Valentine, State Farm Insurance, will serve as campaign chairs of the Xavier Foundation’s 2010 Business Appeal.

Scholer and his wife Colleen are members of All Saints parish and have three children, Kristen (X07), Jonathan, and Quinton. Valentine and his wife Amy are members of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish and have three children, Mitchell (X10), Carter (X12), and Ben.

Scholer, Valentine and more than 80 volunteers seek to raise

$105,000 for Xavier High School. Also serving on the lead-ership team for the campaign are team captains: Tom Ekland (L78), Seltec Sales; Donna Garland, Nesper Sign; Duane Jasper, RuffaloCody; Jeff Kaiden, (L72), Principal Financial Group; Joe Kirby, Lynch Ford Chevy; Bruce Kramer, AEGON; Jim McPartland (R75), TrueNorth; Becky Picard (L66); and Kirk Sadilek, Principal Financial Group.

Beginning in February volunteers will visit with more than 300 area businesses. Business owners have generously sup-ported Xavier High School over the years knowing it is an important asset to our community. In return, Xavier returns an estimated $10 million to the community and saves taxpay-ers nearly $3 million each year by educating more than 780 students who would otherwise be in the public school system.

Volunteers Take Appeal Over 90% to Goal

Xavier High School is a school on the move, progress-ing into the future with great promise.

It is thanks to the dedicated faculty and staff, that Xavier is able to maintain high academic standards, promote leadership, and encourage a lifelong commitment to Christian community service. However, it is thanks to YOU, our generous alumni, business and parish appeal supporters, that a Xavier edu-cation remains affordable.

The funds raised through the Xavier Foundation annual Parish, Business, and Alumni appeals help bridge the gap between tuition revenue, par-

ish subsidies and the actual operating costs of running our busy school.

What exactly makes up the operating expenses per stu-dent? Here’s a brief overview:

Instruction: $2,484,800. • Salaries for academic, activ-ity, and athletic instructors (including substitute teachers and paraprofessionals) • Textbooks• Instructional materials and supplies• Internet Access • Library / Media Center • Technology• Faculty recruitment• Testing expenses

Administration: $761,800.• Salaries for administrators, guidance office and office

employees • Insurance• Dues and subscriptions• Graduation expenses• Legal and professional expenses• Medical supplies and services• Office supplies• Recruitment

Facilities: $558,700.• Utilities • Salaries for custodians • Contracted services• Maintenance and Grounds• Materials and supplies• Repairs to the building• Repairing and replacing equipment and grounds

Transportation: $30,000.• Vehicle service and supplies• Vehicle fuel• Insurance and licenses

Thank you for supporting all aspects of Xavier High School. It is your generosity that allows us to produce the leaders of our future church and community.

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LaSalle Regis Xavier Alumni Appeal:Participation is the Common Thread!

LaSalle, Regis, and Xavier Alumni: How do you honor the school that inspired your academic life, your career, and your personal life? We’ve got the answer! In the next few weeks you will be receiv-ing an important call! A current student, former classmate, or parent of a current student will be calling to ask for your continued support of Xavier High School through the annual LaSalle - Regis - Xavier Alumni Appeal. Participation IS the common thread! Because every gift - no matter the size - truly makes a difference to current Xavier students - our goal in 2010 is to increase our participation.

Who Gives?In 2009 we had 440 Regis donors, 251 LaSalle donors and 38 Xavier donors. This year, our goal is to bring 590 Regis,

301 LaSalle, and 100 Xavier new and renewing alumni donors on board.

Why Give?Your annual gift to the Alumni Appeal will help support the Xavier experience, enabling deserving students to attend this great institution and grow in mind, body and spirit, and accomplished faculty to mentor them. Every gift matters!

By demonstrating, through your gift to the Alumni Appeal, that Catholic secondary education matters to you, you make Xavier matter to others.

An increasing number of donors are using our secure online gift form to help the Foundation reduce paper and postage costs at www.xavierfoundation.org

If you prefer to mail your gift, you may send it to PO Box 10956, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0956.

What Does My Gift Support?

Xavier is on Facebook! Use the search tool to locate the Xavier High School Page and send us a message to update your contact information, share your news and stay in the loop with alumni news and events!

The Second Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament on Saturday, November 28 kept LaSalle, Regis, and Xavier alumni and fans on the edges of their seats from game one through the champion-ship game that ended in overtime - for a second year in a row!Honorary coaches Stu Ballinger (R77), Dick Breitbach and Justin Kramer resurrected their coaching skills and skillfully guided our alumni teams!Game one saw participants from classes 1959-1979 take on alumni from the 1990s. Team 1959-1979 started the game with 20 points but lost their lead by half-time and conceded the game 60-83.Game two, between Team 1980s and Team 2000s had a similar outcome, with Team 80s starting the game with 20 points and a final score of 58-74.

While our alumni teams cooled down and prepared for their final games, fam-ily and friends took part in free throw and half-court shot contests.

A 10 point lead helped lead Team 80s to a victory in the consolation game with a final score of 79-61!

The Championship was a nail biter for everyone! Team 90s and Team 2000s were tied up at the half, but Team 90s kicked it into high gear in order to defend their 2008 title and remain the champions of the Alumni Basketball Tournament!

Couldn’t make the game? Check out the pictures posted on the Xavier High School Facebook page!

Thanks to all who participated in and volunteered at the tournament. See you on Saturday, November 27, 2010!

Instant Replay

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There is no better investment than the education of a child. “Catholic Schools - Dividends for Life” is the theme selected for Cath-olic Schools Week 2010. Catholic Schools Week is the annual cel-ebration that focuses attention on the good work done by the nation’s Catholic schools. The week will be observed Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2010. According to Karen Ristau, NCEA president, “Catholic schools provide good things for students and fami-lies—high expectations and daily ex-perience of faith. In these challenging times, the theme also reminds par-ents that the dividends of a Catholic school education—students prepared in faith, knowledge, morals and dis-cipline—last a lifetime. There is no better way to invest in a child’s fu-ture—or the future of our world.”

Catholic SchoolsWeek 2010

Upcoming Alumni EventsMark your calendars early! You won’t want to miss out on these events!

• LaSalle, Regis, and Xavier Alumni Appeal. Contact Jessica Schneider at (319) 378-4571 or jschneider@xavierfoundation.org to volunteer for the campaign.

• Alumni Hall of Fame. Friday, January 22, 2010. 7:00 p.m. at Xavier High School.

• Regis Class of 1960 Reunion. September 2010. Contact Karen Dennis at 319-848-4574 for more information.

• Regis Class of 1970 Reunion. July 30-31, 2010. Contact Dani Shimon at dshimon@earthlink.net for more information.

• Homecoming 2010. October 1, 2010. Xavier vs. Iowa City West. (Tentative)

Alumni Basketball Tournament

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Leslie Charipar, a 1985 graduate from LaSalle High School will be inducted into the Fine Arts category. Among her many con-tributions to

the Cedar Rapids community, Leslie is a founding member of the Classics at Brucemore, and opened the theatre company, Urban Theatre Project, which provides live theatre in unique spaces all over the city of Cedar Rapids. After the flood of 2008, Leslie played an integral role in the rebuilding of Theatre Cedar Rapids where she currently serves as the Artistic Director.

Kirk Haefner, a 1984 gradu-ate from Regis High School will be inducted into the Ath-letics category. Among his many achieve-ments, Kirk

was an All State Center and All Metro Center in basketball, and an All State Defensive player and All Metro football player in addition to being voted “Male Athlete of the Regis Class of 1984.” Kirk is currently employed with Life Investors/AEGON/TransAmerica, and serves as the Assistant Coach for Xavier sophomore basketball, assists with the sophomore and varsity Xavier football program, and sponsors the football camp for future Xavier Saints.

Stephen Havlik, a 1969 graduate from Regis High School will be inducted into the Outstanding Alumni cat-egory. Steve was appointed the Cedar Rapids

Fire Chief in 1998 and has served as an outstanding community leader in our community and state, and has been a mentor to many within the fire fight-ing community and city government. A recognized Fire Department Operations expert throughout the Midwest, Chief Havlik led the Emergency Response initiative during the Cedar Rapids flood of 2008.

Tom Lilly, a 1973 gradu-ate from Regis High School will be inducted into the Coach-es category. Coach Lilly was the first coach to lead a team to a state

championship in the history of Xavier High School. His teams have won state championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Coach Lilly was awarded the Golden Plaque of Distinction in 2008 by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and has won MVC and Metro Coach of the Year awards on numerous occasions. Beyond Xavier, Coach Lilly spends his time working with elementary and ju-nior high school girls basketball teams.

AlumniHall of Fame

LaSalle • Regis • Xavier 2010

Visioning UpdateVisioning consultant Jeff Johnson has completed the focus group sessions and presented a progress report to the Visioning Committee in December.

Johnson’s next step is to meet with Archbishop Hanus and principals from each of the local public high schools before completing his final report to the School Board in January. Johnson will also hold a public presen-tation of the results in January. (The date for these presentations were unde-termined when the newsletter went to print. Dates will be posted on our website at www.xavierfoundation.org as they become available.)

Service has long been an important component for LaSalle, Regis, and Xavier High Schools. And while rak-ing leaves and shoveling snow offer an immediate sense of accomplishment and ample opportunities for ongoing service projects, a project of a different sort that began more than 20 years ago is just now coming to fruition. The rolling prairie grasses that sur-round Indian Creek Nature Center are much more strategic than one might think. More than 20 years ago, Regis High School teacher Fran Phelan teamed up with the Indian Creek Nature Center to assist in the expansion of prairie area. Because prairie naturally spreads slowly, it was necessary to have volunteers come in the fall who would harvest the seed and carry it to a new location and broadcast the seed. For nearly five years Mrs. Phelan brought a group of Regis High School students to the Nature Center in the fall. The students worked with staff to pick, move, and scatter seeds and the day would conclude with readings and reflections on stewardship. Today, the prairie is once again thriv-ing, serving as a wonderful reminder of how our students learn today, lead tomorrow, and serve forever.

A Service Project: 20 Years Later

The LaSalle, Regis, Xavier Alumni Association is pleased to introduce the 2010 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. The Hall of Fame induction will take place on Friday, January 22, 2010 during half-time of the Xavier varsity boys basketball game against Prairie. Game time is 7 p.m.

Marching isn’t so much this Xavier Saint’s style - it’s not that he has any-thing against it- it just doesn’t move quickly enough for his taste. Joey Gase is more comfortable with the fast-paced life. A life that averages around 110 mph... on the weekends anyway!

Joey (16), a junior at Xavier High School and an official ASA Mid-west Tour driver, can be found rac-ing across the Midwest nearly every weekend from May through October and a handful of times in the winter.

Joey first realized his need for speed while many kids his age were still mastering the art of riding a bicycle. By the time he was eight, he was racing go-karts - and winning! At 14, Joey moved on to open wheel modified racing, and by 15 he was racing American Speed Association (ASA) late model race cars at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Joey takes his racing seriously, and while the adrenaline rush certainly at-tributes to the appeal, that rush is hard earned; “You never know what will happen next,” explains Joey. Each race takes hours upon hours of prepara-tion that require serious focus, hard work, determination and dedication.

In his first year as an ASA driver, Joey raced in the World Series of Stock Car Racing in New Smyrna, FL, where he faced off against some of the best driv-ers in the country and finished an im-pressive fifth in points. His hard work continued to propel him through the season resulting in “Rookie of the Year” honors and a fifth in points stand-ing at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Joey humbly takes his success in stride, recognizing that racing isn’t something he could do on his own; “You need a lot of support with your car and team and spon-sors and family. I pray before every race.”

When asked how he finds the time to manage school and such a time con-suming hobby, Joey readily admits the challenge, “It can be difficult at times to balance racing and school work, espe-cially when you have a race the same day

as school or if you have to miss school, but my teachers help me and give me enough time to make up the work.” The pinnacle of focus and drive, Joey and his team will spend the winter months preparing for the upcoming sea-son, “My goal in racing is to make it as far as I can, hopefully NASCAR, (Na-tional Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and keep improving every year.”Follow Joey at www.joeygase.com.

Joey Gase (X11) Stock Cars & Studies

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#35 Joey Gase - Fast FactsHometown: Cedar Rapids, IATeam Name: Joey Gase MotorsportsCar Owner: Robert Gase

Car InformationSponsors: Fusion Logixx & Barron Motor SupplyCar: Ford FusionEngine: B&B ACE, Pro Power 9:1

Career Highlights 2001: Won his first go-kart race!

2002-2004: Won the Jr1 Champion-ship at Hawkeye Downs Speedway

2006: Won Jr2 WKA Nationals at Fast Track Vincennes, IN

2006: Top five in points in WKA Nationals

2007: Finished fourth in points in a Miller Time Modified at Hawkeye Downs Speedway

2007: Youngest driver ever to win during Oktoberfest in a modified at

LaCrosse Speedway in West Salem, WI

2008: Fifth in points in Late Models at Hawkeye Downs Speedway

2008: Rookie of the year in Late Models at Hawkeye Downs Speedway

2009: Fifth in points at the 43rd An-nual World Series of Stock Car racing in a Crate Late Model at New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna, FL

Alumni News

Thomas Berney (R63) of Bluffton SC., died September 17, 2009. Thomas is survived by his wife, Virginia; daugh-ters, Stephanie Grim and Elizabeth Berney; one brother, Dr. John Ber-ney; and a sister, Georgia Barnhizer. Mark Coppock (L66) of Cedar Rap-ids, died August 26, 2009. Mark is sur-vived by his wife, Mary; sons, Kevin Doyle and Michael Doyle; daughter, Jennie Benke; a brother, Loren Cop-pock (L66); sisters, Marsha (Coppock) Plimpton (L69) and Julie Stepanek. Janet Foster (R67) of Fort Myers, Fla., died September 5, 2009. Janet is survived by her mother, Marguerite Foster; two sisters, Sande Ellis and Suzanne Foster (R73). Daniel Hennessey (R68) of Marion, IA died October 18, 2009. Dan is survived by his sister Erin (Hennessey) Noah (R73); and brothers, Joe and Jeff Hennessey.

Cathy McCusker (R72) of Cedar Rapids died September 30, 2009. Cathy is survived by her parents, William and Norma Mc-Cusker; and three brothers, Mike (R71), Tim (R74), and John (R76) McCusker.

Patricia (Maas) Brockman (R81) of Garland, TX, died August 21 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Pat is sur-vived by her husband, Pierce, and their children, Jerad, Shana, Annie, Jacob, Jo-seph, Emma, John Paul and Kathryn. She is also survived by her mother, Pa-tricia Maas; sisters, Kathy (Maas) Klotz (R75), Karen (Mass) Eichmann (R77), Elizabeth (Maas) Lockhart (R79) and Margo (Maas) Brockman (R80).

Paul Kenney (R85) died October 2, 2009 in Santa Fe, NM. Paul is survived by his mother, Mary Ellen Kenney; and his seven siblings, Capt. Patricia Ken-ney (R69), Jeanne (Kenney) Brandes (R71) and husband Matt Brandes (R71), Molly (Kenney) Kempf (R73), Anne Smart (R79), Thomas and Jack Kenney, and Eileen (Kenney) Foxhoven. Paul was preceeded in death by his father, Thomas James Kenney, on November 14, 2008. If you want to be notif ied via e-mail about the death of a former classmate, please update your alumni record with your e-mail address on our website or by calling (319) 378-4571.

We Remember

Dear Friends and Alumni

1960s

Fr. G. Ted Bohr, SJ (R61) will serve as chaplain to 180 college juniors on their study abroad semester at the Loyola Uni-versity Chicago’s campus in Rome, Italy.

1970sDr. Alan Whitters (R74) accepted a visit-ing professor position and sabbatical with the Taranaki Medical Center in New Plym-outh, New Zealand. Gregory Engler (R74) retired from the US Marine Corps in May 2004 after returning from deployment in Kuwait during Opera-tion Iraqi Freedom. Gregory and his wife Teri have two sons, Christopher and Casey.

1980sJanet Whitters (R83) graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University Law School in New Orelans where she has been selected to serve on the bench of the Federal Court. Janet previously retired from NBC as a news reporter and later as the public relations director for Bell South.Dean Schulte (L84) announces his posi-tion as CIO with MasTec in Miami Beach, FL. Mary Benning (R88) and James Noland were united in marriage on September 13, 2008 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mary is a senior attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Fed-eral Bureau of Prisons in Kansas City, KS.

1990sMichele (Deimer) Brooks (R95) an-nounces her employment with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company as a Senior Actuary in Renton, WA.Kathleen (Wendling) Dunkel (R95) and husband Brian (L96) announce the birth of their daughter, Avery Ann born on April 26, 2009. Avery is welcomed home by brothers Noah and Wyatt. Matthew Covington (X99) and Christine Hagen were united in marraige on July 1, 2009 at Maria Lanakiila Catholic Church in Lahina, Maui, HI. The couple resides in Phoenix, AZ. Brad Joens (R96) and Cara Cavanaugh were united in marriage on September 4, 2009 at St Ludmila’s Catholic Church. The couple resides in Fairfax, IA.Nicholas Putman (R97) and Trisha Burke were united in marriage on February 21,

2009. The couple resides in Robins, IA. Bridget (Overmann) Battistone (R98) was awarded a M.B.A. Cum Laude in May 2009 from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Bridget and her husband Theo-dore reside in Dallas, TX where Bridget is employed with Dr. Pepper / Snapple. Dan Winger (R98) was featured in the Business Week article “Twenty-One People Who Will Change Business.” Dan is em-ployed as a Design & Strategy Consultant with the LEGO Concept Lab. Dan and his wife Shantel reside in Pasadena, CA.Roberto Pino (X99) and wife Whitney an-nounce the birth of their daughter, Gianna, on March 18, 2009. Gianna was welcomed home by her brother, Lorenzo. Melissa Rieff (X99) and Dustin Guerpo were united in marriage on May 22, 2009 at St. Pius X in Cedar Rapids. Dustin Waldron (X99) and Stephanie Ghys were united in marriage on June 14, 2008, in Gilbert, AZ. The couple plans on moving to Belgium in the near future.

2000sJoseph Burgmeier (X01) and wife Kym-berlee announce the birth of their daugh-ter, Autumn, born on November 6, 2008. Joseph recently received his Master’s degree in school specialized counseling. Zachary Covington (X02) and Melissa Sabia were united in marriage on May 30, 2009 at St. Jude Catholic Church. The couple reside in Ames, IA. Aaron Hamilton (X02) and Christine Fogler were united in marraige on Novem-ber 1, 2008 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, IA. Aaron graduated from St. Ambrose University and is employed by KGAN-TV 2 News.Maria Nachazel (X02) and Seth Pettit were united in marriage on September 20, 2008 in Cedar Rapids. Clark Hruby (X04) and Michelle Potts (X06) were united in marriage May 23, 2009 at St. Jude Catholic Church. The couple reside in Cedar Rapids.Kimberly Hanson (X05) is currently living in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and working as an in-country coordinator for the medical, dental, public health and water programs of Global Brigades. Zachary Takes (X05) and Whitney Heil were united in marriage on June 20, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Church. Zachary is employed by KFXA-KGAN TV.

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Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage PaidCedar Rapids IAPermit No. 353P.O. Box 10956

Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0956

Board of DirectorsOfficersMost. Rev. Jerome Hanus, OSB, STLWilliam McCartanJohn CleavengerConrad BaumlerRev. Philip ThompsonJody Ruff

MembersGary BeckerMichele BusseBrenda ClancyTom KeatingDan LynchSteve RidgeCynthia SueppelFred TimkoMark Watson

Board EmeritusRobert C. ErushaMichael StallmanGary Streit

Jody RuffExecutive Director

Lynn JumpAnnual Fund Director

Jessica SchneiderDir. Marketing & Alumni Relations

p: 319.378.4571f: 319.378.2953e: development@xavierfoundation.org w: www.xavierfoundation.org Remembering a Dear Friend

Return Service Requested

Parents: If this issue of the Common Thread is addressed to your son or daughter who has established a permanent residence, please notify us of that new address. Call (319) 378-4571 or e-mail development@xavierfoundation.org

Longtime friend and Xavier supporter, Robert Erusha, 85, of Cedar Rapids died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.

Mr. Erusha, described as the rock and patriarch of his family, is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arlene; his seven children, Gail (Erusha) Scott (L67), Dr. James Erusha (L68), Vicky Erusha Garnsey (L71), Bruce Erusha(L73), Kimberly Erusha Kunnert (L78), Robert Erusha II (L80), and Amy (Erusha) Cox (L82); 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Donald; sisters, Cordelia ( Jack) Cosgrove and Dolores Kaiden; and brother-in-law,

Robert Banse.

Bob was a member of the Xavier Foundation Heritage Society and a Foundation Board Emeritus member. The Xavier High School softball field was dedicated in his honor in June 2000, and Bob and Arlene were inducted in the Xavier Hall of Fame in January 2008.

One of Bob’s favorite pastimes was attending Xavier High School events with his wife, especially softball! Bob’s enthusiasm for Xavier High School and Catholic education was truly inspiring and his presence will be greatly missed.