mount carmel newsletter · 2012-03-06 · and fads in public education, the need for catholic...

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us.

Published by the Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation

Inside this issue:

November 2007 Volume 15, Issue 3

Mount Carmel

Alma Mater

On peaceful shores ‘neath western skies our hymn of praise we sing,

To thee our Alma Mater dear, now let our voices ring!

All hail to thee Mount Carmel High, Crusaders Sons are we!

We love your ways, your spirit bold! We pledge ourselves to thee!

The purpose of the Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation is to provide financial assistance to the Carmelite Community and to the Catholic elementary schools in South-Central Los Angeles that have provided our alumni with an excellent education. MCAF publishes the Crusader newsletter and assists in regular event planning for the information and fellowship of Mount Carmel Alumni.

50 Year Reunion 1

Letters In Care of 2Mount Carmel

Classmates Pass 3On

Larry Gentile 4Retirement Party

Hall of Fame 5Ceremony

MCAF Board 6 Shares Resolution

Crest has Ancient 7Roots

The class of 1957 celebrated their 50 year reunion at the Radisson Hotel in Culver City on Saturday, September 29, 2007. The reunion event was attended by 105 members of the class and their guests. There were 61 alumni in attendance which represented approximately 65% of the class. Alumni traveled from distant places to attend this once- in-a-lifetime event, including the states of Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Unfortunately at the last moment Peter McCallum (Fry) had to cancel due to a health issue, otherwise we would have had an alumnus from Australia. The evening featured a special memorial Mass celebrated by Fr. Peter Liuzzi, O.Carm, to remember the 25 deceased members of the class, the Carmelite Fathers and Brothers, and teachers of that period. John Delaney and Ray Kelly, organizing committee

members, participated in the Liturgy. Other notable attendees included Fr. Gus Carter, O.Carm., and Judy McKeever and Alix Benson representing their husbands. After the Mass a reception ensued and class members were reacquainted with their friends, some of whom had not seen each other for 50 years. Individual pictures and a group picture were taken to be featured in a “Tribute Book” which will be distributed to those who attended. The book will also be available for a small sum and can be ordered from the photographer; if interested get in touch with Paul Martin (310-553-3608) or Don Kalal (818-715-0880). After the reception, dinner was held featuring a special video which included fi lm footage taken in 1957 of Showboat, Glee Club performances, a snow trip to Big Bear taken by Mike Nieto with

1957 50 YEAR REUNION A DAY THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER

continued on page 7


The Crusader

Dear Tom, Bernie Held and I recently visited Julio Lloreda in his hometown, Bogotá, Colombia. We visited for 10 days and Julio, being an excellent host, introduced us to

many of his Colombian friends; showed us much of Bogotá and arranged trips to several cities, resorts and historical sites both in and outside of the capital. The attached photo shows the three of us at a restaurant in the outskirts of Bogota enjoying a meal of capybara and veggies. It was a trip that reinforced old friendships and confi rmed what retirement can bring when desire, effort and capability are melded into creative action. Bernie and I, God willing, will see you at the reunion. Sadly, Julio will not be able to attend. He is in good health but involved in several ventures that preclude his attendance. Tony Nolan `57

Tom, Thanks for the interview piece on George Carillo. He has been a

real stalwart in keeping MCHS in our hearts. He and I organized the class of ‘46 25th reunion back in 1971 and I couldn’t have done it without him. Larry Massengill ‘46

Dear Tom, (both Pinard and Tice) I’m sure you will continue the fi ne work of your predecessor. I was sorry to read that John “Mike” McCrimmon had passed away. He was such a nice and smart guy. I can remember his face vividly, and he was a person I often thought of when looking back at those years. We were just through St. George last week on our way back from Whittier, en route to Eagle, ID. Also noted two of my grammar school friends’ names: John Delaney, class of `56, and Al Reynoso, who apparently has not been heard from. It’s odd how clearly you can see those faces and remember incidents from those early years. We’ve lived in Idaho for about a year, and still travel frequently back to So. CA. We (Linda Buckles, St. Mary’s ‘56) have 4 children and 7 Grandkids, two of whom are here visiting now.My e-mail address is [email protected] Roger Tebo `56

Dear Sirs, This Crusader was great. It made me excited about our future. My work for you has been absent for awhile and my illness has affected the way I can help.

Be assured I will try to do more and adjust to my illness. Please remember me and if I can get back and help I will try to do the best I can. The past was great memories, the future is now and let’s make a better future. LET US DO GOOD IN THE NAME OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL. Again, what fabulous Crusader. Raymond (Ray) Petty `58

Dear Foundation, First I’d like to express a “BIG THANK YOU” for all your diligent efforts, especially our new Editor Tom Tice. Additionally, in the section “Classmates Pass On” regarding Carl Pinamonti ’46 I would like to share the following: It was mentioned that Carl had a son named Ernest. He was known to his classmates of ‘68 as “Ernie.” Ernie helped us all for our freedom and was killed in action, 1969 during the Vietnam War. Ernie was a MCHS Crusader Alumni from the class of 1968 and a friend…although a usually quiet type (I’d call it stealth) he was a very helpful & loyal “brother Crusader.” He helped me during my class, student body campaigns, and sometimes shared the dessert from his lunch, too (although sometimes reluctantly, as did his friends like Glen Constantino & Bill Parker). Ernie always gave his all & ultimately his life for his Country! If any other alumni know of details of any other brothers who died in action, please let me know. Glen Constantino is still my friend today (although I now buy his lunches). He is an Executive

In Care of...Mount Carmel

Class of ‘57 grads Julio Lloreda, Bernie Held and Tony Nolan.


Volume 15, Issue 3

DR. GENE FAY ’45, a Hermosa Beach resident, died in Hartford, CT, on August 11 – nine days after turning eighty. He leaves behind his fi ancée Jeanne Perkins, his brother Robert, sisters-in-law Esther Fay and Joan Womack, brother-in-law Dan Streeter Sr. and more than 20 nieces and nephews. Gene was a teacher and administrator in the LAUSD for more than 30 years and also briefl y coached Mt.Carmel baseball. A veteran of Okinawa in WWII, Gene earned college degrees at Seton Hall, USC, and USF.

ED CLINE ‘50, passed away September 13. Ed and I were not only classmates at Carmel, we were partners in the MP’s at Ft Ord; partners at LAPD in the mid 1950’s, neighbors for years in La Puente, and remained friends for all these years. I was talking to him on the phone on the Thursday that he died, and he sounded very tired. He had been in the hospital for a week or so, and his kidneys were failing. I told him to rest and I would call him on Friday. His wife called me Friday morning and told me Ed passed a short time after we hung up. – Jerry Klippness `50

in Federal Government Service with the SBA (Small Business Administration). My friend Bill Parker & I would trade cars for different dates. I would borrow his Chevy panel truck & he would borrow my Black `57 4-door Chevy Bel Aire. We were true brothers; we both dated St. Mary’s Academy young ladies & we even double dated to the Senior / Junior prom at the Famous Ambassador Hotel / Coconut Grove in June 1967. “Oh what a night”!!! Bill is warmly remembered by his friends too. He left us suddenly at only 21 years of age after a tragic accident in Sequoia National Park; he slipped on a rock and fell to his death over a water fall. So many Crusaders with our Maker & with B.J. Andorka( Mt. Carmel Football Coach, teacher & my neighbor on E. Ocean Front

NPB for several years) cheering the rest of us on with the charge of “Thermopylae”! “On peaceful shores, ‘neath western skies” Benny Garcia `67 949.551.6757 [email protected]

Dear Crusader, The story about George Carillo reminded me that in one of my classes George played drums on the top of the desk in back of mine, keeping time to the music of Stan Kenton. Mt. Carmel is justly famous for its athletics but some of us were not gifted in that department. Against my better judgment I went out for baseball in 1947 and spent the season in the outfi eld chasing balls that Bruce Brotherton insisted on hitting over my head. The good Carmelite Fathers

were excellent teachers. They gave me an extraordinary education. I made the Honor Roll in each of my four years at Carmel, and after two years service in the Army during the Korean War and a year of working, I returned to UCLA. There I came to realize how well Mt. Carmel had prepared me. I graduated with Honors and made Phi Beta Kappa, later earning two advanced degrees, one a law degree. My three sons are college graduates and very accomplished in their fi elds. I am grateful for what the nuns of St. Columbkille’s and Holy Cross Schools and the priests of Mt. Carmel did for me. In these days of confusion, of relativism and fads in public education, the need for Catholic education is as acute as ever. Manuel H. Rodriguez ‘48

RONALD J. STIKELEATHER ’52 died August 9 in Phoenix after a four month battle with cancer. He was a Naval veteran of the Korean War and a member of Ironworkers Local 433. He is survived by children Pam, Julie, Rick, and Jane; sisters Shirley and Sue; brother Jim; and three grandchildren.

Classmates Pass On


The Crusader

Saturday October 13th was the night, and the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles the scene, of the retirement of one of Mount Carmel’s most noble Crusader sons. Larry Gentile, beloved by most of the latter-day alumni who walked through the main gates there at 70th and Hoover Street, hung up his clipboard, playbook and whistle as the President and CEO of Behavioral Health Services in Gardena -- an organization which Gentile built into a powerhouse during his twenty-eight year tenure. Most of you latter-day alums knew Larry Gentile in a variety of guises: English and Spanish teacher, disciplinary counterpart to Brother Lawrence and ultimately, Vice-Principal. Very few of the guys, even today, have a wishy-washy attitude about Larry --given his impact, passion, and frequent exercise of those stentorian Italian vocal chords. I say most because when a young, impressionable pubescent teen is faced down by a hard-ass like Mr. Gentile, you are not always fi lled with the warmest of feelings. Gentile did not engender comfy-cozy in the minds of those of us whom he had to discipline, straighten out, or explain the facts

of life to, Larry-style. But, as we got older, many of us realized that the lessons learned at the feet of the great man were obviously not that much different than what were taught at home. Gentile had the fear of God and the power of the Carmelites on his side and we seldom won that battle -- if ever. We also realized later that Gentile was actually a young guy out of the seminary who would have

been comfortable as an older brother or uncle to many of us. But when we were callow youth, with Larry in our collective grille all of the time, he was more obstacle to buffoonery than friend. It was only later in life that we realized that Larry was actually a very caring, committed guy who was a big softie whether or not you were one of his success stories. This is a guy who had a lot of career options by virtue of his innate

intelligence and credentials, but chose to stay at Mount Carmel even as the complexion of the students got darker, as their hair got longer and bushier, and as he and others were confronted with the decision to close the school before its time. So on the occasion of his retirement, a contingent of Crusader alums were in attendance at the celebration. Larry had designated one of his former staffers as the

Master of Ceremonies and the obligatory toasts to Larry’s many achievements were the feature of the program. The night was fraught with humor and passion, and was very illustrative of the essence of the man. I hesitate at all costs to use the words “sweet” and “Gentile” in the same sentence, but there it was. Hard-ass Gentile, guy that we all

respected for his uncompromising attitude and his ethics, was once again our role model as to how to make the ultimate career transition. When Larry got to the Mount Carmel part of his own speech, he turned to the MCAF table and directly addressed Chris Herrera, John Martin, and this writer with a commentary refl ective of our shared life experience. In his accustomed

Larry Gentile Shines at His Retirement PartyBy Lance A. Williams

continued on page 6

Larry Gentile (second from left) enjoys Crusader fellowship during his retirement dinner


Volume 15, Issue 3

MT. CARMEL CELEBRATES INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME CEREMONYBy Judy Cannavo McKeever

On Sunday, November

18, 2007, a group of Mt.

Carmel alumni were honored by

classmates, family and friends

at the inaugural Mt. Carmel Hall

of Fame Ceremony. The event

was sponsored by the Carmelite

fathers and representatives of

Crespi Carmelite High School.

Representatives of each group were

heartily welcomed.

Participants and observers

gathered for the Celebration

of Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m.

followed by the Luncheon and

Award Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. in

University Hall on the campus of

Loyola Marymount University.

This event came about

from two separate thoughts.

One aspect came about after the

successful 40th year reunion of the

Class of 1957. Classmates Paul

Martin, Tom Pinard, Dominic

Savino and Fr. Peter Liuzzi,

O.Carm, met for lunch to discuss

a plan that would memorialize

Mt. Carmel High School and

the teachers and students, and to

establish a permanent residence of

memorabilia so that the legacy of

this outstanding Los Angeles high

school would never die.

The other aspect developed

last summer after Marlin

McKeever ‘57 met with Fr. Tom

Schrader, O.Carm, President of

Crespi Carmelite High School, and

Greg Cornell, Director of Alumni

Relations at Crespi. Marlin learned

that over 20% of the student

body at Crespi requires fi nancial

assistance to attend. That fi gure

translates to $450,000 annually that

Fr. Tom must raise in order to keep

those students enrolled.

When Paul and Marlin

put their ideas together, this Hall

of Fame event was born. We will

gather annually to celebrate the

greatness of an institution that has

had vast and signifi cant infl uence

in Southern California – and

beyond. In addition, we will help

ease Fr. Tom’s burden and know

that certain students will be blessed

with the fi ne quality Carmelite

education each Mt. Carmel

alumnus received.

Your continuing

participation will be a testament to

the memory of Mt. Carmel High

School and the continuation of

the Carmelite Fathers’ tradition

of excellence in education. The

inaugural honorees were as

follows:

1940’s

Fr. Gus Carter, O.Carm

Class of 1942

Moses Chavez

Class of 1942

1947 CIF Championship

Basketball Team: Pat Bruno,

Martin Boulger, Michael Hennessy,

Donald Mount (All C.I.F. fi rst

team), Raymond Montez, Robert

O’Brien, Eugene Dykes (All

C.I.F.), Norman Witte, John

James, Edward Kennedy, Charles

VanderLinden, Jack Brennan, and

George McClintock

1950’s

Marlin and Mike McKeever

Class of 1957

Tom Pinard

Class of 1957

Kermit Alexander

Class of 1959

1960’s

Gerald Kelly

Class of 1963

1970’s

Kevin McKesson

Class of 1975


The Crusader

We, the undersigned are all the Directors of Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation (MCAF Board of Directors), and by this writing approve the following resolutions and consent to their adoption:

RESOLVED, that it is the offi cial policy of the MCAF Board of Directors is to restrict the direct release of, or access to, the MCAF mailing list and other related confi dential and proprietary contact information that it has under its control (the “Mailing List”), and be it further.

RESOLVED, that while the offi cial policy is to restrict direct release of, or access to, the Mailing List, the MCAF Board of Directors recognizes that from time to time, permission to use the MCAF Mailing List by those not directly affi liated with MCAF may benefi t

the Foundation and its membership, therefore the Board of Directors will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis, subject to Board approval in each instance, and be it further.

RESOLVED, that if the Board elects to cooperate with an individual or group that has requested use of the Mailing List, the Mailing List shall remain at all time under the physical and electronic control of the MCAF Board of Directors, who will attempt to accommodate the requesting party’s use of the Mailing List and be it further.

RESOLVED, the MCAF Board of Directors require the requesting party pay a fee in advance that recognizes all costs incurred by MCAF and its authorized printer or costs incurred in the preparation and issuance of an e-mail with the

use of the Mailing List in advance for all mailing charges and any associated administrative fees and charges.

MCAF Board Shares Resolution

Larry Gentile Retirement Party (continued from page 4)

growl, Gentile spoke of his fondness for the men of Mount Carmel, his love of Brother Lawrence, and his disappointment that the school had been shuttered prematurely. It was obvious that Larry has stayed abreast of the MCAF’s efforts in the community. He expressed appreciation for the work of the foundation and made his support evident to the assembled throng. Both Chris and myself

previously served as members of the Behavioral Health Services Board of Directors and Larry also expressed his admiration of John’s work with Verbum Dei. When it was over, Larry was thanked on behalf of all of the Crusaders whose lives he has touched. Larry will continue as the Board Chair of BHS and he has also been invited to become a Board member of the MCAF.

His legacy as a man, as a role model, and as a leader lives on in you. Never forget what men like Larry Gentile and countless others have meant to our lives. Few of us would be the men that were are -- for better or worse -- without the guidance of these guys, as well as the dedicated priests whom we eternally thank in these pages.

Kudos

Greg Williams ’65 was inducted by the Academy of Masters in their Hall of Fame on August 11, 2007, in Costa Mesa, California. The Seventh Degree Grand Master was honored for his 35 years of teaching, and dedication to the Art of Tai Kwan Do.


Volume 15, Issue 3

The Crusader’s shield is adorned with three stars: the lower star represents the Virgin Mother, the Star of the Sea; the upper stars represent the Carmelites’ leaders, Elias and Eliseus, the Old Testament prophets. The stars are six pointed in recognition that the Carmelite leaders were both Jews living in the time before Christ and that the hermits of Mount Carmel followed the approved custom of the Church; which for them was the

Patriarchal Church of Jerusalem. St. Elias (aka Elijah) the prophet from the Old Testament was believed by the early Carmelite Monks to have founded the Order. Elias was the fi rst one to pray and await the coming of Our Lady on Mount Carmel. Eliseus was the one who succeeded Elias in this devotion. After Elias, and with the encouragement of Eliseus, hermits established themselves on Mount Carmel, continuing to pray for the coming of Our Lady and the Messiah. This is the origin of the Carmelite Order, which is the fi rst Religious Order in the Catholic Church. We are the graduates of a Carmelite institution that has evolved and has a unique history.

That the Crusades from the Middle Ages may have at times had a colorful history does not negate the efforts of the Carmelite priests and brothers on behalf of Catholic education in Los Angeles. The Carmelite origins hail from those monks who lived on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land (think of it as the Palos Verdes of Haifa) and even today Christians, Jews, and Muslims all look to Elias as a great prophet. Mount Carmel graduates identify with the intonations of our alma mater that “Crusaders sons are we”; possibly a bit rough around the edges but for sure a band of brothers. That is who we are! Finis! Reported by Jerry Kelly

Crest Has Ancient Roots

1957 50 YEAR REUNION (continued from page 1)

other members of the class and remembrances of basketball, football, and other events of that era. The video also showed segments from the fi lm “Rock ‘N’ High School” by Roger Corman, which used MCHS as a setting for the movie before it was demolished. We also were able to include in our video personal interviews with Marlin McKeever before his death and Kermit Alexander with the permission of John Maya (MC 1965), who is in the process of recording a history

of Mount Carmel HS. After the dinner, the reunion continued in the Hospitality Suite long after 2:00 AM Sunday morning. The dedication and personal commitment of the organizing committee made this not only a successful event but a memory of our high school years that will be long remembered. The committee included Tom Arnerich, Jerry Bichlmeier, John Delaney, Don Kalal, Ray Kelly and Paul Martin. A special thanks must be given to Crespi Carmelite HS Fr.

Tom Schrader, O.Carm, Greg Cornell, Dee Meza, and Crespi student David Tarlu for all the support for helping to produce our video. Lastly, thanks must be given to John “Dude” Goodwin for preparing the name tags with our 1957 annual pictures, cocktail glasses with the Crusader crest, and a memory board of our deceased alumni with their 1957 pictures. It was a great Party Paul Martin


NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

SANTA ANA, CA PERMIT NO. 691

Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation 3151 Airway Avenue Suite E-1 Costa Mesa, California 92626

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Lance A. Williams, Ph.D.CHAIRMAN

Al PrukopFIRST VICE CHAIRMAN

Raymond F. WolfeSECOND VICE CHAIRMAN

George GuzmanSECRETARY

Gerald T. Kelly, CPATREASURER

Members At-Large

Marilee Alessandra

Kermit Alexander

Christopher P. Herrera

John B. Martin

Richard Monteilh

Greg Williams

John T. Young

Eleana Williams can testify to Greg’s martial arts and marital smarts.

Carmel brothers all share in Greg Williams’ Hall of Fame moment.

mount carmel newsletter · 2012-03-06 · and fads in public education, the need for catholic...

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