ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Tony Fornelli '51 Helps Keep Italian Heritage Alive at Casa Italia

Tony Fornelli is one of the founders of Casa Italia, which opened its doors back in 1999. He is also a former chairman and current board member for the facility. The mission of Casa Italia is to be a home for all Italian-American organizations in the Chicago area-- a place where they can meet to pursue common goals, preserve their past, celebrate their heritage and ensure passage of values to future generations. One of Casa Italia’s main attractions is an Italian Veterans’ Museum that is very near and dear to Fornelli’s heart. Fornelli also served as the producer of the acclaimed documentary, “5,000 Miles from Home” that was produced in conjunction with the museum. Casa Italia, located on 17 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds near O'Hare Airport, offers cultural museums, art galleries, a library, a detailed model of St. Peter’s Square, an outdoor Stations of the Cross Garden and a chapel where Mass is celebrated each Sunday. The Community Center seats 250 and is available for group meetings, retreats, films, or lectures and a dining room is available for private parties or dinner banquets. Italian language classes and summer camps are also offered each year. Visit www.casaitaliachicago.net.

Joe Paprocki ’77 Receives Doctorate Degree   

Joe Paprocki recently received his Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary of the Lake University, Mundelein Seminary and is currently serving as National Consultant for Faith Formation for Loyola Press in Chicago. He has authored five books including the best-selling The Catechist's Toolbox, A Well-Built Faith, and The Bible Blueprint. Paprocki is working on his next book, The Practicing Catholic: Moving from a Learned Faith to a Lived Faith, which is due out in 2011. Over the past five years, he has done faith formation presentations in over 50 dioceses in the United States and Canada. He and his wife Joanne (senior prom date, 1977) celebrate 28 years of marriage this November, 2010.

Maura Slattery Boyle '85 Receives Award for Excellence in Law    
Congratulations to Hon. Maura Slattery Boyle '85, who was the first female grad to receive the Award for Excellence in the Field of Law at the 29th annual Law Luncheon. She gave a touching address about her time at Ignatius and how the ideals and values she gained as a student became the foundation for her career and her family. In addition, an honorary diploma was awarded to parent of alumni and friend, Hon. Jennifer Duncan Brice. Special thanks to luncheon chairs Tom Brabec '73, John Coleman '67, Kevin Conway '69, Dan Pikarski '90 and Curtrice White Scott '90, as well as members of the Saint Ignatius Law Society.

James Hendele ’02 and Elizabeth Otter ’05 Live Out Jesuit Ideals of Service in Africa   
James Hendele has been with the Peace Corps in Tanzania, East Africa for the past 26 months. Recently, he summited Mt. Kilimanjaro with a group of six students and two teachers after sponsoring the group through fundraising with friends from Saint Ignatius. Pictured is the group at the summit—19,331 feet up. Elizabeth Otter was accepted as a Peace Corps Volunteer after graduating from Jesuit's Fairfield University last May. She traveled to Africa where she went through a three-month training regime in the country of Zambia. Otter now teaches public health and nutrition in the village she calls home, near the Congo border in north-central Zambia. The village has no running water or electricity but a solar battery charger is allowing her to listen to her iPod!

Christopher Bertucci ’07 Wins National Collegiate Boxing Championship   
Christopher Bertucci was recently named the 2010, 156 lb. (middle weight) National Collegiate Champion. He’s is also a three time All-American boxer. Bertucci grew up in the Little Italy neighborhood surrounding Saint Ignatius and has been boxing at the college level for Navy for two years. His other awards include two Brigade Championships and a 3rd place finish at the Nationals. Bertucci is shown here with his championship belt.

 

Brendan Coleman '08 Meets Vice President Biden  
Brendan Coleman ’08, who is currently studying at the Jesuit’s Xavier University in Cincinnati, recently had the opportunity to meet Vice President Joe Biden and tour his plane—Air Force Two. The father of Coleman’s roommate at Xavier is a member of Mr. Biden’s secret service detail and was able to arrange the meeting while Mr. Biden was visiting the university. On a side note, Kathleen (Buhle) Biden graduated  from Saint Ignatius in 1987 and is married to Vice President Biden’s youngest son, Robert Hunter Biden.