Success Stories of
Guerin Prep, Mother Theodore Guerin and Holy Cross Alumni

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Read about:

Jack DeGrenier HC '69
Danielle Piagentini GP '07
Anna Musso MTG '97
Dr. Ralph Esposito HC '94
Joe Dobner HC '66
Steven L. Stancy

NFL to NFP, the Jack DeGrenier HC '69 Story

What moves a man from the dream career and toehold in the National Football League (NFL) to half a lifetime as a dedicated professional in the Not for Profit (NFP) world? Perhaps the larger question is what moves a man at all?

For Jack DeGrenier HC ’69, the answer is at once both overwhelmingly huge and incredibly simple. Following graduation from Holy Cross, Jack found himself at Northern Arizona University in the hands of outstanding football coaches who could open the door to Jack’s professional football career. And they did. In 1974, Jack signed on as a running back for a year with the New Orleans Saints. He followed with a quick stint with the short-lived Chicago Wind, leaving shortly before they closed up shop.

“But something wasn’t right,” Jack reflects. “It was an exciting life, maybe too exciting for my level of maturity. Stepping outside of football, I felt like something was missing… I couldn’t seem to connect all the dots.” Jack began looking at his roots; after being born into a Catholic family and lifetime of Catholic education, he didn’t feel he knew God. At 26, he knew that he wanted to build a personal relationship with God and use his life for the plan and purpose God had in mind.

His career took a few twists and turns for the next few years and his journey continued. He worked many years in retail, first in athletic footwear then five years in sales for True Value. He went back to school, earning a master’s degree in education administration to supplement his bachelor’s degree in community recreation.

He continued to develop a personal relationship with God. He met a lot of people on his journey and studied the scriptures. “What I found out was that God wanted a relationship with me, too, but somehow I had missed it.” Then, Jack began to understand that God had a plan and purpose for his life—that he was to serve others.

In his mid-thirties, he started to get involved in fundraising for para-church organizations. He taught and coached for a while at a private school, where he took on many hats outside of those he was paid for. One of those was development – fundraising. A series of events brought him back home to Arizona, where Jack and Food for the Hungry came together.

About nine years ago, he began his true dream job as the director of major gifts for Food for the Hungry, an independent organization dedicated “to walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation.”

In his role there, Jack has visited the poorest of the poor in countries including Bolivia, Peru, China, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. “I have the privilege of taking donors to see where there money is being invested and how significantly it is impacting the community. We are about transforming a generation to become self-sufficient,” he said.

“My years at Holy Cross provided the foundation on which to build, on which I still stand today. God allowed me to try out my dream of football as a Crusader, a Lumberjack and a Saint. Then He called to me and showed me a bigger dream. Now, by living His dream for me, I’m impacting people around the world. A baby born in the bush of Africa has just the same potential as one born at the local clinic here in Arizona, but not the opportunity. I’m hoping my work broadens those opportunities as far and wide as possible.”

During the last 25 years, Jack’s life has revolved around giving back. “I had the benefit of my family and great schools. These benefits now allow me to give similar opportunities, although to a much lesser degree, to those in need. People in the Third World don’t have to go to high school to become self-sufficient, but they need food to eat and water to drink to even have a chance. And then there’s the spiritual component. I know God wants a relationship with each one of us. Each of us has value; each is made in the image and likeness of God.”

What’s next for Jack? He’s not planning on any more moves. This is a great chapter in his life. And, it’s filled with outstanding characters, his wife of 36 years, three children and a half-dozen grandchildren. “One of my sons coaches football at a high school in Cape Creek, AZ. He lets me horn in on that from time to time.” How much better could it get than having the opportunity to coach with his son.

“I have no regrets. I love the way my life turned out and what I’m doing now. If I had played 10 years in the NFL, what kind of impact would I be having? Would I still be married, have all those great kids and grandkids? There’s no doubt I’m thankful for those chances so many years ago and I cherish those moments, but right now, I’m where I ought to be.”

Jack credits his education and upbringing for teaching him resiliency. He believes when the world knocks you down, you pick yourself up and with God’s help you get through it. “That’s the same message we give to people around the world, He will provide,” says Jack.  

Learn more about Food for the Hungry at www.fh.org.

Danielle Piagentini GP '07: The Joyful Jogger
On December 26, 2005, Meredith Schleehauf was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a condition that was addressed by immediate surgery, but one that will require additional treatments for the rest of her life.

Meredith is lucky to have a Guerin Prep graduate as her cousin, Danielle Piagentini GP ‘07. (Meredith’s mom is Patricia Fisher Schleehauf MTG ‘91 and Danielle’s mom is Janine Karnick Piagentini MTG ‘75.) Over the last two years, Danielle and her mom have hosted meetings to organize a benefit for Meredith. This inspired Danielle, who will be a sophomore at ISU in the fall. A three-sport athlete during her high school career, Danielle decided to use her love of running to raise money for Meredith and all children affected by heart conditions. She’s dubbed herself the “Joyful Jogger” and will be competing in the Chicago Half-Marathon this September and hoping people will have a heart for her cause.

“Mr. Falcone, my soccer coach at Guerin Prep, told us to find something we love doing and are so passionate about that we can change other people’s lives. That’s what I am trying to do,” said Danielle.

Learn more at www.meredithsjoyfulheart.com

Behind the Scenes with Anna Musso MTG ‘97

Some call it “the road less traveled.” According to Anna Musso, MTG ‘97, she’s living a life “I had no idea was even possible.”

Anna took a less than ordinary path following high school, moving to New York City to follow her instincts and attend the School of Visual Arts. “Somehow, even as a little girl of eight, I loved the Village Art School I attended in Skokie,” says Anna. This is where her understanding of art as the opportunity to fill a “white box” and express herself began. At 17, when it was time to choose college, she knew that the idea of a four-year university was not the right decision for her – despite the preferences of her parents.

“I was very afraid to leave Chicago and my friends cautioned me that New York was too big and strange. But even though I wasn’t sure why, I knew I wanted to pursue art and to experience something different.”

First she studied painting; but the chance to act in a fellow student’s film opened her eyes to even more possibilities. Anna had always loved movies. Suddenly, she realized regular people like her made them! She was fascinated by the collaborative process of a number of artists. “Filmmaking is the opportunity to put people in a dark room, shine a light on them and tell the world what you are thinking,” Anna says. “On film, we reflect people’s lives through our own interpretation. That’s how we inspire one another.”

Switching majors was a challenge, with only one of a full year’s classes counting toward her film degree. So Anna found herself working hard through summer school and racking up those student loans. “But it was worth every penny,” she says.

An amazing eight years later, she picked up everything and headed across the country to “Hollywood” with the dream of one day being a film director. To pay off those with college loans, she started working on what she refers to as “‘not the best movies.’ But I was open to taking almost anything I could to gain experience.” She worked on a number of independent films, a documentary that never aired and the popular movie, “Friends with Money.”

In the midst of regular 20 hour days, Anna met a stranger and had what turned out to be a life-changing conversation. They were chatting about dreams and careers when Anna mentioned her goal of being a director and a handful of people she’d love to apprentice under someday. Nearly six months later, she answered the phone to “you probably don’t remember me, but my cousin who is a producer is forming a corporation with Alexander Payne.” Anna was driving at the time, she recalls and “nearly crashed my car.” Of the six or so directors Anna had mentioned, Alexander was one of two who were still alive.

Today, she works with a “wonderful little film company” called Ad Hominem, a shingle for Fox Searchlight, with film director Alexander Payne (“Sideways,” “Election,” “About Schmidt”) who’s been her hero for years.  She’s enjoyed being a part of this five-person company, working as the assistant to both the producer and director and bringing a number of projects to life from the ground up. “Film projects take a long time,” she says. “Some we began three years ago are just getting into production, but we’ve got several to go that will show up sometime in the next three years.”

“Many parts of my job are not glamorous, but I am blessed to work for a group of nurturing, supportive people who take a genuine interest in helping me learn and grow. They are extremely rare for Hollywood,” Anna adds.

In short, “my life has been an amazing adventure. I want to especially encourage young women to pursue that life which may seem scary for all its unknowns, yet can prove to make all the difference.” Just as MTG teacher Ms. Diana Tesauro challenged her, Anna suggests “ask questions about careers you don’t see every day and jump into the adventure of picking up and exploring other parts of the world— whether you’re a graduating senior or ready for a second chance.”

In Ms.Tesauro’s AP English class, she found a teacher who strongly encouraged her students to think for themselves. She urged them not just in regard to the literature they studied, but in all parts of life. She advised “don’t just read and take it for granted. Stop and ask great questions.” “Through her class I saw a greater world beyond Mother Guerin.”

“Sure,” Anna muses, “I could have chosen other noble pursuits, perhaps been a doctor. We need bus drivers and scientists, too. All these avenues sustain life. Through filmmaking, I hope to reflect emotion and make people think.”  Anna’s current goal is to complete her nearly finished screenplay, find financing and get started as a director. To all alumni, she recommends, “Fly little bird, fly.”

Dr. Ralph Esposito, putting one foot in front of the other since HC ‘94

You can find Dr. Ralph Esposito, HC ‘94, right here in Chicago practicing with Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd. But last year, he was the invited guest for a training course in Verona, Italy where he learned new applications to help people with foot problems.

“Holy Cross is where my interest in biology and science took root. I then carried what I learned at Holy Cross as an undergraduate and continued to read and learn, especially the sciences,” says Ralph. “Holy Cross was an exciting time for me, I had an excellent class and made great friends. I still keep in touch with some of them and we always laugh at how crazy and careless we were. What a wonderful time.”

Ralph studied business and chemistry at Elmhurst College, leaving early to pursue studies at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland. In 2003, he moved to Detroit for a residency at Kern Hospital/Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital. He has been published in “The Foot,” a medical journal for his study of the effects of Ceralas D-15 Diode laser on wound healing. Ralph is engaged to Anna Danielle Randazzo with marriage plans for Aug., 2009.

Dr. Joe Dobner, HC '66
Doctor, Teacher, Farmer, Family Man and Bronze Star recipient

Submitted by Joe Dobner
After leaving Holy Cross High School, I was a four-year scholarship football player at Wake Forest University. In my senior year, I was chosen to be a part of the All Atlantic Coast Conference team. My sophomore, junior and senior years, I was chosen academic all-ACC.

I won a NCAA post grad scholarship, which I used to attend Wake Forest medical school. I completed my specialty training in orthopaedic surgery in Denver at Fitsimons Army Medical Center, followed by two years at Fort Knox before moving to Frankfort, Kentucky, where I still reside.

Currently, I am in private practice as well as an instructor one day a week at the University of Kentucky as an associate clinical professor of Orthopaedics.

I am still in the National Guard and have been awarded a Bronze Star. During Desert Storm, I was the commander of the 475th MASH hospital deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In 2003, I was deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. I continue to serve in the Guard with 42 years of service. I'm a little to old to be deployed again but you never know.

My wife Bev and I have four children: Joseph, Betsy, Megan and Andrew. We also enjoy our two grandchildren, Mary Grace and John Luke. I lost my dad in'80 and my brother in '86. My mom is still kicking at age 92.

Steven L. Stancy '83 - Man with Honor: Holds Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy Meritorious Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (2)

On Tuesday, 2 September 2008, Commander Steven L. Stancy was promoted to Captain, United States Navy, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) by Captain Richard D. Berkey, the Shipyard Commander.  Captain Stancy, a 21-year naval veteran, is currently the Production Resources Officer at NNSY, responsible for the training, qualifications, and processes employed by the shipyard’s 4000 mechanics.  Captain Stancy is a 1983 graduate of Holy Cross High School in River Grove, IL and a 1987 graduate of Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.  

Previous Navy sea tours include Boilers Officer onboard USS JULIUS A. FURER (FFG 6) homeported in Charleston, SC, Combat Information Center Officer and Repair Officer onboard USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG 32) homeported in San Diego, California, and Engineer Officer onboard USS ARIES (PHM 5), a hydrofoil homeported in Key West, FL.

From 1993-1995, Captain Stancy attended the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA, where he earned a masters degree in mechanical engineering.  While at NPS, he transferred from the Surface Warfare community to the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community.  Prior to his first assignment as an EDO, Captain Stancy attend the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL, where he qualified as a Navy Diving and Salvage Officer.

Captain Stancy’s first EDO tour was at the Ship Repair Facility (SRF) in Yokosuka, Japan from December 1996 to November 1999.  There, he was responsible for the maintenance and modernization of the USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53) and the USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63), the Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier.  At SRF, he was also a qualified docking officer and the command’s diving officer. 

Following the tour in Japan, Captain Stancy was transferred in December 1999 to the staff of the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, HI, where he was the Deputy Director for Surface Ship and Aircraft Carrier Maintenance and the Pacific Fleet Diving and Salvage Officer.  During this tour, Captain Stancy participated in the relocation of the Japanese Fishing Vessel, Ehime Maru, which sank after being struck by the U.S. submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN-772) in February 2001, and the recovery of nine missing crewmembers and students. 

In July 2003, Captain Stancy was transferred to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding , Conversion, and Repair (SUPSHIP) Portsmouth, VA as the Engineering Officer.  In 2004, he became the Amphibious and Auxiliary Ship Class Team Leader when SUPSHIP was merged with other Norfolk-area maintenance commands to become the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center.

Captain Stancy transferred to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in July 2005 and was assigned as the Military Deputy Project Superintendent for the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) Docking, Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA).  After completing the TRUMAN’s ten-month DPIA, Captain Stancy deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in January 2007 as an Individual Augmentee supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ reconstruction effort.  Captain Stancy worked to restore the electrical transmission infrastructure throughout Iraq.  Upon returning from Iraq in August 2007, Captain Stancy was assigned as the Production Resources Officer at NNSY.

Captain Stancy is married to the former Karyn Jurgens of Palo Alto, CA.  They have four children, whom they homeschool, and reside in Chesapeake, VA.

Captain Stancy’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy Meritorious Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (2).

At Holy Cross, StancyI loved science and math - in addition to music and being active.  The teachers at Holy Cross High School encouraged him to do my best in all his subjects.  "The knowledge I gained at Holy Cross is still with me every day - 25 years later," he says.