September 11, 2025

DM Express

Here is the latest from DeMatha:

• We gathered for our first schoolwide "Mass of the Holy Spirit" Tuesday to commemorate DeMatha's 79th anniversary and dedicate the Cross Center for Engineering, Arts & Robotics. Bishop Robert Campbell, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, was our celebrant.

• Here's a video of the Mass from DM Stags TV and a photo gallery of the day's events, courtesy of Andrew Travers '11.

• At the Cross Center dedication, which will formally open soon, DeMatha Principal Dr. Dan McMahon '76 said, "When we say that the building is not done—we really mean the building of our lives." Video (courtesy of Jordan Gill '15)

• Please consider supporting the DeMatha Music program as a sponsor or advertiser for the 2025-26 concert season. The deadline is Oct. 1. Link

Prayers Requested:

• Kathy Duffy, wife of longtime DeMatha basketball announcer Dennis, and mother of Matt '97 and Chris '05.

In Memoriam:

• As today is the anniversary of 9/11, we remember those who died on that tragic day 24 years ago.

• Charles (Bob) Green, father of former longtime staff member Mary Kerley. Father-in-law of Vince Kerley '69. Grandfather of Jim '98, Chris '01, Danny '04 and Stephen '07 Favret. Obituary

• Mark Rierson '76, father of Eric '13. A celebration of life will be held at Bourbon Street Restaurant on 126th Street in Ocean City, Md., on Saturday Sept. 27 from 1-4 p.m.

• Mary Jane Thomas, mother of Mike '86 and a former teacher at Seton High School. Obituary

• Dr. Robert Yaklich, father of Joseph '96. Obituary

Athletics:

• The football team defeated Imhotep Charter, 30-14, for its 12th consecutive win. It was coach Bill McGregor's 325th career victory. AI recap / Here's a story (for Washington Post subscribers).

• In previewing the game, NBC10 Philadelphia referred to the Stags as a Maryland "powerhouse."

• In the Rivals National High School Football Composite Rankings, DeMatha is ranked 15th in the nation.

• The Stags travel to Widener University in Philadelphia on Friday to play Roman Catholic (2-1) at 7 p.m. DeMatha defeated the Cahillites in five overtimes two years ago and 49-12 last season. (If we get streaming information, we'll share it on social media.)

• The soccer team (0-1-1) tied Severn, 3-3, and lost at Archbishop Curley, 6-2. The Stags next game is at Good Counsel on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.

• The cross country team posted its best performance of the year by placing fifth in the Bittersweet Invitational. The Stags' next event is Saturday at Chesapeake High School in Pasadena, Md.

• CBS Sports announcer James Brown '69 began his 32nd year as a pre-game host Sunday. The show, usually in New York, was staged at Lambeau Field for the game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

• Nick Cross '19 turned in another high-level performance in the Colts' 33-8 victory over the Dolphins. Nick tied for the team lead with four solo tackles, including this blindside sack.

Alumni:

• Reunions for the classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 will be Saturday Sept. 20, 3-7 p.m. at DeMatha. We're excited to welcome fellow Stags back on campus for a memorable evening. Food, beverages and a T-shirt provided. Register here.

• Our first Red & Blue Meet Up of the new school year is at Franklin's Restaurant in Hyattsville on Wednesday Sept. 17, 6-8 p.m. Franklin's will be serving a special brew, Loon-Dawg, in memory of Brendan Looney '99. Free admission, and the first round of Loon-Dawg is courtesy of our sponsors: Steve Greene '61, Charlie Kenny '68, the Troops First Foundation and the Brendan Looney Foundation.

• Registrations are filling up and only a few slots remain. So, if you would like to attend, make sure to register as soon as possible. We will be remembering Brendan just days before the 15th anniversary of his death in Afghanistan.

• Zachary Keene '06 has been promoted to accounts payable lead with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia. 

• Jonathan Rafterry-Lee '13 is working for Lumen Technologies as a sales development representative.

• Donnell Troy Jr. '18, who plays trombone, is the latest DeMatha grad to join the 257th Army Band. Fellow alumni include Andy Waiters '04, Paul Harding '01 and Steven Kemp '00. Donnell is also a music instructor at H.D. Woodson High School in Northeast Washington. Photo

• Austin Boynes '22, a senior journalism major at Temple University, is interning with Philadelphia Sports Digest covering the Temple football team. Here's his preview of the Owls (2-0) game against No. 13 Oklahoma (2-0).

• Dylan McKelvy '22 interned with Dupont last summer working in the State and Local Tax Department.

Stag Store Item of the Week:

• Just in time for the upcoming reunions, this DeMatha Alumni All Day Hoodie is an ultra soft, mid-weight cotton-blend fleece with a brushed interior for extra warmth. Get yours before they sell out! $55 Link

Events & Miscellaneous Information:

• The 55th-annual DeMatha Crab Feast is Saturday Sept. 27 (4-7 p.m.), and we still have room for you. Ticket prices are the same as last year: $85 in advance for adults, $70 for children under 12. Reserve your spot online now or by mailing a check to Tim Miller '80, 6008 43rd Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781. For seating preferences or questions, contact Tim at demathacrabfeast@gmail.com.

• A DeMatha alum looking for a job opportunity in the business (marketing) field. Please contact Ben Fleri '11 at bfleri@dematha.org with any inquiries or questions.

• We will be hosting a ZOOM session with leading talent-attraction consultant and career coach Bill Humbert '67 on Tuesday Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. The session will focus on goal setting and job recruitment and placement. It is geared toward young alumni, but all DeMatha graduates are welcome to participate. If interested, contact Ben Fleri '11 (bfleri@dematha.org) and he will forward you the link.

That is all.

Thomas Ponton '78

Executive Director of Advancement

tponton@dematha.org

240-764-2222

Postscript from the Office of Advancement:

Dr. Dan McMahon '76 looked it up. The day that DeMatha first opened its doors on Sept. 9, 1946, the temperature was 95 degrees and the relative humidity was 71%.

This Tuesday, as mentioned in news above, DeMatha celebrated its Opening Year Mass on our 79th anniversary. We also dedicated the new Cross Center for Engineering, Arts & Robotics. The entire school community gathered outside to witness the dedication ceremony. Thank heavens the weather was much more accommodating on Sept. 9 of this year.

It's amazing how the school has progressed from just 18 students all those years ago to 870-plus students now and well over 11,000 alumni.  

Since 1946, consider the following:

-- DeMatha has been recognized twice by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School for Excellence.

-- Our Wind Ensemble has been honored nearly 20 times, including this past May, as the nation's top Catholic high school band.

-- DeMatha has had a number of graduates called to religious life. Others have enjoyed rewarding careers in medicine, law, journalism, law enforcement, business, finance, education, etc. Numerous Stags have served in our nation's military. 

-- DeMatha has won national championships in soccer and basketball as well as 227 conference championships in 14 sports. Several teams have been consistently nationally ranked.

-- Coach Morgan Wootten and Adrian Dantley '73 are enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

-- Numerous students have been singled out nationally and locally for academic, music, and athletic achievement. Four graduates have won gold medals representing Team USA in the Olympics.

-- In addition, DeMatha has had several teachers recognized nationally and locally. Nearly 50 faculty/staff members, a number of them alumni, have served the school for 20 or more years.

These are just a few of the accomplishments in the decades since 1946. Seventy nine years ago, classes were held in what used to be the monastery and is now St. John de Matha Hall. Today, the school still utilizes space in that building, along with the main school building, which opened in 1950 and was expanded in 1960 and 1990; the Brendan McCarthy '64 Music Center (1997); the LT (SEAL) Brendan Looney '99 Convocation Center (2010); and now the Cross Center for Engineering, Arts & Robotics (2025).

The remarkable growth and achievement down through the years makes for an incredible story. What lies ahead? Time will tell. So we press on, navigating the tide and the wind, always conscious of our past, always striving for excellence and improving upon what has come before.

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