Your 2023 Dragons Summer Newsletter is here!

We are excited to announce the

18th Annual Christian Brothers

Alumni Golf Outing will be held on

Monday, September 11, 2023.

Cost of this event is $150/person, which includes 18 holes of golf, use of a golf cart, lunch on the course, one domestic beer ticket and BBQ buffet dinner/cocktail hour.

Alumni are invited to bring children or grandchildren at the discounted price of $120/person. Alumni who do not want to play golf are welcome to join us for lunch on the course, followed by a cocktail hour for $40/person.

Event sponsorship opportunities are still available for this year’s event!

Show your class pride by purchasing a hole sponsorship with your classmates, or sponsor a game hole and settle that brutal rivalry with your high school nemesis once and for all! Sponsorship opportunities are listed on this year's Registration Form.

Thank you to the 185 Dragons who attended this year's 77th Annual Alumni Luncheon on Monday, May 1, 2023 at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling, IL.

Take a look at photos from this year's event by CLICKING HERE.

THANK YOU to those of you who have donated to this year's 2023 KabarA Challenge. We are only $48,800 away from reaching this year's $400,000 goal! Please click the Knights image above to be taken to this year's KabarA website. While there, you can read about the campaign, make a donation and read through one of the many Brother's profiles like the one above on Br. Tom Hetland, Class of 1965.

Welcome to your newest St. George Board Members!

Joe Schmidt, AFSC, Class of 1963

Dr. Joe began his teaching career at Saint Patrick High School in the fall of 1967.

After graduating from Purdue University majoring in Management, he earned his

Master’s Degree in School Administration from Loyola University in 1975 and his

Doctorate in School Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1989. He

was named Principal in 1987, becoming the first lay-principal under the new

administrative model. After a decade of serving as Principal, Dr. Joe was honored

in 1997 with the Christian Brothers’ Midwest District Lasallian Award and was

inducted into the Saint Patrick High School Hall of Fame that same year. In 2013

he was appointed the first lay President at St. Pat’s and after 54 years at the

school he retired in 2021 from the “home of the Shamrocks.”

The third of four sons, he and his family have had a long association with the

Christian Brothers. He proudly received his “Letter of Affiliation” from the

Brothers on October 20, 2010. Dr. Joe, as well as his father and two of his

brothers, were graduates of Saint George High School. His father, Carl, served as

a member of the St. George School Board and his mother, Catherine, was an

officer in the school’s Parents Club.

Dr. Joe has served as a Director of the Western Golf Association since 1999 and

was inducted into the WGA Caddie Hall of Fame in 2021. He remains active with

the Evans Scholars Foundation at St. Pat’s and McHenry Country Club. He resides

in McHenry with his beautiful wife Sheryl.

Joe Siprut, Class of 1968

After graduation from SGHS in 1968 I attended the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and graduated in 1972 with a BS in Business Administration and Major in Accounting. I spent my career in the Engineering and Construction field and retired in 2015 as CFO for the USA operations of a major company in the Wind Energy Industry.

I continued my wrestling career( which began under Coach Paul Schmidt-SGS 1958) at UIC which was highlighted by earning NCAA College Division( now D2) All American Status in 1972 and being named UIC Athlete of the year with later entry into the UIC Athletic Hall of Fame.

I married my bride Kim (retired private school teacher) 47 years ago and we had two children Joe and Kristina, who have given us five grandchildren ages 10-17 which keep us very busy with all the activities as we operate from our home base in Mount Prospect. We have done several road trips after our retirements and love to travel and spend time with friends. I am trying golf and loving the outdoors and camaraderie, but clearly it is not my sport. I am delighted to be on the Board of the SGHS Alumni Association where I hope to be a contributor in keeping the Dragon spirit alive and influencing alumni participation in the various programs.

This year's Burnell Tuition Assistance Program recipients with St. George

alumni from this year's Annual Benefactors Luncheon.

2023 Saints & Sinners Luncheon

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at

Hackney's on Lake in Glenview, IL

2024 St. George Alumni Luncheon

Monday, May 6, 2024 at

Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling, IL

Congratulations to John Hodel, Class of 1965, who was recently inducted into Catholic League Hall of Fame! You can view John’s bio HERE. You can also view historical information on the Catholic League Hall of Fame HERE.

Over the years, St. George has had 33 alumni and/or coaches inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame. Thanks to Br. Tom Hetland for the comprehensive list below:

Don Amidei inducted in 1984 as Coach at St. George

Jim Angsten ’66 inducted in 1992 as Coach at St. Rita and as President of the Chicago Catholic League

Tony Barone ‘64 inducted in 1991 as Athlete and as Coach at St. Rita

Paul Biebel ‘60 St. George grad inducted in 1979 as Athlete and Official

Max Burnell Sr. inducted as Coach at St. George – year not specified on website

Bob Calihan ‘36 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Lawrence Coutre ’46 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Don Dufek ’47 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Frank Ehmann ’51 inducted as Athlete in 1991

Bob Erlenbaugh ’61 inducted in 2006 as Coach at Loyola Academy

Chuck Erlenbaugh ’63 inducted in 1991 as Athlete and as Coach at Loyola Academy

Dick Fitzgerald ’52 inducted in 1989 as Athlete

John Hodel ‘65 inducted in 2023 as Official

Henry Hyde ’42 inducted in 1991 as Athlete

Leo Kilfoy ‘47 inducted in 2002 category unspecified

Bob Lauter ’51 inducted in 1996 as Athlete

Chuck Lewandowski inducted as Coach at St. George – year not specified on website

Bill Maloney ’38 inducted in 1985 as Coach at St. George

Dr. Edward Norton inducted as Coach at St. George – year not specified on website

Brother Adrian Powers, FSC inducted as Administrator at St. George – year not specified on website

Chuck Ruzicka ‘62 inducted in 2005 as Athlete

Pete Schmit inducted in 1987 as Coach at St. George

Bob Smith ’55 inducted in 2008 as Athlete

Dr. Tom Sullivan ’61 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Clarence “Bronco” Telkes ’46 inducted in 1984 as Trainer / Coach at Gordon Tech

Jack Tierney ‘38 inducted as Coach at St. George – year not specified on website

Mickey Tierney inducted in 1991 as Coach at St. George

Tony Tortorello ‘36 inducted in 1981 as Official

Marty Wendell ’44 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Ken Wiltgen ’44 inducted in 2003 as Coach

Jim Wulff ’54 inducted as Athlete – year not specified on website

Bill Wynn ’57 inducted in 1979 as Coach at Gordon Tech

Jack Zachary ’55 inducted in 2002 as Athlete

In Memoriam - Max Burnell, Jr.

Max H. Burnell passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 8, 2023

at the age of 83. He was married for 36 years to the love of his life, Carol F. Burnell. He was the proud father of Suzette Hernandez (Anel), Shannon Boueri (Rabih), Michelle Calmes (Thomas), Christina Chavez (Richard), and Michael Kraus (Michelle) and the loving grandfather of 16 grandchildren: Zack & Christian Hernandez, Yasmine & John Max Boueri, Anthony & Nick Pirini, Katelyn, Adam, & Brandon Hawkins, Noah & Isaiah Chavez, and Andrew, Kate, Emmy, Becca, & Will Kraus. Son of the late Kaye Moser (late, Jack) and Max Burnell, Sr. and son-in-law of Carol Castle. Brother of Marla Moser (Jake) and brother-in-law of Ed Castle, Mary Spencer (Kevin), Kathy Flores (Will), John Castle (Cindy), Joe Castle (Trudy), Teresa Smith (Paul), and Chris Castle. Max is also survived by his ex-wife, Susan Decker Burnell Goodyear, mother of Suzette & Shannon. He will also be dearly missed by many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Max was a fellow Dragon at St. George High School and was a graduate of Notre Dame University where he played football. He was the owner and operator of many companies: Southern Sales Systems, Custodial Systems, and Kiko Foods. He was a passionate Notre Dame and Saints fan, an avid fisherman, and enjoyed boating, gardening, and caring for his orchids.

For more up-to-date information on your Midwest District

and St. George happenings, CLICK HERE to view the

alumni page on the District website. Your 2023 Kearns book is being worked on as we speak and will be mailed out to interested alumni as soon as it has been printed.

In an effort to save on the increasing costs associated with a printed alumni newsletter, this year's 2023 Summer St. George Newsletter will only be emailed. If you would prefer a paper copy, please contact Joanna Wagner at [email protected] or 630.323.3725.