Notre Dame High School honors alumni

Notre Dame High School in Niles took advantage of homecoming weekend and honored 33 alumni Sunday in its first ever Hall of Honor Awards.

The Notre Dame High School Hall of Honor Awards were established to recognize alumni who have exhibited outstanding achievement in faith, scholarship and service since their graduation.

Among the 33 men being honored are James Pankow (Class of 1965) who is a founding member of the band Chicago; Chicago Cubs President John McDonough (Class of 1971); Pat McCaskey (Class of 1967) of the Chicago Bears; and James Larocco (Class of 1966), director general of the Multinational Force and Observers in Rome, Italy and former ambassador of Kuwait.

"It's overwhelming," said McDonough. "I feel humbled by it because the education I received there was a great foundation. I was not a standout student or athlete but Notre Dame taught me persistence and discipline."

McDonough fondly remembers the teachers, particularly his favorite one, Tom Podock, who taught business for 37 years at Notre Dame.

"He taught personality and the ability to laugh at yourself and to have fun in the classroom," said McDonough. "He's played a very big role in my life."

Pankow says he was greatly influenced by the late Father George Wiskirchen, the long-time jazz band director at Notre Dame and at the University of Notre Dame, really inspired Pankow's musical future.

"I probably wouldn't be who I am without his influence," said Pankow.

At NDHS, Pankow and his classmates played for many audiences and even got to meet Count Basie and Quincy Jones. Wiskirchen had brought these artists to meet and jam with the student musicians.

"In Chicago, I'm the only member who came from a jazz background so perhaps Father Wiskirchen and his influence on me set the stage to take the jazz background to rock and roll," he added.

Here's the complete list of inductees:

• George Holley '58, CEO Home Diagnostics, Inc. His $1 million gift to the school helped the construction of the George Holley Science and Technology Center, which was completed in 2001.

• Eugene Faut '59, retired from sales and sales management in the computer industry and vice president of the NDHS Alumni Association.

• Michael B. Roche '59, shareholder and attorney at Schuyler, Roche & Zwirner

• Robert Goldberg '60, member of the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Board of Options Exchange

• Raymond Gorzynski '60, vice president of sales for Medtrol, Inc.

• Thomas Fahey, M.D. '60, retired orthopedic surgeon from Fahey Medical Center, S.C.

• Terry O'Brien '60, retired from O'Brien Manufacturing Co. Sewer Equipment Co. of America

• William DeBaets '60, retired, beloved longtime NDHS teacher

• John Zei '62, president and CEO of Knowles Electronics.

• Paul Kanzer '64, Technical Support Availability manager for Computer Associates.

• Francis A. Gembala '65, retired Cook County Circuit Court associate judge in the Domestic Relations Division.

• James Pankow '65, influential trombonist and composer for the group Chicago.

• James Larocco '66, director general of the Multinational Force and Observers in Rome, Italy and former ambassador of Kuwait.

• John Accetturo '66, councilmen for Carmel, Indiana and managing partner of CMA Consultants, LLC.

• John Ranos '66, business manager of the Department of Anesthesiology at Rush University Medical Center.

• Robert Flood '66, president of Flood Brothers Disposal & Recycling Services and a Notre Dame High School Executive Board member.

• Frank Marrese '66, president of Ecker Enterprises, Inc.

• Patrick McCaskey '67, board member and the Special Projects senior director of the Chicago Bears

• James Durkin '67, corporate vice president at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and president of Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.

• Joe Petricca '68, retired long-time head football coach, physical and driver's education teacher at Palatine High School

• William A. Shiel '68, senior vice president, Facilities Development for Walgreen Co.

• John L. Krazinski '68, retired as a mechanical engineer for Argonne National Laboratory.

• Joseph G. Martorano, MD '70, president of Medtrol, Inc.

• Daniel Locallo '70, Cook County Circuit Court judge in the Law Division.

• Ken Marchetti '70, president & CEO of Olmarc Packaging Company.

• Rev. Thomas Baima '71, currently the acting rector/president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

• John F. McDonough '71, president of the Chicago Cubs

• Rev. Gregory S. Sakowicz '71, pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Chicago and co-host of the Archdiocese of Chicago's "Catholic Schools Today" program on 820-AM.

• David Daul '72, president of Allen Woods & Associates, Inc.

• Rev. Thomas P. May '73, pastor of St. John Brebeuf in Niles, Ill.

• Rev. Austin I. Collins, CSC '73, professor on the faculty of the Department of Art, Art History and Design at the University of Notre Dame.

• Matthew Berrafato '76, partner in Messmer/Berrafato Consulting Group and chairman of the First Step Foundation.

• Christopher T. Nowotarski '76, president of Christopher T. Nowotarski, P.C. and Notre Dame High School Executive Board member.