Sep 23, 2024 | Alumni News & Photos
General Thomas DeLuca
General Thomas DeLuca, Class of 1967
Elected Supreme President
Knights of St. John International
Thomas DeLuca, a son of Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic parish, was elected Supreme President of the 20,000-member Knights of St. John International at its convention in Buffalo, N.Y. in July, 2024.
Under its constitutional guidelines, the Knights gather every two years, but it had been six years, because of the pandemic, before the Knights gathered from around the world to select a new head.
DeLuca wondered whether competition would emerge for the presidency for the Roman Catholic order, an international Catholic fraternal service organization with members in nine countries, including countries as diverse as Germany and Nigeria. However, DeLuca was elected without contest as the head of the order, incorporated some 138 years ago. He is committed not only to aggressively shepherding the Knights in the twenty-first century, but also to growing the order, with specific outreach to young men who are seeking a fraternity that is both social and spiritual.
Describing the Knights as “a great group of guys,” DeLuca added: “You know I am an only child, so the Knights are really my brothers.” Membership in the Knights is also part of his legacy. His father, Horace DeLuca, now passed, was a Knight as is his son, Joseph.
DeLuca, 71, graduated from Blessed Trinity School in 1967 and joined the Knights at age sixteen while attending Bishop Fallon High School. An active Knight for 55 years, largely in leadership roles, DeLuca had served as the Knight’s first vice president for a decade before being elected president.
He has now officially retired after a career in technology and project management although he continues to receive offers to continue. In the view of the General, being president of the Knights of St. John is more than a full-time job.
DeLuca grew up in Buffalo and is now a resident of Cheektowaga, N.Y. He is a graduate of D’Youville University. He met his wife, Cindy, there and history repeated itself when his daughter, Amy, met her husband there.
Jul 20, 2024 | Alumni News & Photos
Alumni Memorial Mass
Oct 6, 2024 at 10AM
CALLING ALL SCHOOL ALUMNI ~ Sunday, October 6, is the date of the 2024 Alumni Memorial Mass and all-class reception. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for 10 AM Mass at Blessed Trinity Church. During the Mass, all recently deceased school graduates will be remembered by name. Members of those classes celebrating significant anniversaries (1974, 1964 and 1954) are invited to make arrangements to participate in a special way. A hard copy newsletter containing details will be mailed to everyone in the alumni committee’s database. If you have moved since August 2023 or are not sure if they have your current contact information, please use the “Contact Us” template below to submit your information and mention “alumni” as part of your message. If you are aware of any graduate who has passed since September 2023 but is not included in our In Memoriam posts for 2023 or 2024, please use this same form to advise the committee. Approximate year of graduation and/or maiden name of married woman is especially helpful.
Apr 28, 2024 | In Memoriam
“I believe in … the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.”
The last of 12 symbols on our church façade depicting tenants of the Faith (belief in life everlasting) as recited in The Apostles Creed.
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
Barbara MacVittie Loomis, ’55
Diane Gaynor, ’69
Barbara Gray Radice, ’64
Barbara Gray Radice, ’64
September 1, 1950 – April 20, 2024
Donald E. Lenda, ’53
Donald E. Lenda, ’53
February 28, 1940 – April 23, 2024
Maureen Doody Pirrone, ’62
John Castro, ’51
John Castro, ’51
December 29, 1938 – May 21, 2024
Kenneth E. Stengel, ’61
Kenneth E. Stengel, ’61
December 9, 1947 – October 17, 2024
Sr. Richard Marie, SSJ
Mary Ann Keppeler, ’49
Aug 6, 2023 | Alumni Memories
“St. Helena,” the bell which hung in the former church and school building (visible in background) from 1909 until 2018, is now permanently displayed in front of church. It was blessed and rededicated by Fr. Victor in a ceremony following the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Usher Ed Marien, a member of the school’s Class of 1944, rang the bell. Bud Dick, Parish Trustee and member of the Class of 1958 (left), coordinated the School Alumni’s Bell Project, which funded
the bell’s removal, restoration and relocation.
Jun 30, 2023 | Alumni News & Photos, Upcoming Events
Annual Alumni Memorial Mass
Sept 24, 2023 at 10AM
CALLING ALL SCHOOL ALUMNI ~ Sunday, September 24, is the date of the 2023 Alumni Memorial Mass and all-class reception. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for 10 AM Mass at Blessed Trinity Church. During the Mass, all recently deceased school graduates will be remembered by name. Members of those classes celebrating significant anniversaries (1973, 1963 and 1953) are invited to make arrangements to participate in a special way. A hard copy newsletter containing details will be mailed to everyone in the alumni committee’s database. If you have moved since August 2022 or are not sure if they have your current contact information, please use the “Contact Us” template below to submit your information and mention “alumni” as part of your message. If you are aware of any graduate who has passed since September 2022 but is not included in our In Memoriam posts for 2022 and 2023, please use this same form to advise the committee. Approximate year of graduation and/or maiden name of married woman is especially helpful.
Jan 21, 2023 | In Memoriam
“I believe in … the Communion of Saints….and life everlating. Amen.”
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
Edward G. Marien, ’44
Edward G. Marien, ’44
January 1, 2030 – January 15, 2023
Patricia Green Obermeier, ’60
Dianne Maurer Borth, ’59
Dennis F. Ryan, ’57
May 6, 1944 – February 22, 2023
Michael J. Ervolino, ’49
Sr. Marion Karl, OSF, ’38
Sister Marion Karl, OSF., ’38
May 12, 1924 – March 27, 2023
Gerald D. Braun, ’59
MaryAnn Brodfuehrer Cortright, ’69
Mary Ann Marthia Mueller, ’55
Mary Lanigan Saladyga, ’66
Ruth Hibschweiler, ’63
Donald J. Karl, ’44
Donald J. Karl, ’44
July 3, 1930 – June 1, 2023
Philip R. Sommer, ’73
Susan Chaplin Schillace, ’68
Susan Chaplin Schilace, ’68
September 27, 1954 – September 19, 2023
Judith Gabriel Behr, ’56
Judith A. Gabriel Behr, ’56
1942 – October 26, 2023
JoAnn Fleming Vogel, ’54
