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EDUCATORS HONORED AT CATHOLIC EDUCATORS NIGHT

By Gabriella Dominic     3/12/2020

The Diocese of Orange Department of Catholic Schools on Feb. 7 celebrated those who serve Catholic education with distinction in Orange County. Dr. Dennis Galigani and Tom Greely received the 2020 Bishop Vann Award recognizing their leadership in the School Sustainability Study. Patrick Murphy, former president of Mater Dei High School, and 39 educators were honored for their years of service and commitment to Catholic education. 

Nearly 300 people packed the Tuscany Ballroom at the Double Tree Hotel in Anaheim to honor and celebrate the contributions of the group. Bishop Vann and Auxiliary Bishop Nguyen were present for the evening festivities.  

“It’s all about the kids,” said both Galigani and Greely.  

OC Catholic school graduate and mayor of Yorba Linda Tara Campbell delivered the evening’s keynote address. Campbell is a graduate of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda and Rosary Academy in Fullerton. She is the youngest female mayor in California history, being unanimously voted to serve as mayor at the age of 25. The OC Register listed Campbell as one of the 100 most influential people in Orange County in 2019.  

“A lot of people asked me where I got the confidence to be able to run at such a young age,” Campbell said. “I have to give credit to my foundation, my Catholic school education, and especially my teachers. My teachers had always raised the bar higher for me than I often did for myself. Rosary gave me the confidence that I didn’t know I had.” 

The evening began with a reception with music provided by Timmy McKeever from Sts. Simon and Jude School in Huntington Beach. The Marian Alliance Jazz Band, led by Bruno Cilloniz, provided the musical interlude during dinner.  

Thirty-nine teachers were honored by the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Erin Barisano, with special recognition to Patrick Murphy for his 30 years of service at Mater Dei High School. After moving on to take a leadership position with the Arizona Coyotes, Murphy stays loyal to the Monarchs. He now serves as a volunteer consultant in the areas of long-range master planning and capital campaign fundraising for Mater Dei.  

 Murphy shared that the reason he got up every morning at 5:30 without an alarm clock was the thousands of students that go through Mater Dei. He shared, “I hope in some small way, I was able to touch their lives.” 

The evening concluded with words of blessing from Msgr. Stephen Doktorczyk, vicar general and moderator of the curia, who prayed for all to continue advancing the ministry of Catholic schools. 

 

HONOREES 

 

10TH ANNIVERSARY 

Rory Beveins, Rosary Academy (Fullerton) 

Diane D’Alba, Rosary Academy (Fullerton) 

 

15TH ANNIVERSARY 

Lisa Canton, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Trina Hartman, Rosary Academy (Fullerton) 

Beth Thomas, Our Lady Queen of Angels (Newport Beach) 

Julie Tipton, Our Lady Queen of Angels (Newport Beach) 

Sabrina Usher, Our Lady Queen of Angels (Newport Beach) 

 

20TH ANNIVERSARY 

Monica Aguilera, St. Joseph School (Santa Ana) 

Gerianne Alaghehband, St. Joseph School (Santa Ana) 

Eduardo Gutierrez, Rosary Academy (Fullerton) 

Margaret Harlow, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Marian Nanry, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Blas Villa, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Ana Lily Westhart, Our Lady Queen of Angels (Newport Beach) 

Shannon Willey, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

 

25TH ANNIVERSARY 

Melda Arick, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Gil Barcia, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita) 

Rich Blanc, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita) 

Sara Christian, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Hazel Dryer, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita) 

Lewis Francis, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Hope Hynes, St. Catherine’s Academy (Anaheim) 

Rick Martinez, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Rosita Rising, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

 

30TH ANNIVERSARY 

Amy Luskey-Barth, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita) 

Monica Funes, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Donna Jakubowski, St. Bonaventure School (Huntington Beach) 

Patty Pankenier, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Judy Russell, St. Francis of Assisi School (Yorba Linda) 

Pablo Solis, Santa Margarita Catholic High School (Rancho Santa Margarita) 

Marie Ubl, Holy Family Cathedral School (Orange) 

Steve Viau, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

 

35TH ANNIVERSARY 

Sean Lieblang, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Diane Larsen, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Nancy Hoskin, St. Cecilia Catholic School (Tustin) 

Gary Van Moorleghem, St. Bonaventure School (Huntington Beach)  

 

40TH ANNIVERSARY 

Margery Fischer, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

Tanya Katnic, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) 

 

54TH ANNIVERSARY 

Sr. Anne Otter, St. Angela Merici School (Brea)