2005 Patrick Wolf Distinguished Alumnus Award

 

Joe Seeterlin is a 1974 graduate of OLL. He is the oldest son of Jim and Evelyn with two older sisters, four younger brothers and three younger sisters. All the Seeterlin siblings attended Lakes and six of them graduated from the high school. Joe’s two sons, Matt ‘93 and Dave ‘94 are both alumni. Many Laker graduates attended OLL with a Seeterlin student and have good memories and stories to share about this large, spirited Laker family. Our purpose in this particular article though is to highlight the life of service, and personal achievements of Joe.

 

 

For the past 26 years Joe has served as assistant varsity football coach to Mike Boyd. While attending lakes in the 70’s, Joe played center and linebacker positions and never imagined he would work side by side with his coach and high school principal. The memories of his career as a player focus on the pleasure of playing with talented athletes like Jimmy Wheeler and the thrill of victory in the 1973 Prep Bowl. His coaching highlights include working closely with assistant coach Mel Nuss, coaching both of his sons and of course the 2002 Class D State Championship. Joe has also coached track at OLL for 15 seasons and volunteered with the ski club too. His coaching success was acknowledged when he was named as a member of the Detroit Catholic League Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

While coaching football has been a major part of Joe’s life he has worked at General Motors, Pontiac Truck and Bus Assembly Center for over twenty years as a body shop welder. In his spare time he attended University of Detroit and in 1993 received his Bachelors degree with a teaching certificate. Joe continued his

 

studies at University of Detroit Mercy and in

1997 completed his masters Degree in Education Administration. Joe did all his student teaching at Lakes High School and over the years has taught religion, history, economics, physical ed and government. He is looking forward to his G.M. retirement in 19 months, (but who’s counting?), and hopes to pursue a second career in education.

 

Joe has been active in his home parish, St.

Ben’s in Waterford, where he served on the remodeling committee. Joe was a founding member of the OLL Alumni Association, working in the 1990’s with other graduates and parents on a committee that created the association. He served two terms as a board member and was Association President for two terms. Over the years Joe has been a generous donor to our high school, supporting the computer lab updates, the drama club fundraisers and the annual alumni gift program.

 

When asked where he learned to work so hard Joe recalls along list of jobs, starting at the Drayton Plains Dairy Queen where he earned fifty cents and an ice cream cone for picking up litter and rubbish. From third grade until high school graduation he served as an altar boy and because of his proximity to church was volunteered for many funerals and weddings! He was a paper boy for the ”Pontiac Press”, worked at the Farmer Jack Store, the Royal Oak Foundry and cut and sold firewood with his brother John. Obviously he has a strong work ethic and a sense of community service. He has been an active family man and is proud to have seen his two sons graduate from OLL High school and Michigan State University. For 26 years of his coaching career he has joined the team at 8 am Sunday Mass from August to December. Part of the Mike Boyd coaching philosophy, the team that prays together, stays together. Joe can be found driving what he builds, a GM pickup and for special occasions he has his “babe magnet car, a “94 Firebird TransAm. If you attend a Lakes home game you may see many of his ten siblings, numerous nieces and nephews and even his parents there proudly rooting for Joe and the Laker team. If you ask any of his classmates

they will recall Joe as a really nice guy, a good friend and a team player. He still is just a really great guy and the OLL Alumni Association is proud to recognize his many years of service to the Lakes community. His 26 years of service in the athletic program as well as his teaching and volunteer work have truly been made a positive influence on our student population and the whole community. We are proud to name Joe Seeterlin as the recipient of the 2005 Patrick J. Wolf Distinguished Alumnus Award.

 

 

 

Honorary Alumni – Tom and Sueann McMahon

 

Tom and Sueann McMahon have been active OLL parishioners for 38 years. Tom graduated from St. Fred’s in 1952. In the early 60’s he and his wife moved to the Waterford area and as their family grew they were attracted to Our Lady of the Lakes parish because of the schools. In 1967 he was recruited by Al Serra to coach 7^th and 8^th grade Catholic Youth League Basketball. He said yes and the rest is history.

 

Over his many years he has worked diligently with these players to develop their skills and sense of sportsmanship, grooming them for the high school team. In the early years they always had enough kids to play and sometimes had as many as 28, too many to give everyone the time and attention they needed. Eventually they established three levels with most of the eight graders and the more skilled 7^th graders being on the first team. By increasing to three teams in the 7^th -8^th grade level each player got more time to play and learn the skills of the game.

 

Tom remembers working with many fine athletes but feels the biggest rewards were from helping the kids develop a sense of self esteem. He tried to encourage his players to do their individual best, not measure themselves against each other but to develop as team players. Some kids would work extra hard and it’s the players who worked so hard to improve that gave him the most satisfaction as a coach. He has fond memories of coaching both of his sons, Tommy ‘75 and Joey ‘83 as well as his son-in-law Joe Hoover ’78.

 

When asked what role Sueann held in his coaching career Tom relayed that she was always supportive of the time he spent at school. She was a stay at home Mom, who kept things running smooth. She attended many games over the years and would gently point out if she thought someone wasn’t getting enough playing time. So for all their years of dedication coaching CYO league basketball, Tom from the bench and Sueann from the backseat, we are truly grateful and proud to name them as our newest Honorary Alumni.

 

 

A Letter From the President?

 

 

 

Dear Alumni and Friends of Our Lady of the Lakes,

 

As I enter my 23^rd year at Our Lady of the Lakes and after 19 years as high school principal, I am pleased to inform you that I have been named President of our school.  I want to thank our Pastor, Fr. Delonnay, for this opportunity and pledge to continue to work as hard as I can in the interest of the school.

 

When I became the third high school principal in three years in 1986, I promised Fr. Cronk that I would add stability to the office.  Who could have thought that I would be here 23 years?  I have seen my share of triumph and tragedy and have always been buoyed by the ethereal but very real Laker spirit.  I have enjoyed knowing so many of you and look forward to my new role.

 

The President/Principal administrative model is used in many of our Catholic schools.  As we envision it here, the office of the President will be more involved in the financial issues we face.  Thus, I will be coordinating our efforts in development, advertising, recruiting, and admissions.  It would also be my distinct pleasure to get more actively involved with the alumni.  Helping in these tasks will be Julie Sartori, who is an alumna and teacher.  It is our hope to avoid the fate that had befallen so many Catholic schools recently.  We feel that we have many assets, but we really need your help too.

 

I will still be the chief administrator of the entire school.  We are working on several K-12 initiatives to strengthen our product.  However, I am pleased to relinquish the day to day operations of the high school to my new assistant, Mr. Thomas Oppat.  Tom has a strong Catholic background and a strong faith.  He was most recently at DeLaSalle Collegiate for eight years as campus minister.  I look forward to his energetic contribution.  I am quite happy to leave scintillating issues like dress code and whether or not we get a jeans day Tom!

 

In closing, know we continue to keep the Laker flame burning.  As always, we need your support.  I intend to set up an annual campaign in conjunction with the alumni Tuition Gift awards.  If I ever made you think, or laugh (or even cry!) as your principal, I’d love to hear from you.  E-mail me at carl.uberti@ollonline.org to update me about your family or anything else.  I’d be pleased to respond.

 

Perhaps you can make it to Homecoming or the Dinner-Dance to rekindle some memories.  For now, may God bless you and may God bless Our Lady of the Lakes.

 

Sincerely,

Carl Uberti

  

 

President

 

 

 

 

PLAN A REUNION FOR

THE 2^ND ANNUAL

“LAKER FOR LIFE”

DINNER DANCE/REVERSE RAFFLE

 

Class Reunion’s simplified!  There is an easy way to plan a class reunion with very little effort.  Just purchase a ticket and plan to attend the 2^nd Annual Our Lady of the Lakes – “LAKER FOR LIFE” Dinner Dance at Paint Creek Country Club in Lake Orion (www.paintcreekgolf.com) on Saturday November 5, 2005. 

 

With minimal effort, you can enjoy a wonderful evening with a table of your classmates, and we will do the rest.  The night will feature a full course sit down dinner, live band for dancing to the music of King Sweat (www.kingsweat.com) and an opportunity to win money.  You may run into some of your old administrators and teachers that evening as well; they will be back again this year due to the success of our 1^st annual event. 

 

A ticket will entitle you to dinner, a night of dancing and a chance to win money and prizes in the reverse raffle, one of the highlights for the evening.   Your ticket will automatically enter you into the raffle with winnings set at $2,500 1st Prize, $350 2nd Prize and $150 to the 3rd Prize Raffle Winner.  The fun kicks up a notch when the bartering starts and your chance to win could increase, depending on the bargaining skills you acquired while attending Our Lady of the Lakes!

 

Tickets are $80.00 per person for the event and will be available September 30^th.  You can purchase tickets at all the football games including Homecoming on October 8^th or at the Parish Center at our Lady of the Lakes.   We can mail tickets to you or hold them at the door with advance purchase.   A full alumni weekend can be planned with attendance to the State Play-off Football game (which we know Mike Boyd and his team will play) followed by an evening of sharing old memories and making new with family and friends.  For more information call Kitty Adler at 248-642-5097 or e-mail inquiries to Gatito41@aol.com.  We hope to see you there!

Welcome to the Alumni Association – Class of 2005!