The Heart of the Lion Lives on in Gresham.
I got a call from a lovely sounding woman who attended the long closed Mercy High School. I tried to reassure her by explaining that the wide and varied support for Leo continues, but rumors are tough to address. This wonderful woman was not alone, nor was she the first to call the Leo Development Office with this vigorous chestnut – Leo is closing in June. The lady did not want to see another great Catholic high school close as did Mercy, Mendel, St. Willibrord, Weber, Longwood and others.
Mercy High School was an all girls high school operated by the Sisters of Mercy. Leo High School is an all boys high school that was once operated by the Irish Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers ended their commitment to Leo High School in 1990 and at that time the rumor spread that Leo could not survive without the Brothers.
Bob Foster, a 1958 Leo Graduate, football coach, athletic director, and history teacher and guidance counselor, stepped up as the first lay principal. The smart money talkers gave Bob Foster one year.
In 1997, after amassing millions of dollars in support from Leo Alums and receiving no financial assistance from the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools named Bob Foster the first President/CEO of Leo High School. President Foster directed all of the fund raising, invested the contributions and single handedly directed every expenditure. This summer, Leo Principal Phil Mesina took on the task of honing Leo operations ( staff, curriculum, tests and recruitment) and worked to meet the needs of Leo’s Students – our reason for being. On December 30, 2009, Bob Foster retired from his more than forty years of service to Leo High School. At that time Leo Principal Mesina accepted the school’s financial and fiduciary responsibilities as well. Like Bob Foster in 1991, Phil Mesina assumed an awesome burden and more. When Bob Foster announced his planned retirement while he served as President Emeritus, rumors that Leo High School was going to close began afresh.
On Wednesday, February 17th 2010, I took the call from the very concerned woman who did not want to see Mercy High School’s one-time Brother School share the fate of her Alma Mater.
The Leo Alumni Association which has labored to provide Leo High School with moral and financial support like no other Alumni Group that I have ever heard of stands four-square and dug-in for Leo High School. The Leo Advisory Board met with Mr. Mesina who reported on the cold hard realities facing this inner city school – tough recruitment, a horrific economic environment and the absence of the accepted voice that articulated Leo High School’s mission for twenty years as Principal and President – the great Bob Foster. The Advisory Board wholeheartedly took on the task clearly echoing Foster’s voice and heart. The day before I took the phone call by the concerned woman, Catholic Schools Superintendent Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P., whose father is a Leo Alumnus, visited Leo (Tuesday February 16th) and affirmed the continued financial and strategic support of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The New York Times on January 29th reported on the magnificent support Leo High School enjoys, but never takes for granted.
Leo High School is larger than any one man, any one group of talkers, and any one point of view. Leo High School will close only when people with the hearts of the Lion quit caring. The woman who called about the rumored closing of Leo High School cared enough to make the call. The Leo Alumni meet monthly at Father Perez Knights of Columbus Hall in Mount Greenwood out of their collective sense of courage and commitment. If people lose heart, concern and courage to support Leo High School maybe it will close – but, that is not the case.
Leo High School will struggle to provide a quality college preparatory and high school education to young men from the south side of Chicago, but Leo High School will continue – slowly, carefully and ruggedly true to the mission of this great school.
**
Pat Hickey is a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Observer. He is a development director for (the great) Leo High School.
image Richard the Lionheart, King Richard I
Sounds like white flight suburbanite guilt is at play here.
When my family integrated our Sangamon Street block, less than 6 months later, all the “natives” had vanished – and with them City services, business development, (Frank’s Department Store, Woolworths, Kesge’s, Bob’s Men’s Shop, Household Finance, Heritage (Standard) Bank, Walgreens, Capitol Theater, Sunset Club, Wimpy’s Hamburgers, House of Lum Chinese Food, Taurus Flavors Ice Cream, Top Notch Beef Burgers, Carl Sales Wholesalers, Rusnick’s Furniture, Armor’s Certified Grocery Store, Hallmark Card Shop, etc. – sucking the life out of the area.
so now some of the people want to give back blood money to smooth their conscious. I would rather the school go the way of Aquanis, Visitation, Willibrod, Mendel, Quigley South, St. Laurence elementary, St. Leo Elementary etc. to stand as a living/dying testament to the racism of the Father Lawlor disciples in the City and burbs.
No PC here, Stiff. Just people putting good where others hearts should be – Facta Non Verba.
What an absolutely wonderful column. Now I know where you got your own “heart of a lion.” — steve maloney
Good stuff, Brother Hickey–roar on!
Mr. Stiff,
I agree that what happened surrounding Leo High School and other areas of the city is lamentable, at best. EVERYBODY lost in those times and hopefully lessons were learned and passed on to the following generations.
However, perhaps a rethink in order when you drop incendiary ideas such as these “racists” sending back “blood money” to assuage a perceived White Guilt. In my humble opinion, that is nonsense. There are many “higher profile” places a person of means can invest their time and resources than this fine institution.
While I cannot look into the heart of every contributor, I can attest to the passion with which rank-and-file alumni feel for Leo, past and present. There is a camaraderie shared by people who are connected to this place that span the decades. For me and countless alumni, it’s not about black or white, but Orange and Black.
May God bless the continuing mission of the great Leo High School of providing a nurturing environment and excellent education for the young men in the area.
Dan Moss
Class of 1983
Leave your response!
Top Chicago Cop in Demented Rant
Archives
Recent Posts
Tags
Subscribe
Most Commented
about cdo