2005 Alter High School Alumni Hall of Fame
Distinguished Inductees
Jill Reiling Markey, Class of 1974
Jill received her Bachelors degree in Art Studio from the University of Kentucky, her Masters in Teaching from the University of Dayton, and a Doctorate in Art Education from the Ohio State University. Her dissertation was “A Qualitative Exploration of Discipline-Based Art Education and the Ohio Partnership.” Dr. Markey is currently an art educator for the Columbus Public Schools after having served as a Coordinator for Arts and Academics and as an Instructional Technologist. She served as President of the Ohio Art Education Association and remains an active member of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and the Ohio Department of Education Standards Advisory. In 2001, she was a Fulbright Memorial Teacher in Japan. In 2002, Jill was recognized as an “Outstanding Faculty Representative” by the Columbus Education Association. The National Art Education Association named Jill as “Outstanding Art Educator of the Year for Supervision/Administration in the Western Region” (the largest region nationally, encompassing 16 states), and in 2003, she was elected by NAEA to serve as director for that same Division.
Kevin Joseph Lannon, Class of 1980 (Deceased)
Kevin enlisted in the United States Army right after graduating from Alter. He was a successful, skilled medic for the Airborne Rangers, the elite Special Forces unit of the Army and became a Sergeant in only three years. In October 1983, Kevin participated in the spearhead mission of operation “Urgent Fury” in Grenada to rescue American medical students. He was directly responsible for saving several lives during “Urgent Fury”, but on the third day of Ranger operations, he lost his own. Kevin was killed in action during this final mission when the Blackhawk helicopter he was flying in was struck by small arms fire. Kevin received the Bronze Star Medal (Valor) from the President of the United States where it was said that, “his only concern was for his fellow soldiers.” Kevin made an unconventional choice for a young man in 1980, one of self-sacrifice and extreme discipline. While many of his classmates were preparing for their senior year in college, he was preparing for battle and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Father Mark R. Soehner, O.F.M., Class of 1976
Father Mark graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercy College of Detroit in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He then joined the Franciscan Friars of the St. John the Baptist Province, Cincinnati, and professed vows in 1981. In 1987, he completed the Masters of Divinity degree with Mission Specialization at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union. Father Mark was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1987. In 1993, he obtained his M.S. in Pastoral Counseling, and in 1994, his C.A.S. He is currently a licensed professional counselor in Michigan. Father Mark’s ministry has included teaching English to immigrants, providing pastoral counseling to families at hospitals and to juveniles in detention, and living and working among the homeless. In Cincinnati, he coordinated pastoral and sacramental care at the University of Cincinnati and helped develop a homeless shelter. In Dayton, he managed the volunteers and guests at St. Vincent Hotel, a shelter for 60 men and women. In Detroit, he developed a shelter that serves 2000 homeless people a week and helped to begin “Oasis Detroit,” a permanent home for homeless, mentally ill people which opened in 2003. In 1995, Father Mark became Pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Detroit where he works as a Professional Counselor and Spiritual Director, and in July 2005, he will become pastor for three inner city parishes as well.
Michael Kunesh, Class of 1978
Michael attended the University of Notre Dame to earn degrees in biology and theology and received his degree in medicine and training in ophthalmology from the Ohio State University. He now specializes in cataract and glaucoma surgery in Oakwood. Michael is active with Alter’s Education Commission and also dedicates time to local politics and the arts, but his main interests are outside the United States. Mission work is a priority for Dr. Kunesh as he performs surgery and lends his talents to blindness prevention and correction programs through medical mission work in developing third world countries. Dr. Kunesh also works with a Marianist brother to aid the people of Malawi in their fight against AIDS and their struggle with its resulting huge number of orphans. He’s been involved with two projects that aid these children by supplementing their diets, providing agricultural support, sponsoring income-generating activities, and teaching them a trade.
Athletic Inductees
Jim Stangle, Class of 1966
Jim, a member of Alter’s first graduating class, was a two-way player at tackle on offense and defense, and was co-captain of the team as both a junior and senior. Jim’s senior year, the team was ranked #1 in area polls and was state ranked. He was named First Team All-State and First Team All-Area by both the Dayton Daily News and the Journal Herald. Jim was also part of the Ohio North-South High School game in Canton in 1966. He attended the University of Dayton on a full athletic scholarship and became a three-year starter as an offensive tackle for UD, after playing on the Freshman Team in 1966. At UD he was named the John L. MacBeth Scholar Athlete his junior year, the White Allen Most Valuable Player his senior year, and the Dayton Agonis Club Outstanding Senior Athlete for all sports. In 1969, he played in the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco. Jim obtained his MBA from UD and became a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1970. He is the General Manager for Cintas' Baltimore metro market.
Julie Schaefer Myers, Class of 1980
Julie played four years of basketball at Alter and earned three varsity letters, scoring 1267 points with a record of 67 wins and 9 losses. She was a 3-time All-Conference and All-Area player. Her senior year she was All-Area MVP, District Player of the Year, First Team All-State, Top Ten Converse Academic All-American, Converse All American, and Honorable Mention All-American of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. She was also a 3-time All-Conference performer in volleyball, a recipient of the American High School Athlete Award, and earned three varsity letters in volleyball. In softball, she received another 3 varsity letters, batted over .400, was All Greater Dayton League First Team, and received the Gerald Bart Award. She received a full basketball scholarship to the University of Dayton and earned four varsity letters, the Spirit Award, the Charles R. Kendall Award for academic and athletic excellence, and was named to the 1983 Athletes in Action Basketball Team that toured Japan, Hong Kong, and China. She graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Premedicine and obtained her D.O. in 1988 from Ohio University. There she was awarded “Most Outstanding Medical Student” in 1986 and 1988. Since 1993, Dr. Myers has been in practice in Kettering.
Kathleen Duchak, 1978-1987
Kathleen was a visionary and believed in opportunities for young women, so in 1978 she started the first girls’ soccer team at Alter and served as its coach until 1987. For ten years she channeled her boundless energy into her team, never experiencing a losing season and winning over 100 games. Perhaps it was due to her pre-game ritual of prayer: “Holy Spirit of God, enlighten my mind, strengthen my will, and give me the grace to pass this hour fruitfully. Amen.” She firmly taught that sport was not an end in itself but a means to live a better life through hard work, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and learning from mistakes. Kathleen met her husband of 39 years, John, in religion class at the University of Dayton and they had six children together, two of whom are now soccer coaches themselves. Coach Duchak blazed a new path for women’s athletics at Alter, teaching the girls to not settle and accept the status quo, but to push themselves toward their dreams…always.
Nancy Janco-Budde, Class of 1974
Nancy was the consummate athlete at Alter earning varsity letters in tennis, track, basketball, and volleyball. After graduation, she walked on in women’s tennis at Arizona State University, and in 1975, she received an athletic scholarship at ASU, graduating in 1979. Nancy was named First Team All-American in 1978 after reaching the Quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Championships. Between 1975 and 1978 she was champion and/or finalist in the Southwestern Open, Fiesta Bowl, Arizona Open, Sun Devil Open, and first team All-Conference for three years. She played as an amateur for the World Tennis Team, “Phoenix Racquets,”won the Montgomery County Women’s Open Singles six times, and is presently ranked #10 nationally in Women’s Open Platform Tennis. From 1980-1982 she was the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at Purdue University, and she coached the Alter Girls’ Tennis team to a State Team Championship in 2001.
Robert Schaefer, Class of 1975
Bob had a very successful career, earning two letters in basketball and three in baseball at Alter. As a basketball player, Bob was All-District and All-Area his junior and senior years and was a North/South All Star his senior year. The team won three district titles and one regional championship as Alter made its first State Final Four appearance. In baseball, he was All-Area as a junior and as a senior. He accepted a basketball scholarship to Wright State University where he was a four-year basketball starter and ended his career as leading scorer in WSU history. He still holds several records there today. He graduated in 1979, and in 1988, he was elected to Wright State’s Hall of Fame. As of 2004, Bob has been a director at Reynolds and Reynolds for 25 years.
