By Barbara Tucker
The Tonawanda News

Connecting the past to the present is the theme of the first Distinguished Alumni Award ceremony at St. Francis of Assisi School in the City of Tonawanda.

“It’s well known that St. Francis School has played an important part of the city’s heritage,” Reverend Michael Uebler pastor of the parish, said.

“We are really trying to get people from the past reconnected, in part, to show graduates that the education they benefited from is still going on,” he said.

Uebler explained that the first school opened in the 1850s and when enrollment grew, the Broad Street school was erected in 1924. In 1969, a second school building on Adam Street, staffed by Franciscan Sisters, opened.

“Both school buildings continue to be used today,” Uebler said, noting that the alumni being honored September 24 will certainly express their memories of the school at thThe honorees are: Sister Barbara Whelan from the class of 1958; James Joyce, class of 1963; Jane Mago Blau, class of 1967, and Mark Voisinet, class of 1980. The awardees were selected from nominations received from parishioners and the community at large.

“It was very nice of them to honor me,” Mago, executive vice president and general counsel for the National Association of Broadcasters legal department in Washington, D.C., said. “I pointed out (to the principal) one of the things I always have is the ability to talk to people about a common background of going to a Catholic school. It’s a bonding experience and there is great value to it.”

“Unfortunately,” Mago said, “I have to be at a conference in Arizona on the 24th, but my mother is going to accept the award for me. They will give it to Jane Mago, no matter what,” she laughed, “as my mother’s name is Jane.”e event.

Mago earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the University at Buffalo. She and her husband, Robert, live in McLean, Va. and have three children, Bobby, 26 web designer; J.T., 24, enrolled in law school, and Genevieve, 21, a student at William and Mary University.

Joyce, who served as Niagara County coroner from 1978 until his retirement two years ago, is now president of the Niagara Falls Visitors Center with branches on Grand Island, Amherst and Pennsylvania.

A graduate of Simmons Mortuary College and Niagara University, he is a member and director of many organizations including Niagara Hospice and the Western New York Juvenile Task Force. Joyce is also involved in various civic organizations and has received many awards.

“I’m humbly honored at the award,” Joyce said. “My situation’s a little different. I was an academic underachiever in elementary and high school. It wasn’t until college that I realized the importance of education and graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University and went on for my master’s degree.”

“It was only with the support and encouragement I got from my mother and dad that I’ve succeeded,” Joyce said. “My teacher, Sister Mary DePaul used to say, ‘Jimmy you can do it, you can do it.’ My message is one of hope to those who have children and grandchildren who are underachievers.”

After Patricia Ann Whelan graduated from St. Francis School and Mount Saint Mary Academy, she entered the convent of the Sisters of St. Francis and became Sister Barbara. She earned her master’s degree in early education at Nazareth College in Rochester.

During her 45 year career, she has taught the primary level at several area Catholic schools including her alma mater. She designed and implemented preschool and after school programs along with her administrative duties.

“My fondest memories of St. Francis include Sister Virgilia, who was principal,” Sister Barbara said. “She was kind, very kind — it’s what I wanted to be. And Sister Paula Marie. Things were difficult at home and she and the priests (at St. Francis) were instrumental in my vocation.

“I don’t deserve (the alumni) award,” she said, “the whole community (of Sisters) deserves it.”

She said with the Sisters’ encouragement, she received a master’s degree in Montessori.

“They believed in me. I had priests and teachers in my corner.”

She has presented workshops for early childhood educators, co-authored curriculums for the World University Games and the Buffalo Diocese and is a frequent presenter at the Catholic Catechists conferences.

She is the author of two children’s books and has received awards for her work and for her community service.

Voisinet earned his associates degree in Computer Aided Design from Niagara County Community College and his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from Rochester Institute of  Technology. He received a master’s degree in industrial technology from Buffalo State College and continued studies in sustainable energy at the School of Mines in Golden, Colo.

After a career spanning 15 years, he decided to take his experience into teaching, joining the faculty at Niagara County Community College where he is a full professor and program coordinator for the computer aided design and drafting curriculum.

“Father Mike (Uebler) is a big part of my returning to St. Francis Parish,” Voisinet said. “He is an outstanding spiritual leader. We’ve enrolled our two daughters in the school and support its growth.”

A founding member of the Alumni Committee at St. Francis, Voisinet noted that the parish’s endowment fund has allowed for new school facilities such as a science lab, gym floor and computer lab.

“Alumni are stepping up with donations for the school which helps support its growth,” Voisinet said.

Uebler said that although this year’s awardees are more recent graduates, the future event will focus on prior classes.

“There are so many people committed to the school, it will take a while to honor them all,” Uebler said. “We’re really trying to get people from the past to be part of today’s school. There are nine Franciscan Sisters coming to the dinner. We’re glad to have them come back to help celebrate.”

The event will begin at noon, September 24 with a Mass in the church, followed by a tour of the school. At 2:30 p.m., the students will present a program for the honorees and their guests. Uebler will host a reception for the honorees at 3:30 p.m. in the rectory.

At 5:30 p.m., a dinner is planned at Classics V in Amherst. The public is invited to the Mass, tour, program and dinner. Tickets for the dinner are $25, available at the rectory on Adam Street, Tonawanda.