2024 Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society Inductees

Brother Rice High School is pleased to announce our 2024 Spirit of Blessed Edmund Honorees Sue and Ray Ebbing ‘77, Mark Hogan, and Jay Louis-Prescott.

The Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society is the most prestigious honor we have and was established in 1999 to honor those who have epitomized the Brother Rice Spirit. This spirit is reflected in people who have shown extraordinary dedication, love, concern, leadership, and enthusiasm for Brother Rice High School. Without a doubt, this describes the service of this year’s honorees.

Susan & Raymond Ebbing ’77

Susan Rabahy Ebbing and Raymond Ebbing are a dynamic couple whose passion for their Catholic Faith and Education has significantly impacted our Brother Rice community and beyond.

Sue and Ray grew up in the metro Detroit area, were raised in large, devoted Catholic families, and benefited from attending Catholic Schools.  They met during their senior years at Marian and Brother Rice in 1977 and were married in 1983.  Their academic pursuits led Sue to Central Michigan University, where she earned her degree, preparing her for a successful career in sales and marketing, and Ray to Albion College, where he earned a double major in Business Economics and Communications.

Following graduation, they each embarked on successful career paths, honing their skills before joining their respective family manufacturing businesses. Sue served as vice president of sales and marketing for four different companies. Ray worked his way from sales to division manager and eventually to president of Detroit Edge Tool Company in 1996, a position he held until his retirement in 2023. 

Together, Sue and Ray have been a formidable team, combining their respective talents to tackle issues and causes close to their hearts.  They credit their time at Brother Rice and Marian for emphasizing the religious and social values they each learned at home and helping them establish the hard work and ethical foundations that have guided their lives through the years.

The Ebbings’ commitment to community service runs deep and beyond the halls of Brother Rice. Ray and Sue have been actively involved at St. Hugo Parish and School, sharing their talents as a lector, Eucharistic minister, religious education teacher, Theatre producer, member of the St. Vincent de Paul conference, and chair of the South Oakland Shelter initiatives. As a couple, they have been generous supporters of Angel’s Place, chairing their annual “It’s a Miracle Dinner” and working with their Development Board.

Ray and Sue consciously decided to raise their family in Bloomfield Hills so that their three children, Patrick ‘07, Michael ‘10, and Meghan ‘13, could follow in their footsteps and attend Brother Rice and Marian. Generous supporters of countless initiatives at our school, Sue and Ray embody the very best of our mission. We are so grateful for Ray’s service as a member of the Executive Committee of the Brother Rice Board of Directors in providing wise counsel and guiding the bright future and trajectory of our school. Sue serves on the Marian Board of Directors, and they jointly volunteer as Marian Generations Ambassadors. 

Family has always been at the heart of their lives, and they are grateful for the inspired example of their parents, Nancy and Pete Ebbing and Rosemary and Donald Rabahy. The Ebbing legacy at Brother Rice extends beyond Ray, with his brothers John ’78, Bill ’81, David ’81, Uncle Mike ’69, sons Pat ’07 and Michael ’10, son-in-law Dalton ’13, and nephews Johnny ’07 and Thomas ’13. 

Sue and Ray Ebbing embody the Spirit of Blessed Edmund through their dedication, service, and unwavering commitment to Brother Rice, their community, their faith, and each other.

Mark Hogan

A loyal member of the Brother Rice Community, Mr. Mark Hogan was a generous and supportive parent, valued servant leader, and trusted advisor who selflessly devoted his time, talent, and treasure to Brother Rice in many ways through the years. 

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mark earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois before receiving his MBA from Harvard University.  

With a career spanning three decades in management at General Motors, service as president at Magna, and his appointment to the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Company, Mark Hogan left an indelible mark on the automotive industry. Widely respected for his exemplary professional career, Mark is equally held in high regard for the kind of man he was, a man of character, kindness, and compassion. 

Mark, a respected and valued member of the Brother Rice Board of Directors, served in this capacity for ten years, beginning in 2013. Mark and his wife Sallie joined the Brother Rice Community in 2005 as parents of their Warrior sons, Bennett ’09, Will ’13, and their daughter Cecilia. 

 They were active leaders in school life in all ways, supporting our athletic programs, capital improvements, and tuition assistance, enriching the student experience for all Brother Rice Warriors.

Mark brought his unparalleled expertise to his Board service, helping guide Brother Rice through strategic decisions, facility improvements, and, most importantly, the commitment to the mission of Blessed Edmund Rice and Brother Rice High School. This dedication came easy to Mark because it was evident that his core values were rooted in his deep Catholic faith. 

Mark was an invaluable advisor and counselor to many at Brother Rice High School. We lost Mark in 2023, and we miss him dearly. His legacy lives on in his example to us all.  Mark’s actions spoke volumes about what he valued: being a devoted husband, a loving father, a good and generous friend, a tremendous leader, and a faith-filled Catholic.

Jay Louis-Prescott

A beloved teacher, coach, and mentor at Brother Rice High School for more than thirty years, Jay Louis-Prescott cared for the spiritual life of our faculty, our students, and our families.

Jay Louis-Prescott, a native of Reading, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb, embarked on a transformative journey of education, service, and spiritual leadership that spanned over four decades. His formative years were shaped by his upbringing in a close-knit community, instilling in him the values of compassion, dedication, and faith that would guide his future endeavors.

After graduating from Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1974 with a degree in Religious Studies, Jay began his teaching career at Palma High School, a Christian Brothers institution in Salinas, California. There, he excelled as a teacher, served as the religion department chair, and coached the inaugural soccer team.

In 1981, Jay moved to St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, California, where he found his passion for teaching and met the love of his life, Lee Ann, a fellow educator. Their union in 1983 marked the beginning of a beautiful family, blessed with three children: Steven ’05, Yvonne (Marian ’06), and Leah (Marian ’11).

After receiving his Masters in Religion and Society in 1985, his journey led him to Brother Rice High School, where he was hired by Principal Br. Grimaldi to teach and head the Theology Department. Over the course of 32 years at Brother Rice, Jay left an indelible mark as a dedicated educator, coach, and campus minister. As a soccer coach, he led the team to its first state championship in 2001 and earned numerous championships and accolades along the way.  Jay has been elected to the Catholic League Hall of Fame and the Marian Athletic Hall of Fame for his work as a soccer and field hockey coach.

Jay’s impact extended beyond the classroom and sports field. He was instrumental in establishing the Campus Ministry Department, initiating our Christian Service Program, and organizing masses, retreats, and spiritual events that enriched the school community. In a special way, his commitment to social justice led him to participate in various initiatives, including mission trips with students and conferences focused on education for justice. These experiential learning opportunities for our students changed the hearts and minds of those who participated.

As vocations diminished and the number of Christian Brothers assigned to Brother Rice decreased, Jay served as a model for lay faculty and families alike in fulfilling the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice. Serving as a teacher, department chair, campus minister, and long-time soccer coach, Jay influenced thousands of alumni with his interest in the well-being and total formation of the young men of our school.

In 2017, Jay transitioned to Marian High School as campus minister, where he continued to inspire students and athletes alike until his retirement in 2022. His dedication to teaching, coaching, and serving others has always been driven by his belief that education is a ministry, not just a job.

His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and the values he instilled in the students of Brother Rice High School.