Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society Honorees 2022
Brother Rice High School is pleased to announce our 2022 Spirit of Blessed Edmund Honorees, Sister Marie Cacciatore, OSF, Joanne and Richard Christie, and Brother Michael Segvich, CFC. Please join us in congratulating our honorees. We look forward to highlighting the many ways these beloved members of our community exemplify Brother Rice values.
President Reidy shares, “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.”
Sister Marie Cacciatore, OSF
Sister Marie Cacciatore is the middle child and first daughter of the five children of Gigino and Josephine Cacciatore. Sister attended school in Pennsylvania at St. Hedwig grammar school and Mount Alvernia High School, where she participated in Drama, Forensics, Basketball, and Softball. After High School, Sister Marie answered the call to serve God in the footprints of St. Francis as a Bernardine Franciscan Sister.
Sister Marie earned a BA in Education and an MA in Mathematics from Villanova University. Sister has used her talents in elementary schools and then in high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1987, Sister was assigned to Divine Child High School in Dearborn to teach math. At this time, Sister continued her studies and earned an MA in clinical psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology. Sister Marie is a limited licensed psychologist.
Eager to know how to better prepare her math students for college, Sister was an Adjunct Lecturer at University of Michigan Dearborn for several years.
During the years Sister spent teaching in high school, she was a chair of the math department and an Activities Director; she has directed musicals, moderated a bowling club and team, and was the moderator of the senior class.
For years Sister Marie enjoyed vacations at the Jersey shore with her family, camping, and biking. Presently, she enjoys gardening, reading, and cooking.
Sister Marie has ministered at Brother Rice High School since 2005 and is a blessing to her students and colleagues. Sister has been the devoted shepherd of hundreds of young Warriors and their families as they navigate the transition from middle school to high school. She is a tireless advocate for her students, consistently encouraging each young man to work to his potential. Unselfish with her time, Sister Marie is always willing to tutor and go beyond her duties to help her students. To her colleagues, Sister Marie Cacciatore is a spiritual rock of the Brother Rice community. As a Franciscan sister, Sister Marie has embraced the Essential Elements of a Christian Brother Education, and her hope and prayer are that Jesus will live within her heart…forever.
Make a gift in honor of Sister Marie Cacciatore here.
Joanne and Richard Christie
Joanne and Richard (Dick) Christie epitomize the highest virtues of a Catholic family. They attended Catholic schools, were married in the Catholic church, raised a family of 5 children, sent them to Catholic schools, donated time, treasure, and talent to these institutions, and were role models for family and friends.
Graduates of Shrine High School, they raised their family, Dick ’75, Linda, Mary Beth, Bill ’81, and Chuck ’85, in Royal Oak, Michigan. Family was the cornerstone of their lives, and they were blessed with 20 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They were devoted attendees to both their children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and extra-curricular activities.
Loyal members of the Brother Rice Community, Joanne and Dick served the mission of Brother Rice in many ways through the years. As members of the Mothers’ and Dads’ Clubs, in 1978, they co-founded and volunteered to operate the first auction in the school’s history, now known as the Irish Nite Auction. Their willingness to invest their time and energy to make this event a success has profoundly impacted our school over the past 45 years. More than ten million dollars has been raised to benefit Catholic education. Joanne and Dick were among the pioneers who made it happen. Later, Joanne was a cherished member of our staff at Brother Rice for more than 25 years and derived enormous joy from being at the same school that her grandchildren attended. They loved seeing her in the halls, and they admired and respected her tremendously. Dick also served as the President of the Dads’ Club from 1982 to 1983, setting the example for his Warrior sons, who went on to serve in leadership roles for the Brother Rice Alumni Association and as part of our Brother Rice coaching staff.
Former President John Birney ’76 shared, “Catholic schools work best when parents and teachers work together as partners in the formation of children. Dick and Joanne were committed to this partnership from day one and hugely impacted Brother Rice and its evolution. I believe that many other parents were positively influenced by their willingness to partner with our school and generously give of their time and energy.”
Joanne and Dick Christie lived the Spirit of Blessed Edmund throughout their lives and the 63 years of their loving marriage. Brother Rice is a better place because of Joanne and Dick. They blessed the school with their sons, with their support, and with their commitment to its success while their children were in school and for many years afterward.
Make a gift in honor of Joanne & Richard Christie here.
Brother Michael Segvich, CFC
Brother Michael Segvich was born in Evergreen Park, IL, and grew up in a very faith-filled household. He attended St. Laurence High School in Burbank, IL, where he was called to be a Brother and a teacher during vocations week of his Junior year in high school. Upon his graduation in 1968, he joined the Christian Brothers and attended Lewis College, a De La Salle Christian Brothers Institution. He went on to do graduate work at Iona College in New York, attaining a Master’s Degree in Social Studies education in 1979. Brother Segvich also earned a Master’s in Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1984.
Br. Segvich began his ministry as an educator when he was assigned to Brother Rice High School from 1972 through 1981. He taught social studies and theology classes, including U.S. History, Western Civilization, Modern European History, The New Testament, and Morality. He also served as a coach for several sports and, through the years, has remained a vociferous booster and fan of the school, its teams, athletes, and coaches.
Upon leaving Brother Rice in 1981, Br. Segvich began his ministry as a school administrator, serving as Principal of four Christian Brothers Schools (Palma High School, Brother Rice Chicago, St. Laurence, and Rice High School in Harlem). During these years, Br. Segvich served on our Brother Rice Board of Directors from time to time.
From 2011 to 2016, Br. Segvich returned to Brother Rice High School to serve as Principal, sharing, “It was an honor and a privilege to be asked to return to Brother Rice after 30 years. I have always had the highest regard for my nine years as a full-time teacher at Brother Rice and credit my years of service there for giving me the base I needed to serve as an administrator in other Christian Brothers Schools.”
Brother Segvich has an extraordinary memory of alumni and families and has forged meaningful relationships with his colleagues and hundreds of graduates. He is known for his great sense of humor, love of history, passion for the White Sox and Blackhawks, wonderful sense of duty, and daily commitment to the mission of the Christian Brothers and Spirit of Blessed Edmund.
Make a gift in honor of Brother Segvich here.