Welcome Back!
Holy Rosary School in West Seattle is an amazing place of growth, spirituality, community, and memories. The students, teachers, and parents whom have been a part of this special community have been the reason we have existed for over 100 years. Help us connect past students with one another. Help us remember a fantastic teacher or special Holy Rosary moment or tradition. Our students have gone on to do tremendous things. Win a high school or college award or scholarship? Written a book? Started a business? TELL US; help us celebrate you!
Contact
- Complete our Holy Rosary Alumni form here and tell us who you are.
- Join our Facebook Holy Rosary Alumni page @holyrosarywsalumni.
- Contact the Holy Rosary Alumni Committee at alumni@holyrosaryws.org.
Champions of Holy Rosary, Distinguished Graduate, and Alumni Awards
2023
2022
Darrin & Kimberly Tish – Champions of Holy Rosary Award
2020
Amy Serabia – Champions of Holy Rosary Award
Amy and her family truly embody the mission of Catholic education. Amy graduated cum laude from Seattle University with a degree in General Science and Biology and is a SU Hall of Fame inductee in basketball. Not only does Amy give of her time to volunteer at Holy Rosasry School, Amy lives her life as a true missionary disciple of Christ. Amy gives of herself organizing volunteers for the Community Meal (16 years of service) that provides dinner monthly for low-income seniors, she has taken a leadership role supporting auction projects, and she has coached CYO basketball (5 seasons) for teams her kids are not yet a part of – to ensure there are opportunities for all kids to participate.
2019
William McGaughey – Champions of Holy Rosary Award
Holy Rosary School alumni, and Kennedy High School Graduate, William McGaughey.
William graduated from Holy Rosary School in 2015, but truly never left. Since his graduation he has spent countless hours volunteering his time at our tree lot, spending many more hours than some of the adult volunteers! He also gives of his time as a volunteer CYO coach, simply for the joy of working with people and giving back to our community. William says he continues to stay so connected to HRS because he is grateful for the education he received during the nine years he spent here. He said he loves the community, he remains very close to his graduating class, and feels it is important to show his gratitude by giving back.
2018
Sue Harris – Champions of Holy Rosary Award
Sue spent her entire life connected to and dedicated to Catholic education. She herself attended Catholic Schools, attending St. Paul grade school, Forest Ridge High School, and then Seattle University. Sue dedicated countless summers during youth working at Catholic summer camps, and often shares her fond memories of those days. You may have been lucky enough to listen to Sue break out in a camp song or two! Sue even met her dear husband Joseph one summer while working at Camp Gallagher.
Sue joined the Holy Rosary Community as a young bride and mother when all five of her children attended our beloved school. Sue was a very active volunteer from the beginning and continued doing so throughout the time all of her children attended school. In fact, when her youngest CJ was born, she did not skip a beat when it came to her volunteer responsibilities. She just brought CJ to school with her, dropped him off in then Principal Kris Brown’s office, and went about her duties volunteering in the classroom and on the playground.
Sue later joined the Holy Rosary Staff as a Kindergarten aide and then became our devoted teacher librarian where she has served our community for the last 26 years, earning her Master’s Degree along the way.
Something truly noteworthy: Mrs. Harris has actually read most of the books in our library, always proving to be a fabulous resource for all things related to Children’s literature.
After her children graduated, Sue began an annual senior high reunion where 8th grade alumni gather together each year, and she still continues this tradition today. What an incredible tradition and opportunity for graduating seniors to come back together and reminisce on their grade school days before going their separate ways.
Sue has always been and continues to be a teacher leader. Whether it is accreditation, media literacy, and technology or as a CYO boys’ basketball coach, Sue is always found in a leadership role, both at the school and in the larger Archdiocese. Sue is a founding member of the Catholic Archdiocese Librarian’s Consortium.
2017
Todd Waltier – Champions of Holy Rosary Award
The award has changed to be defined as someone who has done great service to the school, has supported its ideals, and is nominated by several people in the Holy Rosary community. We are proud to announce the first recipient of the award, Todd Waltier. Todd could be a member of the school staff, he is seen so often around its halls. On his days off from being a commercial airplane pilot, he is most often seen on the playground, a weekly, if not more often 11-year long recess monitor, rain or shine, helping our staff watch over the safety of our kids, commiserating with young ones over scrapes, or disagreements. He has reached out with a friendly smile to kids of all grades, which you can tell by how often he is greeted. He has subbed for recess duty countless times for parents or staff when he was available, chaperoned on field trips, and his daughters’ teachers always know that he is available to help out whenever needed. He has changed lightbulbs in the school gym, set up heavy tables for events, he has done the things that are not always seen by others, but have impacted and supported the school for 11 years.
2016
Marianne McGah (Class of 1997) – Distinguished Alumni
Marianne attended Holy Rosary School with her siblings, Kindergarten through 8th grade. Many of you may know her parents, Joseph and Sue Harris. Following Holy Rosary, Marianne excelled while attending Holy Names Academy for high school. She attended the University of Portland, graduating with a degree in Theology. Then continued her studies at Providence College, earning her Masters in Education. Marianne returned to the Pacific Northwest to attend Seattle University where she received her Doctorate in Education. Currently, Marianne is the Religion Teacher at Holy Names Academy and Assistant Campus Minister. Marianne is a board member for Shirts Across America, which provide young people experiences to become leaders as they build homes in communities affected by poverty and natural disasters.
2015
David Redenbaugh (Class of 1998) – Distinguished Alumni
David attended Holy Rosary School and participated as an altar server from 4th grade on. While attending high school at Seattle Preparatory School, he stayed involved in altar serving and later became a Sacristan. One of David’s many accomplishments while at Seattle Prep was designing the cover for the school’s yearbook.
David attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating with a degree in computer engineering in 2006; he also received the Outstanding CPEG (Computer Engineering) Award as a senior.
David continues his involvement in Holy Rosary Parish through participation as a Sacristan and devoting his efforts to revitalizing Holy Rosary’s Young Adult group. He is also involved with AMICI (The Fulcrum Foundation’s Young Professionals Organization) where he serves as Service Co-Chair for the 2014-2015 Amici Board. As part of the AMICI program, David is heavily involved in activities that provide hands-on support to several local Catholic schools.
Currently, David serves as an FLL mentor for the LEGO robotics program at Holy Rosary School.
2014
Virginia Hoyt (Class of 1941) – Distinguished Alumni
Virginia Hoyt was born and raised in West Seattle and was a Holy Rosary parish member from an early age. She graduated in 1941 in the second graduating class of Holy Rosary’s all girl high school. She was a senior class officer and a member of the yearbook staff. After graduating, she married, raised four sons, and worked as a secretary in the labor union industry. After retirement and some years of travel, she returned back to West Seattle and lived just a fewblocks away from Holy Rosary. Her granddaughter, Aimee Wickler, currently attends Holy Rosary and her grandson, Adam Wickler, graduated from Holy Rosary last year and currently attends Kennedy Catholic High School. Virginia is so proud that her grandchildren have had the opportunity to share in the same Catholic school education at Holy Rosary as she did so many years ago.
Father Jerry Mccluskey (Class of 1952) – Distinguished Alumni
Father Jerry McCloskey was born in Seattle, WA, on April 25, 1938 and lived in West Seattle until the age of fifteen. He was baptized at Holy Rosary Church on May 15, 1938 and attended Holy Rosary Grade School from 1944 until his graduation in 1952. After graduating from O’Dea High School, Father McCloskey entered the seminary, attending both St. Edward’s and St. Thomas Seminaries. He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle in 1964.
Father McCloskey has served in many parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle including St. Patrick’s Seattle, Sacred Heart Bellevue, St. Francis of Assisi in Burien, Our Lady of Sorrows in Snoqualmie, Mt. Virgin and St. Paul in Seattle and St. Gabriel in Port Orchard. He has been “retired” since 2003.
Father McCloskey’s blog offers wonderful evidence of his life in West Seattle and Holy Rosary: families, images, stories, teachers, report cards, and celebrations. This blog reminds us of the expression “the more things change, the more they remain the same”. Visitwww.jerrymc.com.
2013
Rose Egge (Class of 2000) – Distinguished Alumni
Rose Egge, though only 27, is a tremendous example of what it means to live with grace and to serve others. After graduating from Holy Rosary in 2000, she completed her education at education at Bishop Blanchet High School and Seattle University, where she received her BA in Journalism in 2008. She earned a Masters degree from the University of Washington in Digital Media in 2011. At only 25 years old, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor on her spine. Faced with this scary diagnosis and aggressive chemotherapy, Rose started a blog . Her open and honest writing about her experience has served as a deep comfort to others battling cancer and as a deep inspiration to us all. In addition to using her journalism skills to reach out and share her story, she also started a non-profit organization, Thrive Through Cancer, while undergoing treatment. Thrive Through Cancer’s mission is “Helping young adults fight cancer today and live amazing lives tomorrow.” Learn more at thrivethroughcancer.org.
2012
Denise Davis
2011
Maria (Carlstedt) Morris
2010
Tim Law
Allan Swegle
2009
Maxine “Dolly” Hass – First Graduating Class
Jim Farris – Class of 1944
Jim Farris graduated from Holy Rosary Elementary School in 1944. Jim has been a lifelong member of our parish, supporting our mass services as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. He has 5 children who attended Holy Rosary School. Jim was actively involved at the school during the time his children attended. Jim believes that Catholic education cultivates values that serve as the foundation for the mind and spirit. We are grateful for his commitment to our parish and school.
2008
Jan Ittes – Class of 1966
Chairperson and CEO of Atlas Supply, Inc., Jan Ittes remains an active volunteer at Holy Rosary. She chaired Holy Rosary’s Endowment Fund, which has grown to over $1 million in scholarship assistance. She served on the parish and school’s Capital Campaign Committee, and is currently an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and a member of the Renovation Committee for the former convent building. All three of her children graduated from Holy Rosary and Catholic high schools.
Marie Miller – Class of 1943
Owner and co-founder of the popular Husky Deli, Marie Miller and her husband have sacrificed to send all nine of their children through Holy Rosary School and on to Catholic high schools. One is now a priest and another returned to teach at Holy Rosary School. Miller has remained active in the parish and school and has served on many commissions. Today, many of her grandchildren attend the school.
2007
Steve Antush – Class of 1974
2006
Robert Sarkies
2005
2004
2003
Gene Kord – Class of 1945
2002
Agnes Jacobson
Maureen Mohrbacher
2001
2000
Joseph Harris – Class of 1954