Robert A. DuPuy has come a long way from his Branford roots through Notre Dame High School to being second in command of America's national pastime, Major League Baseball.

His career path after Notre Dame took him to Dartmouth for his undergraduate degree folowed by a stint in Vietnam with the US Army and later, a law degree from Cornell that led him to currently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Major League Baseball. He was appointed to this position on March 7, 2002.

As President and CEO of Major League Baseball, he is responsible for all phases of baseball's Central Offices, including licensing, sponsorship, international broadcasting, publishing, marketing, public relations, baseball operations, legal affairs, finance, baseball's internet operations, and the labor relations committee.

Robert has been involved in most of Major League Baseball's legal issues since 1989, when he was brought in as outside legal counsel. He negotiated the settlement of the collusion grievance in 1990, and served as principal outside counsel to the Commissioner and the Executive Council from 1992 until 1998, when Commission Allan H. (Bud) Selig hired him as the MLB Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Legal Officer.

In that capacity, Robert oversaw the consolidation of the American and National Leagues into the Central Offices, the cosolidation of MLB's office in Washington, D.C., and the formation of MLBAM (Major League Baseball Advanced Media) as its initial Chief Executive Officer.

Robert, who grew up in Branford, CT was a National Honor Society student who also served as Editor of the The Herald, served as President of the Band and was a member of the Current Affairs Club and Debate Team. He later received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1968 and a J.D. from Cornell in 1973. There, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell Law Review. He saw military service with the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and served a year in Vietnam in the 504th Military Police Battalion, where he received the Army Commendation Medal for his service.

After receiving his law degree, DuPuy joined Foley & Lardner, one of the nation's largest law firms, in 1973, becoming a partner in 1980. He served as a member of the firm's Management Committee, and as Chairman of the firm's Professional Standards Committee.

He is a long time member and Past-Chairman of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Professional Ethics Committee. He has taught legal ethics and professional responsibility at Northwestern Law School, the University of Wisconsin Law School, and Marquette University Law School, and has served as a long-time faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Bob and his wife Edith have four children, Leslie, Allison Bly, Jeffrey, and Kevin, as well as two grandchildren, Abigail and Natalie Bly.

Brendan Fisk and Notre Dame have forged a great relationship since 2001 when he introduced the Shepherds, Inc. Program to Notre Dame. Since that time, the two organizations have forged a strong partnership that continues to make a marked difference.

Shepherds, Inc. is an independent, non-denominational organization which opens doors for disadvantaged inner-city youths. Shepherds' sponsors pay up to 85% of a studentís tuition, affording students who show the academic potential but lack the financial and familial resources, to access a quality high school education. An equally important and unique aspect of the program is the introduction of a mentor - a positive role model that, many times, fills a void in the student's life.

Notre Dame alumni and friends have embraced Shepherds, Inc. and their commitment of time, financial support and direction enable students to reach their full potential. To date, nine students have graduated from Notre Dame and are enrolled in colleges including Albertus Magnus, Quinnipiac, Southern Connecticut, Utica and Purdue. This year, the Shepherds, Inc. student population at Notre Dame is at a record high of 14 students.

In 1998, Brendan and Barney Phillips co-founded the Shepherds initiative with five students at one pilot school in Bridgeport as part of their Knights of Malta ministry. In nine years, that number has blossomed whereas 97 Shepherds students are enrolled at five partnership schools this school year.

In addition to co-founding the program, Brendan became heavily engaged when he accepted mentorship of Jabar Smith, who at fourteen, found himself alone and a ward of the State. Jabar is a prime example of how this program can work. He graduated from St. John's University in 2006 with degrees in Finance and Accounting and is currently employed on Wall Street. His success at Kolbe Cathedral and his bright future is largely attributable to Brendan's dedication and faith in his potential.

Brendan graduated from the University of Maryland in 1966 with a BS in Microbiology, followed by a two-year stint with the US Army working with Military Intelligence in Vietnam

Fisk spent the next 23 years as a Special Agent with the FBI in Washington, D.C., New York and Connecticut, supervising major white-collar criminal investigations involving financial misconduct, bankruptcy, stock frauds, racketeering, political corruption, organized crime and foreign counterintelligence matters.

A resident of Fairfield, Brendan and his wife Diane, have two daughters, Amanda and Laura. Brendan serves as consultant with Checkers International, Inc., an investigative firm he founded in 1992 that provides support, fact-finding and intelligence systems to corporations, public agencies and the legal community.

Ask any alumnus of the past 20 years if they remember "Mr. Hoffman" and the answer is likely to be greeted with a resounding Yes! and a smile.

John started teaching at Notre Dame in the Spring of 1989 and immersed himself and his family in the Notre Dame community and as a result, virtually every alumnus had some contact with him over his four year career.

Whether in the classroom teaching religion, at the altar serving as Deacon at a school Liturgy, roaming the halls after school, serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country team, or seeing him at any school function be it an athletic contest, school play or musical performance John Hoffman seems to be everywhere Notre Dame students are. Of course it could just as easily be chatting before or after class in the hallway about his favorite sports subject; the Boston Red Sox. Regardless of how you know John, it is evident his love for Notre Dame is great.

Prior to coming to Notre Dame, John taught at St. Bernard and then Northwest Catholic High School from 1976 to 1984. A graduate of St. Bernard's in 1972, John went on to receive a BA in Religious Studies from the College of the Holy Cross in 1976.

In addition to his responsibilities at Notre Dame, John serves the Church as a Permanent Deacon. Ordained in June of 1993, John not only assists in Notre Dame Liturgies, but he also was a vital member of the Holy Infant Church clerical team in Orange from 1993-2005 serving with fellow Notre Dame Alumnus Father Peter Dargan '52. In 2005, he was assigned to St. Mary's Parish in Milford where he has served in the same capacity.

John also finds time to donate to community activities. He currently serves on the Archdiocesan Board of Education for the Archdiocese of Hartford, and has been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader since 1991. He spent eight years as a member of the Board of Education for the town of Orange from 1991 to 1999, including two years as Chairman. He also spent six years as a Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 925 from 1996-2002. He was recognized with the Connecticut Yankee Council Good Scout Award in 2001 for his work with Boy Scouts.

John, and his wife, Deborah, reside in Orange. They have three grown children, Katherine, Daniel '02 and Sean '02.

From one of Notre Dame's first graduating classes came one of its most loyal alumni. Edward Martino graduated from Notre Dame in 1955 and has had a love-affair with the school ever since his sophomore year in 1952.

While at Notre Dame, Ed was a standout football player, a key member of Notre Dame's first state championship football team in the fall of 1954. That team went 9-0 and allowed only 12 points all season. Ed also was a four-year member of the baseball team, serving as a co-captain his senior year, and was awarded the Pat Morro Memorial Trophy for the 1955 baseball season. In the classroom, Ed was an Honor Society student as well as a class officer as a sophomore and junior.

Following his Notre Dame career, Ed graduated cum laude with a BS in Biology from Fairfield University. He was accepted into the Georgetown School of Dentistry. He graduated in 1963 and was a co-recipient of the Operative Dentistry Award as well as the lone winner of the Orthodontic Award. He stayed in the Washington, D.C. area and earned a Masters Degree in Orthodontics with Distinction from Georgetown in 1967.

He returned to Connecticut and has been in private practice ever since. In 1984, he teamed up with Dr. Albert D'Onofrio, Notre Dame Class of 1950, and established a successful practice called Orthodontic Associates of Connecticut, P.C. He has had countless Notre Dame alumni and students as patients over the years and always has been true to the Notre Dame and Congregation of Holy Cross Mission by being willing to donate his services to families and children from throughout the New Haven area.

He is a proud member of the New Haven Dental Association, Connecticut State Dental Association, Connecticut Association of Orthodontics and American Association of Orthodontists.

Ed always has stayed loyal to Notre Dame and the Class of 1955. He has supported the school in many ways over the years with his generosity. In fact, he has been a sponsor of this dinner for every year it has been in existence. In addition, he always has been involved with the Reunion Committee for the Class of 1955 and has been a part of the glue that has kept the class together.

He and his wife, Patricia, have two sons, Francis and Edward, Jr., and two daughters, MaryEllen Perrotti and Tricia Lasto. Ed loves to spend time with his six grandchildren, Mollee, Maggie and Megan Lasto as well as MaryKatherine, EmilyRose and Edward Martino III.

Jack Mordente '66 has spent the better part of his life combining two of his passions: education and Armed Services veteran's rights. Currently the Director of Veterans Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Jack has long fought for veterans' rights and benefits.

Jack is a proud member of the Class of 1966. While at Notre Dame, Jack was a member of the football team, ran track and served on the Student Council. After graduating from Providence College in 1970, Jack served on active duty with the US Army from 1970-1974 and continued with the Army Reserves until 1982.

Jack began his career serving veterans at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in 1975, where he also received his Masters and 6th Year in Counseling/Student Personnel in 1977 and 1979. He provides counseling, academic advisement, GI Bill and tuition waiver certifications and liaison with other Veteran's organizations.

As an advocate for veterans' rights and benefits on a local, state and national level, Jack is President of the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA), the only national veteran's education group in the country. He also serves on Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's Veterans Advisory Committee and is a member of CT's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). He has served on the city of New Haven Veterans' Advisory Committee, the CT Board of Higher Education Veterans' Advisory Committee and Chaired the CT Agent Orange Commission from 1983-1987.

Jack was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame by Governor Jody Rell in November 2005. "I am overwhelmed by this recognition," stated Mordente, who added "Governor Rell's honoring me with this award honors SCSU Soldiers." In 2007, Jack discovered that the Department of Defense had misinterpreted a law that was denying war deployed National Guard and Reservists their GI Bill. After months of letter writing, testifying and press conferences, the Department of Defense announced that they were working to ensure that all Guard and Reservists, past and present, would be notified of the policy change. This was just one example of how Mordente has made a difference in the lives of many people he has come in contact with over his career.

Often sought after to speak about veteran's rights and benefits, Jack recently served on education panels at the Department of Defense Worldwide Education Symposium in Orlando and the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans in Chicago. This past year, Jack presented a paper titled "From the Battlefield to the Classroom" at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Annual Conference in Florida.

Jack resides in Branford with his wife Linda. He has two daughters, Elisa and Jill, and two grandsons, Andrew and Tyler.

Peter Novak '74 was a true scholar-athlete while a student at Notre Dame High School. Active in the school newspaper as well as being a standout basketball player, Peter has taken that same drive and determination and carved out a life that is true to the Holy Cross mission.

In addition to being a successful businessman, Peter has not only carved out a successful family life but also continued to provide for his community through a basketball program as well as a community-service program for inner-cities.

Peter is the founder and principal of Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services Co. Based out of Springfield, MA, and Farmington, CT. The firm is represented throughout New England with offices in Stamford, New Haven, Western and Central Massachusetts, and Boston.

Mr. Novak leads a professional team of over 175 financial representatives who specialize in providing custom-tailored financial solutions to individuals, families and small and large businesses. The firm's wide range of service offerings include retirement planning, securities brokerage services, life, disability and long term care insurance, fee-based financial planning, college funding programs, estate analysis, business continuation planning, executive fringe benefits and employee benefits programs.

Mr. Novak is a twenty-year veteran of the insurance and financial services industry. Prior to creating the Novak Financial Group (as the firm was then known), Mr. Novak served as General Agent of the MassMutual general agency in Rochester, NY, which he led to become a multi-million dollar entity. Prior to that, Mr. Novak operated as Co-General Agent for an agency of The New England Insurance and Investment Company, located in Waterbury, CT. Mr. Novak began his financial services career at the New York Life Insurance Company.

After graduating from Notre Dame, Peter earned a Psychology degree from American International College while also playing basketball for three years. He also earned a Master of Science Degree in Psychology from Catholic University. Before entering the financial services world, Peter coached college basketball for over 10 years while working as a social worker in his hometown of New Haven, CT.

Throughout his career, Peter has also immersed himself in his community through service. He is the founder of the Three Up Foundation, a community initiative that aims to support inner-city businesses and causes.

Peter, and his wife Kasia, reside in Longmeadow, MA and have three children, Alexandra, Adam, and Caroline.

John and Arlene Ronan have carved a life that has seen them achieve personal and professional success, while donating back to the community and serving many organizations including Notre Dame.

Married in November of 1954, John and Arlene achieved professional success quickly. John worked a variety of positions with increasing responsibility at Southern New England Telephone while attending the University of Connecticut School of Law night program. He earned his Juris Doctor in June of 1963 and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar later that summer. John spent the next 21 years in private practice in Milford in partnership with Attorney Richard H. Lynch while also serving as a part-time prosecutor in the state court system.

In April of 1984, John was nominated to be a Superior Court Judge by then Governor William O'Neill. He was sworn in later that Spring, served in six Judicial Districts throughout the state and was later appointed as the Chief Administrative Judge for all of the criminal courts. In 1998, he was appointed by Chief Justice Robert Callahan to the position of Deputy Chief Court Administrator for the Connecticut Superior Courts where he remained until his retirement in 2002. Since then, he has continued to serve as Judge Trial Referee in the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District Courthouse.

Arlene added to the family and community working as a registered nurse concentrating in the public health field in industrial nursing as well as school nursing. Arlene was very active in the Notre Dame Mother's Club while her two sons attended Notre Dame (Kevin '73 and Ryan '77). During that time, she served as Vice-President and Secretary. She continues to be a loyal member of the Notre Dame Alumni Mother's Club.

Both have received countless accolades for their professional and civic work. John has received awards from the Lower Naugatuck Valley Bar Association in 2007, the Connecticut Yankee Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 2004, the Milford Columbus Committee in 2001 and the Bridgeport YMCA in 1997. Arlene has also been active with the Milford PTA, Red Cross Nursing Volunteers and the Lauralton Hall Mothers Club where her daughters, Mary Ellen and Elizabeth, attended high school. Lauralton honored Arlene for her contributions to their community with the prestigious Claven Award. She is presently active with the Bridges Across Ages program serving as a Mentor as well as serving as a member of St. Mary's Parish Council. She has received civic awards from both the Connecticut Post and Channel 12 News.

John and Arlene are the proud parents of Kevin, Ryan, Mary Ellen and Elizabeth and love spending time with their grandchildren Nicholas, Geoffrey and Trevor.

Brother James Posluszny, C.S.C. '62 has devoted his entire life to God through the Brothers of Holy Cross and his educational and pastoral ministries and as a result he has had an impact on thousands of lives.

Since 1999, Br. James has been the Director of North Country Ministry (NCM), which has received awards for its assistance to victims of abuse and support of people with legal problems. NCM provides a variety of services to over 500 people a month in a 600-mile region in the south-central Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York.

Br. James began his life's journey in Wallingford and became a student at Notre Dame in the Fall of 1958. While at Notre Dame he was active on the Prom Committee, Dance Committee and serving on the staff of The Shield. Four years later, he was a Notre Dame Man and graduate of the Class of 1962 on his way to join the Brothers at Valatie, New York. After taking his vows as a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross a year later, he began his studies at Stonehill College.

He received his BA in History in 1967 from Stonehill and immediately enter the classroom as an English/Reading teacher at St. Edmond's Academy from 1967-1970. He would return to his alma mater for an eight-year stay from 1970-1977 as a member of Notre Dame's English and Religious Studies Departments. Br. James' main contribution in his time at Notre Dame was his founding the Study Skills Program, which is still in existence today. He also served as Moderator of the Drama Club and the Alumni Mother's Club. During this time, he earned a Masters Degree in Education from Seton Hall University.

Br. James then traveled to Nyegezi Social Training Center in Tanzania, East Africa and was an instructor in Journalism and Photography for two years before returning to begin a second career in Pastoral and Religious Educational Ministry. This began in West Haven where he served as a Pastoral Associate for St. Lawrence Parish and St. Rose Parish in New Haven from 1980-1985.

Br. James then went "North of the Border" and served as Chaplain at Holy Cross High School in St. Catharines in Ontario, Canada from 1985-1992. The following year, Br. James was the Chaplain for the Field Education Practicum at Boston College, while receiving an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry.

His travels and work then took him to the Adirondack region of New York where he was the Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation at St. Johnís Parish in Valatie, NY for two years. He then spent the 1995-96 academic year as the Director of Religious Education at four parishes in Watervliet, NY. For the next three years, Br. James worked with jail ministry in five county facilities serving as a Chaplain and working with the GED program.