FRIENDS OF ANGELS, LTD.
Volunteer Alumni Supporting a Safe SCHS Neighborhood
1220 Villa Street • Racine, WI 53403
The Story of the Alumni House
April 2005, the FRIENDS OF ANGELS LTD. (FOA) organization was created. The FOA Board with the assistance of Attorney Gregory Pitts ’96, secured themselves as a non-profit 501 c (3) organization dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, drug-free environment for staff, students, alumni and neighborhood residents in the St. Catherine’s High School area by 1) developing positive school-neighborhood relations, 2) sponsoring community-based events, and 3) rehabilitating neighborhood buildings/spaces.
FOA Founders & Original Board Members: Bob Letsch '61, Julie Meyer '72, Greg Pitts '96, Jim Poulsen '60, Chuck Wood '60 President
Present FOA Board: Chris Gorman '77 President, Frank D'Acquisto '77 Vice President, Bobby Letsch Jr '84 Treasurer, Don Klemt,
Dan Peterson '65, Jeff Pulda '71, Gregory A. Pitts '96, Chuck Wood '60 President Emeritus
June 28, 2005, The Friends of Angels purchased the two-story building at 1220 Villa Street, directly across from the SCHS parking lot. Assisting in the purchase were Jim Dickert '55, John Dickert '81, Marty Defatte Southwest Realty and Jess Levin President Bank of Elmwood. The building was warmly named The Alumni House.
Work began immediate on rehabbing the building. A group of alumni led by Jim Cramer ’59 and Earl Wirtz ’58 included Dave Benjamin ’61, Dan Bentz ’58, Eddie Howard ’09, Tom Mielcarek ’63, Joe Woitach ’59 and Jim Welsh ’56. Soon after Ralph Mazzie ‘’70 became a permanent member of the workforce. Over the next two years, the workforce enjoyed the help of over 25 volunteers. Fr Cletus Uhen, former SCHS Athletic Director and Golf Coach joined the group and quickly named the workforce “Charlie’s Angel”. Fr Uhen became Charlie’s Angels chaplain, counselor and guardian.
May 2007. The total building rehab was completed.
Since the completion of the building rehab, the Alumni House has hosted meetings for the SCHS/Siena Administration, the Development Office, the Foundation, St. Catherine's staff and the Dominican Sisters. In addition, various SCHS committees utilize the office for meetings: Black and White Ball, John McGuire Memorial Golf Outing, and Angel Booster Club Golf Classic. Through out the year, the building is made available to class reunion groups, who enjoy seeing the history of their SCHS experience documented in the photo collages on the walls, class year books, memorabilia and mementos that are available in the Alumni Office.
The creation of three rental units (two Upper & lower North) in the Alumni House has offset the monthly mortgage payments. Over the years, renters have included: YWCA “Dress for Success Program, United Way Neighborhood Outreach Program, a Dominican Sister, a former SCHS teacher, and a 1st year SCHS teacher. A Holiday Raffle was conducted in 2016 & 2017, thanks to Jeff Pulda ’71, to balance the FOA budget when there were no renters.
July 2005, 06, 07, Charlie’s Angels” led by Jim Cramer, constructed three years of commemorative floats honoring the three SCHS WIAA State Boys Basketball Championships. The floats participated in Racine’s July 4th Parades. Coach Letsch, Fr Uhen, aLong with team members rode on the float each year. The semi flatbed trailer each year was provide by Dan Oakes ’79 and his son Dan ’06 drove the semi in each successive year parades.
May 2009, Out growth of the Alumni House was the Angel Golfers who met at Ives Grove on a Thursday for 9 holes of scramble golf. That tradition continues each golf season to this day. Who ever shows, alumni and friends to play, foursomes are developed and the groups tee off at 8:30. There is a special set of golf rules for the golfers to help curtail any frustrations. A group of alumni and friends who are non golfers started meeting every Thursday at River Bend Restaurant for breakfast. That tradition also continues to this day.
Sept 2009 - Sept 2012, Another out growth the Alumni House was the Alumni Choir under the direction of Keith Ruelle ’61. The group, 30 strong, preformed at Siena Center, SCHS Fall and Spring Concerts, Mass at St Joseph and Sacred Heart Churches, Festival of the Arts, Wheaton-Franciscan Christmas Tree Lighting, Vert’s Day Celebration at SCHS, sang the National Anthem at SCHS Basketball games and Homecoming Football Game..
June 2010, In the backyard of the Alumni House, a tree was planted with a commemorative plaque in memory of Edward “Eddie” Howard. Ed became a Honorary SCHS Graduate in 2009. Eddie was the 1st of “Charlies Angels” we lost.
August 2011, “Charlie’s Angels” began the Monday tradition of gathering at the Alumni House for lunch, share memories and a few laughs. They expand their invitation to other alumni and friends. Soon after the weekly luncheon sponsorships evolved.
July 2016 The Friends of Angels website, foa1220.org, was developed to capture and maintain the history of the Alumni House along with 3 Galleries of the Monday’s visitors, alumni and guest.
August 2018, Siena Catholic Schools of Racine signed a three year lease to utilize the three open rental units. This included the upper two units and lower North unit. Presently the offices houses Admission, Alumni Relations, Development and Chief Academic Officer. That lease was renewed in Sept 2021 and again in Sept 2023.
April 2022 , the Alumni House Blog was developed that would recap Monday’s luncheons that included additional info regarding Racine, SCHS and Alumni. Presently it is sent by 7pm each Monday evening to over 400 alumni & friends.
June 2022, Marty Defatte ’61 H contracted a landscaper to clean and replant the Alumni House backyard. In addition, he added a new metal picnic table.
August 2022, Jack Kelley '58 H constructed shelving for the front of the Alumni Office. The shelving, houses SCHS Yearbooks, Scrap Books and SCHS Memorabilia.
January 2023, Chuck Wood stepped down as president of the Friends of Angels Ltd Board. The new FOA Administration: Chris Gorman '77 President, Frank D'Acquisto '77 Vice President, Bobby Letsch Jr Treasurer assumed the responsibilities for the Alumni Building.
April 2023, The new FOA Administration dedicated the building in the name of Alumni House founder Chuck Wood '60.
St. Catherine's Alumni House dedicated to Chuck Wood
Sept 2023, Mano Fencing installed a 6’ chainlink fence with gate along the North side of the Alumni House backyard.
This completed the fencing surrounding the Alumni House backyard.
Nov 2023 a video was created by Lloyd Tremmel ’60 with 9 of the alumni guys dancing to the Bee Gees ’Stayin’ Alive” classic, Jenny (Miller) Hovan ’78 was the creative choreographer leading the dancers. The video premiered, December 4th in the SCHS Auditorium with family and friends in attendance.
htwww.youtube.com/watch?v=-vebpvCgUlAtps://
Sept 2024 G & H Window Service replaced both front & rear windows in Upper South & North Units.
June 2024 Celebration of the Alumni House 20th year Anniversary.
Each Monday, The tradition continues, local alumni and friends gather for a sponsored luncheon to network, share stories, memories and have a few laughs. A number of the guys stay and play cribbage. Out of town alumni and friends will visit on a Monday when in Racine. A number alumni and friends continue to be involved in maintaining the building and grounds. The former drug house has become a valuable asset to the SCHS/Siena Catholic Schools of Racine, the neighborhood and Racine community.
St. Catherine's Alumni Association an epicenter of good times - Racine Journal
Before
Before the FRIENDS OF ANGELS purchased and rehabbed the building at 1220 Villa, it was an unsightly drug house which contributed to the unsavory flavor of the neighborhood and promoted criminal activity in the area. Safety was an issue, especially for students, parents and staff during evening activities at the school.
After
Hundreds of volunteer hours by skilled SCHS alumni went into rehabbing the Alumni House as we know it today. The renovation created two residential apartments upstairs and two office units on the street level, which provide special event and meeting space for St. Catherine's and its fund-raising event committees.
The building is home to the SCHS Alumni Association. On the walls you'll find collages of decades of St. Catherine's High School history, beginning in the 1920s. They were created and donated by Chuck '60 and Joni Wood. Numerous SCHS alumni have donated mementos of their SCHS days…scrap books, Lances, letter sweaters, uniforms, awards, pins and pennants. They're all framed and on display for viewing. Chairs in the office were re-upholstered by Dave O'Brien '58. It's a place created for Angels by Angels.
