Alumni News

Inspired by the Christian Brothers who taught him discipline, critical thinking, and perseverance, successful entrepreneur Michael Carsley ’88 has turned a lifelong passion for technology and a gratitude for his De La Salle education into a lasting legacy through the Michael and Karen Carsley Foundation Scholarship, helping future Pilots achieve their own success.

DLS Alumnus Anthony "Tony" Montana, Class of 2011, recently visited DLS and spoke to the Aviation Science class, taught by Mr. Greg Hoskins, about cross country flight planning. Montana is a Pilot for Delta airlines. 

Bill Burkhardt '03, has established a scholarship fund in memory of Evan Vaillancourt, '19. Burkhardt has pledged $250,000 for a scholarship to DLS for children from military families. 

From his humble beginnings at De La Salle to his present role at MIT, LoDuca’s story is proof that belief in one’s abilities and a strong work ethic can take you further than you ever imagined

Monsignor Charles Kosanke, a graduate of the class of 1977, and the current pastor and rector of the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit has been named the 2026 Christian Brothers’ honoree.

Founded in 2019 by De La Salle Collegiate alumni director Vito Chirco, Chirco & Co. has raised about $60,000 for charities, with a special focus on supporting the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan in honor of his father’s battle with kidney disease.

More than 75 alumni representing 50 different classes attended the 4th Annual Christmas Ornament Ceremony on Dec. 2, sponsored by Mark Wisniewski, Class of 1983. 

Alumni shared their experiences at the annual DLS Career Day on Oct. 18. 

The Pilot Construction Association visited the historic Fox Theatre in Detroit. 

Anthony Servitto, DLS 2002, will be the keynote speaker at the Pilot Bar Association Annual Meeting on October 10 at Villa Penna. 

Patrick Sierawski, Class of 2007, reflects on the influence of his family and De La Salle Collegiate on his chosen legal career. 

Geoff Wickersham, DLS Class of 1986, coaches girls' flag football at Birmingham Groves and is teaching the school's initial Advanced Placement African American Studies course. 

Matt Loria, a class of 1995 graduate, learned as a Pilot student that if you want to be treated like an adult, you have to first act like one. And, it’s been a key component of the De La Salle experience since the all-boys, college preparatory school first opened its doors in 1926.

Roger Ziemba '72 is sponsoring a new, merit-based math competition that will award the top students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades with scholarship money or a gift card. 

Nearly 40 alumni and friends of De La Salle Collegiate gathered at the school on Friday, September 22, 2023, for the annual “Career Day.” 

At just 26 years old, Frank Slanczka has already become the epitome of someone who puts the needs of others before their own.

On March 1, Dennis Koch, '94, and the Alumni Relations Department had the opportunity to visit with 30 alumni and current Michigan State students.  

The 17-18 basketball team captured the 2023 Alumni Basketball Tournament title. 

The newly formed Pilot Construction Association came to be through a happenstance encounter – and on the job – between alumni Andrew Devich, '10, and Jim Muer, '85.

Al Baumgart, SJ '52, passes away. 

Joe DeLave has lived a life of treating individuals the way that he would like to be treated: with respect. It’s a principle that was ingrained in him during his time at DLS.

Pat Schluter, '86 had several influences in his life that led him to The Collegiate.

Matt Rohr was molded into the faith-filled man that he is today in part due to his time at De La Salle. He also used the Lasallian principles he learned at DLS to guide himself in his line of work: human capital management. 

Ron Rogowski, '73, recently ran the 2022 Detroit Marathon.

Long before his career as a chiropractor, Brad Sabo, '03, learned his fair share of life lessons while walking the hallways of De La Salle, where he followed in the footsteps of his brother, Adrian, ‘00, and was molded into the man he is today. 

The De La Salle Pilot Bar Association's annual fall meeting was called to order Tuesday, Oct. 27, on the campus of De La Salle Collegiate in Warren.

Alumni Spotlight: John Kosanke, '84, Director of Public Safety, City of Grosse Pointe Woods

De La Salle alumnus Matt Markham is camping out this week … on the roof of a building for a good cause.

Roy Charles Martin passed away peacefully at his home on Drummond Island on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, where he lived with his wife of 29 years.

Joseph Leonard Campeau passed away at Troy Beaumont Hospital on September 9, 2020. He was born July 30, 1973, in Detroit to Jeanne and Dean Campeau, a much loved only child.

Ed Carter moved on to his heavenly home on September 3, 2020. He was 88. He is survived by his wife of 65 years.

More than 160 golfers enjoyed the second annual Christian Brothers Classic, in honor of the late Ed Martel, at Indianwood Golf and Country Club on Monday.

President of Evola Music for 30 years, Benedict M. Evola, St. Joe's graduate of 1949, and loving husband of Nancy for 66 years, died on August 5, 2020.

An alumnus from the Class of 1996, Matt Handzo played football for the all-boys' school where, in 2000, he was inducted into the Catholic High School League Hall of Fame.

The Christian Brothers Classic golf outing is back ... sort of. While this year's original June date at the legendary Detroit Golf Club was canceled because of the global pandemic, the event is moving 35 miles north up I-75.

On Monday evening, June 15, John J. Connarn passed peacefully in his home in Vienna, Virginia at the age of 90.

Born in 1942, Judge Donald Halstead grew up in Detroit, the only child of the late Loyola (Chesney) Halstead. He graduated from De La Salle Collegiate in 1960 and the University of Detroit with a B.S. in Accounting in 1964.

Robert Anthony Rogers '51, passed away on June 7, 2020, at the age of 86 at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Dinner together in the Manczyk household is mandatory. No matter what time it is. The family of four - father Mike, mom Jackie, sister Meghan, Regina ‘14, and son Eric, DLS ‘18 - rarely had dinner together. 

Kevin Southway is on the frontlines. A nurse anesthetist at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield, the De La Salle Collegiate alumnus has been in close contact with COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. 

The De La Salle Collegiate Alumni Association golf leagues are opening up again this year.  Monday and Tuesday leagues will start on May 4.

A larger than life character, Charles Toms, a De La Salle alumnus from 1973 and a retired Detroit police officer, died on April 1, 2020.

Richard Powers, a De La Salle Collegiate from the class of 1961, died on April 20, 2020.

Michael Danna, who helped lead the Pilots to a Division 2 state championship in 2014, becoming just the second player in school history selected in the NFL Draft. 

Out of concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak, the De La Salle Collegiate Alumni Association has canceled this year's Christian Brothers Dinner and the Christian Brother Classic.

Matthew Hornung, De La Salle class of 1995, died on April 20. Here is more information about Matt and his services.

Robert L. Ziolkowski, a resident of Northville, passed from this life on April 3, 2020. He is a De La Salle Collegiate graduate from the Class of 1962, and was enshrined in De La Salle’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Benji Hirschmann, class of 2014, passed away on March 31, 2020. Here is more information, including tribute and service information.

The Class of 1975 is planning a two-day reunion gathering for Sept. 25-26. Come celebrate 45 years as De La Salle alumni!

For Monsignor Chuck Kosanke, a De La Salle alumnus, the news that his parish, Ste. Anne de Detroit, was named a minor basilica, was both thrilling and humbling. 

The 46th annual De La Salle Collegiate raffle is officially complete and was a great success. De La Salle raised over $163,000 during the 2020 raffle season, surpassing the fundraising goal of $155,000.

A Republican who raised Detroit's Democratic mayor, an Irishman who liked a good joke but not lawyers who didn't take the law seriously, and a community leader who still made it home in time for dinner, Patrick Duggan '51 died early Wednesday.

Albert H. Gelineau, a graduate from De La Salle Collegiate in 1947, died on March 19, 2020. He is the older brother of Bill, who is a 1957 alumnus.

Patrick Garvey, class of 1949, passed away on March 16, 2020. He is the father of Patrick Junior '78 and Michael, '91. Mr. Garvey is also the grandfather of Anthony Palazzolo, '14 and Alex Palazzolo, '10.

De La Salle Collegiate alumnus William Joseph Higgins passed away peacefully on March 14, 2020. Bill graduated from De La Salle in 1945 and joined the United States Army in 1946.

Dan Scenga, class of 1963, passed away on March 13, 2020. Here is more information, including tribute and service information.

The De La Salle Collegiate alumni basketball tournament was a great success once again. Alumni ranged from the classes of the 1970s to as recent as 2018.

Edward Higgins, a De La Salle Collegiate graduate, in 1942, died on March 5. He is the uncle of alumnus Mark Gnaster '71.

Dr. Turcotte, De La Salle's valedictorian in 1950, performed the first organ transplant in the state of Michigan.

At the annual Senior Alumni Christmas luncheon in December, new attendees among the nearly 200 present included several members of De La Salle Collegiate’s Class of 1969. 

This was the plea from Dr. Charles Lucas, ‘55, to each member at the inaugural Pilot Medical Association meeting at the Caucus Club in downtown Detroit, on Nov. 14. 

BCBSM's Dan Loepp addressed De La Salle Collegiate’s seniors at the second annual 1926 Society Breakfast held at the Detroit Athletic Club. 

Tony Viviano, a graduated from De La Salle, who was an accomplished pianist and accordion player, died on October 29, 2019.

Dale William Dale died on William August 11, 2019, at the age of 84. He was a graduate of De La Salle Collegiate in 1952. 

Donald Lobsinger '52 was a leader, spokesman, and founder of the group Breakthrough in Detroit. He also founded the Catholic Laymen's League which opposed Communism and defended the Catholic faith.

Joseph “Joe” Connolly, age 95, of Clinton Township, passed away on December 7, 2017. Joe was a 1940 graduate of De La Salle Collegiate.