Distinguished Alumni Award Winners Jim Bauernfeind '56 and Trisha Cassidy '80 Honored During Catholic Schools Week
In 2005, ICHS established the Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is given annually during Catholic Schools Week. It is intended to recognize an Immaculate Conception High School graduate whose achievements reflect excellence, commitment, and service, and gives witness to the heart and spirit of Catholic education. The award serves as a standard to which current ICHS students can aspire. On Tuesday, February 1, 2011, two ICHS alumni were presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This year's recipients are James Bauernfeind '56, and Patricia Cassidy ’80. They join the 10 previous Distinguished Alumni honorees.
Jim Bauernfeind is an owner of Liberty Sales Corporation in Broadview, IL. Since starting the company in 1989, he has been providing ICHS with goods at the lowest price possible. Prior to opening Liberty Sales, Jim was a typewriter salesman. He was the top salesman for Royal Typewriter on the West Coast, and then for International Typewriter Exchange in Chicago. Following his graduation from ICHS, Jim enrolled at Northern Illinois University. From 1959 through 1961, Jim served his country in the U.S. Army.
Jim's achievements truly reflect excellence, commitment, and service, and give witness to the heart and spirit of Catholic education. He received the Golden Knight Man of the Year Award in 1992 for his dedication to the high school, and the Honorary Knight Award in 1993 for service to the athletic department. He was the Booster Club President in 1992. Jim is still active with the ICHS Phonathon, Alumni Association Golf Outing, and Booster Club NFL Raffle. He also serves as an ambassador for his class, keep everyone in touch and up-to-date on what is happening at the high school.
Jim is a volunteer and supporter of many organizations outside of ICHS. He is an usher at Visitation, and has led their Heart of Gold Raffle in the past. He also supports Marquette University, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Misericordia, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, Trinity High School, and the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
Trisha is currently the President of Gottlieb Hospital in Melrose Park, IL, a position she has held since 2009. She has worked for Loyola University Health Systems, of which Gottlieb is a part of, for the past 21 years. Trisha has held numerous vice-president and director positions at Loyola over the years.
After graduating from ICHS, Trisha attended the University of Illinois. She graduated in 1984 with a degree in political science, and she went on to receive her Master's in Business Administration from Loyola University.
Trisha has definitely shown great commitment to her profession, where she has already achieved excellence and is serving her staff and patients in the Catholic spirit on a daily basis. She has guided Gottlieb to a more patient centered health facility, including implementing a patient care model to increase the comfort and safety of the patients.
Jim and Trisha were given their awards at the conclusion of the all-school Catholic School’s Week Mass. They were presented by their nominators. First, Gina Gasbarre ’81 introduced Jim. He spoke about how strong of a believer he is in Catholic education. Jim said he was truly grateful his parents sent him to Catholic schools, and that he was able to provide the same opportunity for his children, Suzie ’92 and Mary Beth ’93. He had the entire audience laughing when he joked, “I gave my daughters three choices for high school, IC, IC, or IC. Luckily, they chose IC.”
Next, Joan Howard introduced Trisha. She spoke to the students about the similarities to where she is at in her career to where the students are at in their lives. Trisha commented that at first it seemed that they did not have a lot in common. However, she connected the fact that in working for a Jesuit hospital, her mission is to treat the whole person in mind, body, and spirit, just as the students of ICHS are being educated according to the vision of Monsignor Plunkett, in mind, body, and spirit.
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