Alumni News & Notes

 

John Wilbur Grutsch was born in 1945 in Brentwood, Missouri, where his family were members of St. Mary Magdalen Parish. Following his father, a 1937 graduate, he attended Christian Brothers College High School from 1959 to 1963 and was a member of the soccer and track teams all four years. He graduated from CBC on June 2, 1963. He received a soccer scholarship to Lewis College in Romeoville, Illinois. However, after a year he returned home and attended Meramec Community College until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Upon completing basic training, he was recommended for Officer’s Candidate School and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1967 and in July of that year, he married his wife, Marleen. After only seven months of marriage he was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry of the 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, Vietnam. Just three short months later, on May 9, 1968, he was killed in action. He was 23 years old. He died as a result of a hostile artillery, rocket, and mortar attack in Thua Thien Province, Vietnam. He earned the Combat Infantryman and Marksmanship Badges and was awarded a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, an Army Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross. He was posthumously promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He is buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and his name is inscribed on the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.

“To the perpetual memory of these gallant C.B.C. heroes who generously laid down their lives for God and country, this memorial is reverently erected. May they rest in peace.”

 

This is the dedication engraved on the top of a memorial to our fallen heroes located on the CBC campus. First Lieutenant John Grutsch is remembered on this memorial. He is one of 45 CBC graduates who having sacrificed their lives in service to our country during wartime are recognized on the CBC War Memorial. Those recognized range from the earliest veteran, a 1931 graduate who died in WWII, to the most recent two, both 1967 graduates killed in the Vietnam War.

 

The CBC memorial was originally dedicated in 1946 upon being erected at the behest of the Fathers’ Club and was located on the Clayton Road school campus. There was a rededication ceremony on November 11, 1998 when nine names were added. In 2003, when the school relocated to its current Town and Country location, the monument was moved to the new campus, sponsored by the Class of 1951. It was specifically situated in a very prominent place at the end of the main entrance driveway where a majority of the students, faculty, and staff pass it going into and out of the school every day. A parent or guardian dropping off or picking up a student passes it while making the U turn to exit the school grounds. The north parking lot, the school’s largest, is behind the Memorial and anyone entering or leaving the school who access this parking lot passes by the Memorial. This location was strategically and deliberately situated so that it would be observed by most anyone on the school grounds as a constant acknowledgement of the debt that is owed to those CBC alums whose names are on the Memorial.

 

CBC has had a long and meaningful tradition with the United States Military. In 1934, the school negotiated an agreement with the United States Army to introduce a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Program to the school’s curriculum. CBC’s identity with military service became clearer during World War II. In a 1944 issue of The Turret, the school’s newspaper, it was reported that nearly 1,000 CBC men were serving in the armed services. Eventually that number grew to 1,400. Forty CBC alums made the ultimate sacrifice during that war. While still an important part of the school’s history and identity, the JROTC program was discontinued in 1993.

While it became a voluntary program in 1977, before it was discontinued, every student before then and those who chose to voluntarily, proudly wore the CBC uniform every day and participated in military structured drills, parades, and student life on campus. And even today, while the students no longer wear a uniform or participate in weekly drills and in military-style parades, the precepts and traditions formulated during those Jr. ROTC years are still revered and respected throughout the CBC Community.

 

CBC’s continued commitment to honoring its war heroes is demonstrated by actions taken by current students to ensure that veterans are not forgotten. One such example was recognized in 2019 when representatives of Gold Star Mothers visited the CBC Memorial to honor several Cadets who had taken their time to help in the remembrance and funerals of three homeless veterans who had recently died, even though they were not CBC graduates. The mothers presented a folded flag to be displayed in the school that recognized one of the veterans. The students, who had attended the funerals of the three veterans and actually served as pall bearers for the third vet, are part of an organization that is dedicated to helping veterans and their causes, especially homeless veterans.

 

So, the next time you visit the CBC campus, stop at the Memorial, give a salute, and say a prayer for 1st Lieutenant John Grutsch and all of the honored CBC graduates remembered on it and the ultimate sacrifice they have made for us.

 

“As a Senior Producer, I manage projects from concept to completion—crafting schedules, overseeing budgets, assembling creative teams, and leading reviews with executives. With nearly a decade of experience collaborating directly and indirectly with Apple, I’ve contributed to iconic campaigns, including Apple TV screensavers, the redesigned iMac, and the MacBook Air. As a freelance Senior Producer, I partner with various companies and vendors to produce editorial, VFX, and CG films. While Apple remains a major focus, I’ve also led campaigns for InBev, Lexus, Scottrade, Enterprise, and Nike.”

 

 

“I’m passionate about surf photography. The ocean brings me a sense of calm, and capturing surfers as they carve through waves, creating breathtaking splashes, is truly exhilarating. Check out my work on Instagram: @mattcibulka_photography."

 

 

“Working with Mr. (Tom) Murray, I learned to trust my instincts, embrace creativity, and, most importantly, always deliver. Whether it was producing our daily newscast or overcoming creative blocks, he pushed me to put my work out there rather than overthinking it. His lesson was simple but powerful: You are enough. Keep creating. Keep delivering.

Another lasting lesson came from Mrs. H (Charlotte Hanselman), our librarian. She ran Karen House, a shelter for individuals escaping abusive relationships. Every Tuesday after school, we would drive down to cook dinner for the residents. I remember stressing over what to make or whether the food would turn out well, but to those we served, our presence mattered far more than the meal itself. That experience taught me an invaluable truth: Everyone wants to be seen and acknowledged. No matter who you meet, smile, recognize them, and treat them with kindness.”

 

 

“Mr. Edward Goetz and Thomas Murray, for believing in me, and showing me my potential. Joel Delpha and Charlotte Hanselman, for nurturing me into who I am. Dr. Karen Engdorf, "aka Dr. K", for empowering me through SIT (Student Information Technology).”