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Reverend Frank D. Almade - BLS 1971

After graduating the Latin School, Fr. Frank earned his B.A. in Classics from Duquesne University in 1974, and then a S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology) in 1982 and a S.T.B. (Bachelor of Sacred Theology) in 1984 at St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD. The "Reverend Doctor" earned his Ph.D. in Theology (cum laude) from Duquesne in 1990, with his dissertation "Criteria for a Just Wage for Church Employees".

Fr. Frank was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1978. Father Almade is pastor of the four parishes in New Castle, Pennsylvania (Mary Mother of Hope, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Vitus). He formerly served as a pastor in Sharpsburg, the Hilltop communities in Pittsburgh and the North Side. He also served in two leadership positions in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Vicar for Clergy and Secretary for Ministerial Leadership (2006-2007) and Secretary for Social Concerns (1995-2002). Fr. Almade has taught at Duquesne University, SS. Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, and the catechist enrichment and deacon formation programs of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

He was the Co-founder and Vice-President, Jubilee Soup Kitchen & Jubilee Association, Pittsburgh, PA. from 1978 through 1994. Throughout the years, Fr. Almade has served on the Board of directors of many organizations:

Social Action Committee, Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Harrisburg, PA.

Roundtable Board for Social Action, National Pastoral Life Center, New York, NY. 1999-2003.

McGuire Memorial Home, New Brighton, PA. 1995-2002.

Sisters Place, Clairton, PA. 1997-2002.

President, Board of Directors, St. Joseph House of Hospitality, Pittsburgh, PA. 1997-2000.

Auberle Home, McKeesport, PA. 1995-2002, 2008-present.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Board of Directors, 1989-2002, Membership, 2004-present.

Fr. Frank interests are Catholic Social Doctrine, Moral Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Pro Football, and Pro Hockey.

Also, please visit Fr. Almade's blog, "Gifts Received, Gifts Given." www.giftsreceivedgiftsgiven.blogspot.com ,which he started in 2011.

1995-2002.

He blogs at www.giftsreceivedgiftsgiven.blogspot.com .

Mr. Christopher F. Rebstock - BLS Class of 1971

Chris Rebstock brings extensive experience in food banking at the local, national, and international levels to his role as Sr. Vice President, Network Development for The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). GFN is a network of individual food banks and national food bank associations, created with the dual mission of supporting food banks where they exist around the world and working to create food bank systems where they are needed. GFN currently works in collaboration with Governments, the Private Sector, and Civil Society in more than 30 countries in its efforts to promote food banking as a trusted and effective infrastructure for capturing food that would otherwise be wasted despite its continued wholesomeness, and using that food to feed hungry and malnourished people within the country.

Having graduated from the Bishop's Latin School in 1971, Chris entered St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh. After a couple years he determined that he was not called to the priesthood, and pursued a couple different lines of work before a serious, but fortunate, accident brought him to an awareness of the extent of poverty and hunger throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania - and the whole country. This led him to a position with Hunger Action Coalition in late 1979, where he began his current career path.

In 1981, while working for Hunger Action Coalition, he joined the Board of Directors of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. A year later he became Executive Director of that organization, which he led for the next five years through a five-fold growth in activity.

In 1987, Chris left the food bank to join the staff at America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network (now known as Feeding America). There, as Vice President of Member Support, he managed the organization's member support and training activities, disaster response services, national program development and coordination, network contract and policy management, and international food bank support services.

He was the organization's primary point-of-contact for international inquiries about food bank development, and in that capacity directly assisted the development of food banking in Argentina, Australia, and Israel, where there are now thriving national food bank systems. From that experience and his interest in promoting the expansion of food banking internationally, he worked with colleagues at Feeding America to create GFN, which began operations in July 2006.

Chris has served on the Board of Directors of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) - a coalition of NGOs engaged in disaster response activities with the Federal, state, and local governments. He served as Chair of NVOAD for four years, including through the response to 9/11 in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. He was a long-time member and past-Chair of the National Donations Management Steering Committee, created jointly by NVOAD and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), to devise and promote protocols and strategies for more effectively directing public response to disasters.

His career reflects a long-time commitment to social justice issues - particularly hunger. He and his family have long shared a dedication to supporting and being part of efforts to address poverty and hunger. Chris is married and has four children and three grandchildren. He and his wife live in Chicago.

Rev. Joseph Freedy

Rev. Joseph Freedy. Father Joseph Freedy was born the youngest of five children in Bethel Park, PA. He attended Saint Thomas More grade school followed by Bethel Park High School. Earning a scholarship to the State University of New York at Buffalo to play football, Father Joseph was the starting quarterback for three years before graduating in 2002 with an undergraduate degree in communication. After college he entered Saint Paul Seminary in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Duquesne University. He then was sent to the North American College in Rome for theological studies. Father Freedy earned an STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and an STL from the John Paul II Institute. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Zubik in June of 2008. Father Freedy served at Good Samaritan and Saint John the Baptist Parishes in Beaver County before being named Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Gary M. Gayda - BLS Class of 1971

The Executive Board of the Bishop's Latin School Alumni Association is proud to announce the selection of Gary Gayda '71 as a 2013 recipient of a John Cardinal Wright Award. Gary joins fellow classmates, Fr. Frank Almade and Mr. Christopher Rebstock as well as Fr. Joseph Freedy, Pittsburgh Diocesan Director of Vocations in the 2013 class of awardees.

Gary Gayda is the longtime BLS Treasurer, manager of the BLS database, and of our website, www.blsalum.org, as well as the photographer for the Bishop's Latin School Alumni Association. He was instrumental in the re-start of the BLS Alumni Association. The story has it that in February 1996, Gary was on Shiloh St. in Mt. Washington, when he ran into his Pastor, Fr. Lou Vallone (BLS Class of 1965). Fr. Lou asked him if the Class of 71 was having "reunion" for their 25th anniversary. Gary thought that this would be a great idea and started out tracking down his fellow classmates. Somehow, the list started to include other classes, and soon the list included all 10 years of classes. Under the direction of Fr. Joe Henry, S.J., and with the help of several other alumni, the new Bishop's Latin School Alumni Association was formed as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Corporation in 2000.

After graduating from the Bishop's Latin School in 1971 (summa cum lucky, as Gary says), Gary attended Duquesne University as a Liberal Arts Major. After a few semesters, he left school, and worked several constructions jobs, and then returned to Duquesne, married his wife, Sue, and received his B.S. in Accounting in 1977, He worked as an accountant and then Controller, and then as a computer software design analyst, until he started his own computer consulting business in 1986. In 2001, he sold his consulting business, and took the position as Controller at Hapad, Inc., a manufacturer of orthotic foot products in Bethel Park, PA. Gary and Sue have two grown children, Gregory, and Bethany.

Always in the background, (usually with his camera), Gary is always working for the BLS Alumni Association. Whether designing the mass and dinner programs, updating the web-site, finding the halls for the Alumni dinners, selecting the menus, and taking photos of the events, Gary has been a longtime vital cog in the continuing operation of the Bishop's Latin School Alumni Association and as are his other class of '71 recipients, is a most-deserving recipient of a Cardinal Wright Award. Simply put, we couldn't run this alumni association without him. Congratulations and thank you Gary!