Welcome to all of our former SJV and Donovan-Mayotte students, alum, and staff! We hope you'll stay in touch with the SJV community and that, from time to time, you'll let us know what you've been up to by emailing Melinda Holm at s tjohnvianney@sjvkids.org or by filling out and returning the questionnaire attached to the bottom of this page. We look forward to hearing from you!

SJV Alumni live our Mission Statement: guided by the Holy
Spirit, they are making a difference in our world!

St. John Vianney Retirees

MRS. KAROLYN BAKER came to SJV from St. Mary's Flint, and taught both primary and middle school grades during her career. Wherever she was needed, Mrs. Baker happily greeted and taught her students. Now that she is retired, she and her husband, MR. KEN BAKER, who also taught part-time for a few years at SJV, spend summers in Michigan and winters in Florida.

MRS. HARRIET TUCKER was a fourth grade teacher at Donoven-Mayotte/St. John Vianney for many years. Well-known by her students for 'The Look,'
Mrs. Tucker enjoys her retirement by spending time with her grandchildren and attending their sporting and school events.

MISS JUDY GANSEN is 'officially' retired retired from SJV, but you would never know it! She can be found daily tutoring students and assisting in classrooms at school, as well as helping coordinate many of the traditional happenings (Living Rosary, All Saints Day Mass, etc.) that make SJV the special school that it has always been.

MRS. BARBARA STANTON dedicated many years to SJV as a first grade teacher. Now that she has retired, she is able to spend more time enjoying her grandchildren!

MRS. CINDY MCNEA taught kindergarten through grade four during her 24 years at St. John Vianney. Although she retired, Mrs. NcNea spends much of her time substitute teaching for SJV! Once a teacher......

MRS. SHARON CUTTITTA worked at SJV for 31 years. Sharon taught in the classroom for 27 of those years and was principal for 4 years. We thank Sharon for all her hard work and all of the little things she did on behalf of her students. Sharon’s commitment continues as she is now volunteering her time to SJV!

MRS. ELIZABETH PETRIDES involved at SJV School for the 25 years. The first 12 years were as a mother, then as a mother & teacher, and then as a teacher. We thank Elizabeth for her commitment to Catholic Education!

Former Principal Mr. John Reynolds Speaks With...

JOE FORLENZA began teaching at St John Vianney High School in 1963. He taught Social Studies and Government. He coached football, baseball, track, and was the Athletic Director.

Joe remembers SJV as a wonderful place to work. Joe describes the community of students and teachers as "a family". He remembers the St. John Vianney Parish as a very active and giving community. [This can still be said of the SJV Parish.]

Joe is retired now, after a long stint as Principal of Powers Catholic High School. He still is active in the Catholic Education community, a community that owes a great deal to Joe’s leadership. Joe loves doing what he wants to do, when he wants to do it.

JIM SULLIVAN came to teach at St John Vianney in 1964. Jim taught Social Studies in the middle school first. He taught classes that numbered 50 or more students. He remembers teaching with Jim Doyle and Felix Lehmkuhle [RIP].

He coached the eighth graders in football and baseball. He remembers practicing at Durant-Turri Mott or 3rd Ave by the river. One of Jim’s fond memories is the basketball games between the SJV faculty and the SJV seniors.

Jim returned to St John Vianney to be Principal of the Elementary and Middle School from 1979-1980.

Jim is one of the most respected Official Starters for Track Meets in the State of Michigan. However, when he is not starting track meets, Jim has gone fishing.

DAVE PETTYES fancies himself as "The Joker," or rather "The Joke Teller." Dave prefers jokes that are long and totally corny. Many students he taught at St. John VIanney may not remember much from Dave's lectures after all these years, but they remember the jokes and groan.

SJV was Dave’s first professional job. He taught Social Studies, World History, and American History. When he applied for the job, Msgr. Mayotte interviewed him. I do not know if Dave told the Monsignor any of his jokes, but he got the job anyway. Msgr. Mayotte then took a blank piece of paper wrote ‘hired’, signed the paper and handed it back to Dave. Dave never forgot this job interview.

Dave fondly remembers teaching in the basement with the not-so sound proof walls dividing the classes. He feels that everyone in all the classes bonded whether or not they liked it.

Dave went to teach at Powers Catholic as a charter member of the faculty----his jokes followed him. Dave now tells his jokes to all his new friends in the retirement community...nothing like a new audience.

DENNY DRUMM also began teaching at St. John Vianney in the early 60's. Denny taught 7/8 grade Math in classrooms on the top of the Elementary school. He says: "the teachers on the top floor ran things for Sister Verona." Denny went on to teach Math to the SJV High School students and the students at Powers Catholic.

Denny coached track, football between the SJV faculty and the SJV seniors, and basketball at both the middle school and high school level. He says "everyone was involved in one way or another" and "everyone supported each other."

BRIDGET (WRUCK) DRUMM Bridget keeps in touch with some of her classmates after graduating in 1957. She remembers attending classes in what is now the Social Hall of the school building. Bridget is now retired and enjoys visiting her children and grandchildren. This "family visiting" has the added element of traveling, which Bridget loves to do. Bridget is a very active member of the St. John Vianney Parish community. St. John Vianney is the only parish that Bridget has belonged to. Her volunteer work in the parish helps St. John Vianney to be the wonderful community Bridget has known and loved. Thank you Bridget!