Each year since 1993, the Board of Trustees of Immaculata Academy has held its annual gala to honor deserving community members with its prestigious Mater Christi Award. The premiere event of the southtowns, the 18th Mater Christi Award Gala will be held on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at Michael’s Banquet Facility in Hamburg. This year’s event will honor David and Janice ('70) (Russell) Demmerley, of the Donald M. Demmerley Funeral Home, Inc.; Msgr. Leo McCarthy, active priest, mentor and coach to WNY for 50 years; and Joseph McDonald, Catholic Health's president and CEO, for exemplifying the mission of Immaculata Academy.
For more information, or if you'd like to attend, contact Suzanne Walker, Immaculata’s Chief Advancement Officer at: 716-648-4307 or swalker@ImmaculataAcademy.com.
Mater Christi Award Recipients
Faith, based on Franciscan values and the importance of family, guides David and Janice Demmerley daily in their 32 years of marriage.
David is President and Licensed Manager of the Donald M. Demmerley Funeral Home, Inc. in the Village of Hamburg. He is a graduate of Hamburg H. S., Simmons School of Mortuary Science and Hilbert College. An Air Force veteran, David worked in medical administration at the 67th Tactical Hospital, Mountain Home AFB, ID, during Vietnam. After military service, he worked with his dad, Donald, at the Funeral Home. When Donald retired in 1991, David became the Licensed Manager. Following his dad’s death in 2002, he became President.
David is a member of Erie-Niagara and NYS Funeral Directors Association, American Legion Post 527, Hamburg Council #2220 Knights of Columbus, Msgr. Leo Toomey Fourth Degree and WNYGenealogical Society. David is a very active fourth generation parishioner of SS. Peter and Paul Church.
Janice, a 1970 alumna of Immaculata Academy, graduated from Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing affiliated with SUNY at Buffalo. There she was inducted into Centennial Club of the American Hospital Association for Bedside Nursing. Her career began at Our Lady of Victory Hospital and continued at Pediatrics South Buffalo Mercy Hospital (in the office of Dr. Edwin Torres / Raman Patel.) After working part-time in home care Janice returned to her grade school, SS. Peter and Paul, and is now in her fifth year as school nurse.
She is a charter member of Buffalo General Hospital School of NursingAlumnae Association, WNY Association of School Nurses, SS. Peter and Paul Parish Bishop’s Committee Discussion Group, and St. Francis High School Alumni Parents Group. Janice has been active in the preparation of the St. Francis Justinian Auction since 1995 and served on numerous committees for school reunions and anniversary celebrations for SS. Peter and Paul Church and School, Immaculata Academy and St. Francis High School.
They have been blessed with four children- Christopher, Michael, Daniel and Sarah; one daughter-in-law, Lindsay; and one grandson, Lucas.
Msgr. Leo McCarthy has been enriching the quality of life for many throughout Western New York for years. Msgr. Leo's first assignment was at St. Mary in Little Valley, where he spent one year. He then spent five years at St. Teresa's in South Buffalo and then St. James in Depew. At these parishes, he became very involved with youth. He coached football, track and various other sports. Musically inclined, Msgr. Leo led the St. Teresa Boys Choir, "The Savios."
He was "temporarily" assigned to St. Joseph's Cathedral for the next ten years where he continued positive youth outreach through sports and music. While at the Cathedral, he became involved in the Police Athletic League (PAL), where he again took up coaching. Msgr. Leo was also chaplain for the Boy Scouts, the Buffalo Police, the Erie County Sheriffs, the Port of Buffalo, the Catholic telephone and postal employees and also served as Great Lakes area chaplain.
Msgr. Leo has been interested in promoting vocations and was a vocation counselor in South Buffalo and at St. Mary’s High School in Lancaster. He was the Holy Name Moderator for the West Side of Buffalo and eventually became the Diocesan Moderator. He was very involved in the Serra Club of Buffalo, whose main focus is promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
After his time at the Cathedral, Msgr. Leo was assigned his first pastorate at St. Matthew's Church. He remained there for ten years and was then assigned pastor of Immaculate Conception in Wellsville where he stayed for seven and a half years. St. Joseph's in Batavia was home for the next thirteen years where, of course, he became involved with the choir, altar servers and coaching. He reluctantly retired from St. Joseph's and is now living at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Tonawanda. Still a very vibrant, active priest, he makes time to mentor youth. Last year on February 21st Msgr. Leo McCarthy celebrated fifty years of priesthood.
Since coming to Buffalo in 2002, Joseph McDonald, has been a compassionate instrument of positive change in Western New York. As President & Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health, he leads one of the two largest health systems in Western New York, comprising a team of 8,200 associates and 1,200 physicians working to transform healthcare throughout the region. Today, Catholic Health programs, services, and its relationships with the medical community are better aligned to ensure the continued success of its mission, “to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need.” During Joe’s tenure, the System has experienced a growth in services, the introduction of advanced technology, improved quality and safety, and a return to fiscal stability.
In perhaps his most publicly visible initiative, Joe led an organizational effort to save St. Joseph Hospital from closure, as recommended by New York State’s Berger Commission. He engaged government and community leaders, physicians, associates and the community in a year-long effort to demonstrate the hospital’s value to the community and the health crisis that would result if it were to close. In January 2008, New York State and Catholic Health reached an agreement that would keep the hospital open as a campus of Sisters of Charity Hospital. On April 1, 2009, the hospital officially became Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus, preserving emergency and acute care services in the local community and saving the jobs of more than 800 associates.
He is a board officer of the Healthcare Association of New York State, and serves on its Executive, Compensation, Audit and Solutions committees. Mr. McDonald serves on the regional policy board of the American Hospital Association, and is a member of the WNED board of directors and HSBC Advisory Board.
Originally from Knoxville, Tenn., Mr. McDonald served as the principal consultant of the McDonald Group, a Knoxville-based health care consulting firm prior to his arrival in Buffalo.
2010 Gala Co-Chairs
Hamburg residents Gary and Michelle Brady, and West Seneca residents Ed and Kathy Simoncelli will serve as co-chairs for the 18th annual Mater Christi Award Gala on September 28th at Michael’s Banquet Facility.
Gary Brady is registered Pharmacist currently employed as a Medical Outcomes Specialist with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He obtained his MBA from University of Buffalo in 1993 and is currently pursuing his doctorate degree in Pharmacy from Shenandoah University. His past community involvement includes Co-President Immaculata Parent Guild, Member of the Saints Peter and Paul Parents Guild and St Francis High School Parent Guild. He was the President of the Knobby Knoll Cottage Cooperative Association, President of the SSPP Hockey Program, and a member of the Erie Country Mental Health Association.
Michelle is a Registered Nurse who currently enjoys being a stay-at-home mom raising their four children. Her volunteer activities include being a member (past President) of the SSPP Parent Guild, member (past Co-President) of the Immaculata Parent Guild, and member of the St Francis High School Parent Guild. She has also served as a leader for the Bishops Committee Discussion Group and Mothers’ Group.
The Brady’s have been members of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Hamburg, since 1989 where they have been co-leaders of the Marriage Ministry Program and co-chairpersons of the Capital Campaign Fund.
Ed Simoncelli is an electrical contractor and president of Simoncelli Electric, Inc. He graduated from St. Francis High School in 1978 and SUNY Alfred in 1980. Ed is an avid Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan.
Kathleen Simoncelli is a 1978 graduate of Kenmore East High School and began a nursing career with a bachelors in nursing from D’Youville College and later worked as a nurse at Women and Children’s Hospital. Kathy is now a stay-at-home-mom devoting her time to the local community. She served as Vice President on the Parent Guild at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, where she co-chaired their “Night at the Races” event and Christmas and Easter candy sales, alongside other bake sales. At OLSH Kathy also coordinates the uniform sale exchange; she’s currently assistant director of the school musicals. Kathy serves Immaculata Academy as parent coordinator for the magazine sale and on the ticket committee for the Shamrock Sweepstakes. She enjoys gardening, antiquing, baking and scrapbooking.
The Simoncellis have three children: Mia, ’10; Nina, ’12; and Rachel, of OLSH. The Simoncellis have been parishioners of OLSH in Orchard Park since 1996.
All proceeds raised at the Mater Christi Award Gala benefit the young women of Immaculata Academy by funding scholarships, tuition assistance and academic programs. Those interested in attending or supporting the event as a sponsor or patron should contact Immaculata’s department of institutional advancement at 648-4307.
Co-Chair Kathy Simoncelli, Academy President Sr. Paulette Tirone, and Co-Chair Ed Brady embrace honorees Msgr. Leo McCarthy and Janice Demmerley
