Posted
December 05, 2024
As a St. Edward educator for 35 years, Latin Teacher Daniel Cavoli shared his love for language, God, and other people with everyone he met.
Among his many contributions, he introduced the Eagles in Flight Wilderness Retreat for juniors and seniors to "escape into nature and view creation as the Creator originally made it, and to learn about God, ourselves, and our peers in the process." This summer, a group of alumni ventured to the mountains to honor his memory. Guest writer James Muller ’06 reflects on this heartfelt tribute and the enduring impact of Cavoli’s unforgettable spirit.
BY JAMES MULLER ’06
Many of you will remember the loss of Daniel Cavoli earlier this year, and perhaps even attended his funeral. While I was fortunate to spend time with Mr. Cavoli (I could never quite bring myself to call him by his first name) before the end, I wasn’t able to attend the later services.
Wanting to honor such a remarkable man in a way that truly reflected his legacy, I reached out to friends who had also been profoundly shaped by his life. Together, we felt that the most fitting tribute to Mr. Cavoli was to celebrate him in God’s “first and finest cathedral.” So we ventured into the woods—a place he loved so deeply and where he taught so many of us to appreciate the wonder and beauty of the natural world.
Mr. Cavoli began the Wilderness Retreat program more than three decades ago. He worked tirelessly to craft the program into a genuine work of art; designing it to build friendships, encourage student leadership, and ultimately bring young men closer to God. Generations of Edsmen spent days at a time on their respective retreats, separated from the normal comforts of home but closer to their faith than ever before.
A modest tri-fold with pictures of students in backpacks was a huge part of my decision to attend St. Edward; later, I learned many other open house attendees shared similar motivations.
I finally made my first retreat—to the Monongahela National Forest—in the summer of 2004. I knew shortly into “Wilderness 109” that I wanted to return as a member of the team. I wanted to lead retreats for fellow students as many times as possible. I found myself leading peers on Wilderness 110, 111, 112, and 113, and then returned as an adult advisor on Wilderness 115 and 118. Some of my best memories and most durable friendships came from planning, preparing, and leading these retreats.
This summer, Patrick Roman ’08, Bobby Donelon ’08, Mike Oradini ’09, Frank Dettore Schenkelberg ’13, and I dusted off our gear and made the trek into the West Virginia mountains. There we enjoyed a long weekend of catching up, reminiscing, and—most importantly—of prayer. We walked with old friends, marveled at scenery every bit as stunning as the first time we witnessed it, and reflected on the impact a great man made on each of our lives.
We brought with us a small plaque crafted in the likeness of the medals given to every veteran of the Wilderness Retreats, and we found a place to hang it and to pray. On our retreats, we were encouraged to find a spot in the forest that spoke to us. We referred to that place as our “Holy Ground.” Surrounded by friends, we dedicated a Holy Ground to Mr. Cavoli.
We plan to revisit the spot in future years with the same spirit of faith, hope, and love. I've had a lot of great teachers, but nobody taught me more, both inside and outside the classroom, than Mr. Cavoli did. I owe so many of my favorite stories and my best friends to him and to Eagles in Flight. Requiescat in pace.
Edsmen who joined Daniel Cavoli on his legendary Wilderness Retreats may remember one of his favorite passages by Alla Bozarth, which he read aloud to frame each journey. This fall, those same words echoed in the hearts of twelve juniors and seniors as they ventured into the Dolly Sods Wilderness. For three days, the students carried not just the weight of their backpacks but also the legacy of a teacher whose passion for faith, fellowship, and the outdoors left a lasting mark.
Pack Nothing.
Bring only your determination to serve
and your willingness to be free.
Don't wait for the bread to rise.
Take nourishment for the journey,
but eat standing, be ready
to move at a moment's notice.
Do not hesitate to leave
your old ways behind—
fear, silence, submission.
Only surrender to the need
of the time— to love
justice and walk humbly
with your God.
—From Passover Remembered by Alla Bozarth