Meet the Recognition Dinner Honorees

Few couples have shown a deeper commitment to faith, family, and the mission of Holy Cross education than Dick and Audrey Marcellino.

Through decades of service and generosity, they have helped transform the St. Edward experience for generations of students.

Dick and Audrey funded the creation of the new St. Joseph Courtyard—a peaceful, prayerful space outside the Kahl Center that has quickly become one of the most beloved places on campus. Their support has also included the Annual Fund, the Courage to Act Campaign, the wrestling endowment, and the Wings Auction, where they have been faithful title sponsors and longtime top bidders for the coveted wine cellar.

Their connection to St. Edward began as parents seeking a values-based education for their three sons, Tony ’96, Mike ’99, and Nick ’05. All three boys wrestled for the Eagles, and Dick and Audrey became deeply involved in the school community. One of their favorite memories was watching Nick win the state championship his senior year—unexpectedly beating the top-seeded competitors, with Tony and Mike cheering from the stands. It was a moment that perfectly reflected their family’s closeness and the strength of the bonds formed through their shared St. Edward experience.

Dick and Audrey met while working at a hospital—Dick as an orderly and Audrey as a nurse. As a young man seeking direction, Dick was given a prayer card by a priest who encouraged him to pray to St. Joseph. Soon after, his prayers were answered. He found a partner in Audrey, built a career in financing, and together they raised a large and loving family that now includes sixteen grandchildren, including three who attend St. Edward: August Marcellino ’27, Dominic Marcellino ’28, and Johnny Borowy ’28, as well as one incoming freshman: Roman Marcellino ’29.

Dick’s professional path took him from repossessing cars to learning the ins and outs of financing, eventually rising to lead an auto dealership in the 1990s. His success in business was matched by a strong commitment to mentoring and giving back—values that he and Audrey have always shared.

Audrey has been a quiet force behind so much of their giving—grounded in her own faith and a belief in supporting the people and places that matter most. Together, their generosity has created both physical spaces and life-changing opportunities for students and families.

For the Marcellinos, giving to St. Edward has always been an act of faith—a heartfelt response to the blessings they’ve received and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Their story is a testament to the power of prayer, the strength of family, and the impact of humble generosity. Dick’s enduring gratitude to St. Joseph makes it especially meaningful that he and Audrey are receiving the Br. James A. Everett, C.S.C. Benefactor Award—an honor that, until 2019, was known as the St. Joseph Benefactor Award.

Few individuals have shown as much unwavering commitment to St. Edward as Jay Geib ’75.

Over the years, Jay has generously given his time, talent, and heart—as an alumnus, parent, coach, and longtime supporter. A past recipient of the Bronze Eagle Award, Jay and his wife Ann have been faithful contributors to the Annual Fund, the Courage to Act Campaign, and the Wings Auction, having served twice as chairs for this annual event. His dedication to advancing the school’s mission has made a lasting difference in the lives of students and families.

Jay credits his deep sense of generosity to his parents, who he says “gave me everything.” After graduating from St. Angela Merici School, Jay enrolled at St. Edward, where he played football all four years and was a defensive back his senior year. He went on to the University of Dayton, earning a degree in marketing with a minor in finance, and built a successful career in cable television construction. Jay recently retired from South Shore Cable Construction, the family business he helped grow and lead for many years.

Throughout his life, Jay has remained closely connected to the St. Edward community. He and his wife, Ann, have been married for more than 40 years and are proud parents of four children: Abbey, Anne, Jay ’13, and Frank ’15, as well as one grandchild, Frankie. Earlier this year, Jay and his son Frank hosted the Fat Tuesday Alumni Social at their new indoor golf venue, Always Golf Club in Westlake, continuing the family’s tradition of hospitality and community engagement.

A man of strong faith, Jay is a daily Mass-goer and active member of St. Bernadette Parish, where he previously coached youth football from 1993 to 2011. Since then, he’s been a fixture on the freshman football staff, where his signature term of endearment—“Big Tiger”—is known to nearly every player he’s coached. For Jay, coaching is about more than football; it’s about building relationships and helping young men succeed.

When asked what has meant the most to him about his time at St. Edward, Jay doesn’t hesitate: the friendships. As one of the school’s most involved and enthusiastic alumni, he’s proud to see so many young men experience the same brotherhood that shaped his own life.

Jay continues to give back because he believes in the mission of the school and in the potential of every Edsman. His advice to students is to get involved at St Edward. “Meet as many classmates as you can,” Jay says, “because down the road this community of friends and alumni will become your best allies in the growth of your own life. The value of the St. Ed’s community is priceless.”

The St. Edward community is lucky to know Jay Geib.

For more than four decades, Dr. Tom Dittrich ’66 has built a career at the forefront of science and national security—while never losing sight of where his journey began.

A physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, Tom has spent the past 45 years working at one of the nation’s leading science and technology labs, specializing in national security. Despite living thousands of miles from Ohio, he has remained an active and engaged member of the St. Edward community.

Tom was a generous supporter of the Courage to Act Campaign, and his commitment to the school is permanently honored through the Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Dittrich ’66 Physics Lab—a renovated space named in recognition of both Tom and his wife, Mary Beth. The Dittrichs are also faithful supporters of the Holy Cross Society of the Annual Fund. Over the years, Tom has also made several visits to campus to speak with students. “Teenagers are impressionable,” he says. “Hopefully it’s made an impact on some of their choices. It’s very rewarding to give back to the school and come back to visit. I would encourage other alumni to do the same.”

Raised in Lakewood, Tom attended St. Clement before enrolling at St. Edward. He credits several Holy Cross Brothers for shaping his work ethic and academic discipline—especially Br. George Tilley, C.S.C. (math), Br. John Ryan, C.S.C. (physics), Br. Robert Siegel, C.S.C. (band), and Br. Leo Geiger, C.S.C. (stage crew). As a student, Tom was actively involved in the Catholic Action Club, stage crew, Tune Time, and band. Through his band experience, he had the rare opportunity to perform at Hopkins Airport during the arrivals of Presidents John F. Kennedy in 1962 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Inspired by his high school experiences, Tom pursued a physics degree at the University of Dayton. He went on to earn a PhD in Experimental Nuclear Physics from North Carolina State University in 1976 before launching his career in California. He joined Lawrence Livermore in 1980 and has remained there ever since.

Mary Beth, a longtime math teacher at an all-girls Catholic high school founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, shares Tom’s commitment to education. Together, they’ve volunteered for more than 30 years on their parish’s Confirmation team, and Tom served as a scoutmaster when their adopted sons, Max and Marshall, were young.

Tom believes strongly in supporting young people during their formative years. “Those who have been blessed,” he says, “are tasked with supporting the next generation.”

Audrey and Ken Luke '81 have been pillars of the St. Edward community for nearly two decades—steadfast in their service, generous in their support, and unwavering in their commitment to the school’s mission.

Since 2006, they have volunteered their time at the Community Meal, a long-standing tradition that brings nourishment and dignity to those in need. In addition to their hands-on service, Audrey and Ken have been loyal supporters of the Wings Auction, the Annual Fund, and the Eagle Ohio Tax Credit Fund—St. Edward’s Scholarship Granting Organization—helping expand access to a St. Edward education for countless young men.

Their family’s connection to the school spans three generations. It began with Ken’s father, Howard Luke ’56, continued with Ken himself, Class of 1981, and lives on through their sons, Scott ’08 and Bryan ’14. Their daughter, Nicole, graduated from Magnificat High School in 2010, and the Luke family remains closely tied to both school communities.

Audrey and Ken are both accountants and proud graduates of Cleveland State University. Ken later earned his Master’s in Taxation from the University of Akron, and today, they work side by side at Neitzel, Luke & Salopek, Inc., an accounting firm based in Westlake. Married for 38 years and members of St. Raphael Parish for more than three decades, they now enjoy their role as proud grandparents.

As parents, they emphasized the importance of being active in school life. Their children were encouraged to participate in extracurriculars during the school year and work summer jobs when school was out—a philosophy that underscored the value of being fully present as students. Audrey and Ken led by example, volunteering not just at the Community Meal but also as officers in the Mothers’ Club and Fathers’ Club.

Their sons embraced the opportunities before them—joining sports like cross country, wrestling, and rugby, and taking part in activities like theater, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Kairos. Scott was named Man of the Year for the Class of 2008. Bryan won two state championships with the rugby team. All three children went on to attend Marquette University, and both sons later served in the U.S. Navy.

Audrey and Ken often say they give back because of what the school has given to them. They believe in continuing the tradition and helping preserve the friendly, welcoming environment that defines St. Edward—reminding others that giving doesn’t always have to be financial. It can be a helping hand, a warm meal, or simply staying connected.

Audrey and Ken Luke exemplify what it means to be people of service and purpose. Their legacy at St. Edward is one of humility, heart, and deep devotion.

For more than three decades, Matt Levindofske has been a steady presence at St. Edward—shaping young men in the classroom, on the field, and in life.

Originally from Hamburg, New York, Matt attended Frontier High School, where he played football and wrestled. He moved to Ohio at 19 to study criminal justice at Baldwin Wallace, continuing both sports at the collegiate level, and was a proud member of the football team’s Ohio Athletic Conference championship in 1982. After graduation, Matt began working at Parmadale Children’s Village, where he discovered a passion for mentoring youth. It was there he also met his wife, Deb. The two married in 1986 and raised three children: Dan ’10, Carly (Magnificat ’14), and Zach ’20.

Matt earned his teaching certificate from Cleveland State University and began at St. Edward in 1989 as a full-time substitute. Just a year later, he accepted a teaching contract—and has been a dedicated educator ever since, adding a Master of Arts degree in History from Cleveland State in 1998.

Shortly after arriving at St. Edward, Matt joined the storied wrestling program under Coach Greg Urbas. He coached wrestling from 1990 to 2002 and varsity football from 1999 to 2011. His favorite memory: helping lead the team to its first state football championship in 2010 as the varsity defensive line coach. For the past 11 seasons, he’s brought that same energy and mentorship to the freshman football team in his role as defensive line coach.

In the classroom, Matt brings real-world experience into his Authentic Entrepreneurship course, which he co-teaches with Entrepreneur-in-Residence Phil Singh ’85. He regularly invites alumni back to share their journeys—helping current students see the possibilities ahead of them. Next year, Matt plans to transition into part-time teaching while continuing to assist with both football and wrestling. Deb, a longtime social worker, now channels her creativity into running a gardening business.

Matt often says he found more than a workplace at St. Edward—he found his community. The friendships, experiences, and shared commitment to the mission have kept him giving back. As a faithful supporter of the Annual Fund, he’s inspired by the generosity of graduates and encourages students to do the same.

His advice to young Edsmen is straightforward: know your talents, read often, and learn to think clearly. “I teach rational thought,” Matt says. “If you’re going to be responsible for others, you have to be logical and think things through. We’re trying to teach them to be men—plain and simple.”

For 35 years, Matt Levindofske has done just that—helping young Eagles grow into men of character, discipline, and heart. Plain and simple.