About The Awards
The Catholic Memorial High School Legacy Awards celebrate alumni and friends of CMH who exemplify and sustain the mission to educate, guide, and prepare students to become leaders to serve the Church and the world.
The Catholic Memorial Legacy Awards are presented during the Annual Crusader Auction as we reflect on the visionaries who helped move CMH forward and celebrate what is yet to come.
2026 Legacy Award Recipients
Professional Achievement Legacy Award - Jack Riesch ‘96
The 2026 Professional Achievement Legacy Award recipient is Jack Riesch ‘96. As President and Owner of R&R Insurance, Jack has guided the firm through sustained growth while fostering a culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and people-first leadership. He is widely recognized for his leadership style that emphasizes talent development, innovation, employee well-being, and meaningful community engagement. Under his leadership, R&R Insurance has earned a strong reputation for client service and performance while remaining deeply invested in its people. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Riesch has dedicated significant time and leadership to civic, educational, and faith-aligned organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Assurex Global, the Board of Trustees at Carroll University, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County. His dedication to making a positive impact on the greater community also included previous leadership roles with the Waukesha County Business Alliance, ProHealth Care Foundation, Boy Scouts of America Potawatomi Council, United Way of Waukesha County, and the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin.
As a graduate of Catholic Memorial High School and Marquette University, Jack is known for giving back to future leaders from each alma mater, mentoring current students and alumni through internship and career opportunities. Additionally, he has continued to support Catholic Memorial through multiple ways, including company sponsorship of events and programs, hosting senior internship students, and volunteering.
Jack is not only a proud CMH alumnus and active supporter of the school, but also a current and alumni parent of three accomplished children, Riley ’25, Jackson ’27, and Keenan ’29. He is an exceptional example of what it means to live out the CMH mission with a dedication to excellence and commitment to serve others.
Memorial Legacy Award - Steve and Dr. Shelagh Roell
Steve and Dr. Shelagh Roell are the recipients of the 2026 Memorial Legacy Award. Steve and Dr. Shelagh Roell have been awarded in recognition of their extraordinary leadership, generosity, and commitment to Catholic Memorial High School. Steve Roell, retired CEO of Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, and Dr. Shelagh Roell, former tenured faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a licensed clinical psychologist, exemplify lives dedicated to service, excellence, innovation, and faith. They are the proud parents of four Catholic Memorial alumni, Shauna ’93, Kevin ’95, Brian ’97, and Meena ’99, whose CMH experiences helped deepen the family’s connection to the school.
The Roells’ involvement with Catholic Memorial began in 1989 and has spanned more than three decades of transformational impact. During that time, they have been steadfast supporters of three capital campaigns, served as trusted advisors to the CMH president for over nine years, and generously shared their time, expertise, and resources to expand and strengthen programs that enhance the student experience, increase recruitment, and sustain the mission of Catholic Memorial.
Among their many contributions, Steve and Shelagh played a pivotal role in the growth of the CMH STEM program. Most notably, the biomedical science program that has grown from one course offering serving 35 students to four course offerings, serving over 200 students annually. The Roells were also key contributors as the school launched privately hosted bus routes, creating greater access to a Catholic Memorial education for students from surrounding communities. Their generosity has profoundly shaped the academic experience at CMH. Most recently, the Roells made a generous gift of $125,000 to revolutionize the Science programs at Catholic Memorial with the addition of a state-of-the-art Anatomage table. The transformative investment allows students to engage with the most advanced 3D anatomy visualization technology available, bringing collegiate and medical school-level learning directly in the CMH classroom. As a result, CMH is one of only two private high schools in Wisconsin, and one of just 114 nationwide, to offer students access to this cutting-edge tool.
Through their unwavering support and guidance, Steve and Shelagh have helped shape the school’s present and future in lasting ways. Their humble nature and generosity are an inspiration to us all and we could not be more grateful for their kindness, leadership, and commitment to Catholic Memorial.
Legacy Awards Presented
The Professional Achievement Award is presented to an alumnus/a who has:
- Reached a level of excellence in his/her career, including:
- Professional achievement
- Distinguished leadership
- Service to their profession and greater community
- Exemplified the Catholic Memorial High School mission in both his/her personal and professional life.
The Memorial Award is presented to a non-alumnus/a who has:
Demonstrated distinguished leadership and/or service to Catholic Memorial High School through:
- Volunteering
- Donations
- Leading committees
- Planning, managing and strengthening CMH events
- Exemplified the CMH motto of “Charity in All Things” in both his/her personal and professional life.
Proceeds from the Legacy Dinner benefit the Annual Crusader Fund which benefits EVERY student at CMH and makes a CMH education accessible to more families.
2025 Legacy Awardees
Catholic Memorial High School was honored to recognize the 2025 Legacy Award recipients, John Paul Marchan '98 and Dr. Christopher Baggott ’04. The Legacy Awards are presented to CMH alumni and community members who live the Catholic Memorial mission personally and professionally. Thank you to those who attended the Annual Crusader Auction!
Criteria for the Legacy Awards
The minimum requirements for election into the Legacy Alumni Awards are as follows:
- Exemplifies living the Catholic Memorial High School mission in his/her personal and professional life.
- For the Professional Achievement, Caritas Service, and Distinguished Young Alumni awards, recipients must be alumni of Catholic Memorial High School.
- For the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, alumni must receive the award within 15 years of graduating from Catholic Memorial High School. Should the nomination not be chosen within the 15-year timeframe, the nomination will expire, and someone will need to re-nominate the person under the Professional Achievement or Caritas Service award categories.
- For the Memorial Award, the recipient must NOT be alumni of CMH but has/have demonstrated distinguished leadership and/or service to Catholic Memorial High School. *
Nomination forms will be kept for 2 years and reviewed if a candidate is not inducted. Nomination forms will expire after that time unless someone re-nominates them.
*Catholic Memorial High School reserves the right to remove any individual from the Legacy Alumni Awards for personal conduct which reflects discredit upon the school.
Bylaws of the Legacy Awards
Candidates for selection to the Legacy Awards shall be proposed by CMH leadership, faculty and staff, alumni, students, and friends of Catholic Memorial High School. Solicitations of recommendations shall be accomplished through CMH publications and the online nomination form.
The selection committee will accept nominations for induction of Catholic Memorial High School graduates and friends of CMH who exemplify and sustain the CMH mission to educate, guide and prepare students to become leaders who serve the Church and the world. Candidates must have distinguished themselves and, ideally, CMH in their endeavors while a student at or as an alumni or community member of Catholic Memorial High School.
The final selection of the inductees will rest with the committee which will review the proposed candidates and others the committee members might recommend.
Final inductees will be confirmed by the President of CMH.
Previous Legacy Alumni Award Winners
- Caritas Service Legacy Award - John Paul Marchan ’98
- Distinguished Young Alumni Legacy Award - Dr. Christopher Baggott ’04
- Professional Achievement Award - Christopher Rebholz '81
- Memorial Award - Dr. Kathleen Cepelka
- Professional Achievement Award - Cheryl Hutchinson Blackstone '86
- Caritas Service Award - Mary Kuemmel Petrie '76
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award - Ashley Dentice Miller '01 & Meredith Dentice Johnson '09
- Memorial Award - Bev McCarthy AP ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’83, ’87, Alumni Grandparent ’03
- Professional Achievement Award - Jerry Jendusa '85
- Caritas Service Award - Ann Stollenwerk Maas '77
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award - Jeff Krause '03
- Memorial Award - Tom & Kristi Czarnecki AP ’10, ’12, ’13
- Professional Achievement Award - Marie Smith O’Brien ’80
- Caritas Service Award - Debra Behring Schneider ’79
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award - Krystina Finn ’07 (posthumous)
- Memorial Award - Art & Mary Stout AP ’03, ’06, ’11
- Professional Achievement Award - John Bunce ’67
- Caritas Service Award - Mary Beth ’77 (Armstrong) and Tom Gotzler ’77
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award - Matt Sabljak ’02
- Memorial Award - JoAnn Krause AP ’03, ’05, ’11
- Professional Achievement Award - Timothy Sullivan ’71
- Caritas Service Award - Ann Marie Wick ’88
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award - Dimas Ocampo ’97
- Memorial Award - Mary Kinateder AP ’98, ’00, ’02
- Professional Achievement Award - Col. Gregory J. Rosenmerkel ’84
- Alumni Service Award - Karolyn Kneser Krueger ’69
- Distinguished Young Alumni - Bryon Riesch ’97
Memorial Award
- Mr. & Mrs. Larry Neuman AP ’67, ’69, ’70, ’72, ’74, ’75, ’78, ’84
- Mr. & Mrs. M.E. (Bob) Nevins AP ’63, ’65, ’66, ’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’82
- Mr. & Mrs. John Nevins AP ’71, ’73, ’75
- Memorial Award - Pat Farrell
- Outstanding Service to Society - Sarah Holtz ’00
- Outstanding Service to Profession - Marty Frank
- Outstanding Service to Memorial - Judy & Jerry Boll AP ’03, ’07, ’11
- Outstanding Alumnus Award - Joe Vitale ’56
- G.O.L.D. - Tara Schmitt ’00
- Outstanding Service to Profession - Chadd Frank ’90
- Outstanding Service to Memorial - Sandi Streit Keyser ’62
- Outstanding Service to Society - Bobby Warns ’99 (posthumous)
- Memorial Award - Dennis Sage AP ’83, ’85, ’93, ’98, ’04
- G.O.L.D. - Leslie Osborne ’01
- Outstanding Service to Profession - Tim Hanley ’74
- Outstanding Service to Memorial - John Bisswurm ’77
- Outstanding Service to Society - Mary Jo MacGregor ’81
- Memorial Award - Ken Riesch AP ’96, ’97, ’01, ’05