Alumnus Returns to The High

Principal Fr. Robert Lab, S.J. said to Ed Gergosian ’67 and his classmates on their first day at UDJ something he never forgot: “Yesterday you were boys, today you are men.” It was an especially poignant reminder to students in the class of ’67 living through the domestic unrest of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement.

School didn’t come easy for Ed. He was not the best student, and after failing a class last semester of senior year he (and 10 others) didn’t graduate with his class. After attending summer school, he received his diploma on the front steps of the school from Assistant Principal Fr. John Mott, S.J. Not graduating with his class threw him off course, as he didn’t see any of his classmates for years, and was disconnected for years from the school and education.

It took him many years to graduate from Michigan State University, dropping in and out of school. Finally, in 1977, he started to think about what he was going to do for the rest of his life. When he met up with friends who had law degrees he decided that if they could do it so could he. He received his law degree magna cum laude from the University of San Diego and practiced law in San Diego until 2017, when he retired and moved to Northern Michigan.

Ed started to reconnect with classmates and other alumni. He met up with Ed Kronk ’64 and others from U of D Jesuit during his law career. Dan Mulhern ’76, then VP for Development, visited him in San Diego. Dan asked him to make a five-year commitment to the Reclaiming our Future campaign, which Ed did.

In 2003, he was asked to join the Board of Advisors, where he renewed acquaintances with classmates Larry Marantette, Rick Valade and Mike Schmidt. When attending meetings, he enjoyed hearing the student presentations, especially robotics and BASE updates. He was impressed with the students’ maturity and comfort speaking in front of a group. Ed wondered what it would be like to be back at the school more often.

More recently, Ed reconnected with another classmate, Dave Leiser, his neighbor on Little Glen Lake. Through Dave, Ed has connected with classmates Tom Page, Ron Davis and others.

From his Jesuit education, Ed has long been aware of the tremendous injustices suffered by communities of color and the poor. Last June after watching a Zoom town hall hosted by U of D Jesuit about diversity and inclusion, he called Br. Jim Boynton, S.J. and asked to volunteer. Since then, Ed has been working with the Office of Faith and Service and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. He is the first non-faculty alumnus to help staff Kairos retreats. He is working with Director of Mission Nick Rennpage on a parent formation retreat. He has moved to Royal Oak to be closer to the school and family.

In 2020 he decided to create an endowed scholarship named for Fr. Thomas Radloff, S.J. using current gifts and a provision in his estate plan. In addition, he has made a financial pledge to support the school’s acquisition of our new “North Campus” at Johnson Recreation Center and Joe Louis Park on the corner of Cherrylawn and Chippewa in Detroit.

Ed has generously supported U of D Jesuit with gifts of financial support for over 35 years. Now we are blessed to have him back on campus.

Has your foundation at U of D Jesuit been meaningful in your life? A gift in your estate plan is a great way to give back and ensure we’re able to equip young men for successful futures for years to come. Contact Jenny Miller P'20, P'22 at 313-927-2335 or jennifer.miller@uofdjesuit.org to learn more.