Hall of Fame ~ Class of 2023

Dr. James M. Frabutt ‘91

Dr. James Frabutt has distinguished himself by his ongoing commitment to education., especially Catholic education. 

Jim is a 1995 graduate of Saint John. He was the fourth child of Marino and Angeline (Ann Licate) Frabutt. Jim joined his three older sisters, Janet, Carol and Marilyn who were 16,18, and 20 when he was born. As the youngest child growing up alongside his sisters and their families, Jim grew interested in studying children families and psychology, ethnicity and culture at an early age.

Both at our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint John, Jim enjoyed the family spirit that brought a sense of community. He served as an Eucharistic minister, was active in drama, student council, NHS, played golf and basketball and credits his teachers and a Christian Service course as all being positive impacts on his life.

Graduating as valedictorian of his class, Jim continued his studies at the University of Notre Dame and was able to study abroad in Rome as a sophomore which allowed his parents a memorable trip to Italy.

After earning his doctoral degree, Jim returned to the University of Notre Dame in 2008 to be part of a newly established Alliance for Catholic Education. Jim continues to be a member of the university’s education department where he currently serves as Senior Assistant Provost and Teaching Professor for Education Initiatives.  

Jim’s professional experience has focused on helping children reach their full potential by working with teachers, principals, mental health professionals. He has authored or co-authored eight books and has conducted national and international research to further the mission of Catholic education.

Jim is married to Mary Clare (Molly) Eagen who is a Catholic school teacher. They are parents to three sons and a daughter. The Frabutts celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in August of 2022.

April Galda '95

A 1995 graduate of Saint John, April earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Finance from Case Western Reserve University. While at Case, April ran cross-county and track and served as Panhellenic Council President, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She also co-founded what is now the University Woman’s Center.  

Shortly after graduation she moved to New York City and joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in their Financial Institutions Group in Investment Banking. In 2002 she helped launch to the Goldman Sachs Reinsurance Group. That role took her to London in 2008, where she established a new insurance company in the Lloyd’s market. In 2012 she transitioned to Bermuda as COO of the newly acquired Ariel Re.

In 2015 she returned to Goldman Sachs as co-CEO of the Global Atlantic RE in Bermuda, relocating to Boston in 2018. During the pandemic, April joined the London-based Beat Capital Partners, a venture investor and platform for insurance agencies, to build their US business and is based in Portsmouth New Hampshire.

While at Saint John April was a scholar and an athlete.  She played volleyball, basketball, and ran cross country and track. April was a member of student government (Vice President and President), editor of the school paper, member of the NHS and class valedictorian.

Once an avid runner, April is now passionate about cycling. She cycles regularly in the cold New Hampshire winters, and has coached with the Bermuda Cycling Academy. April is Board Chair of the non-profit CYCLE Kids which advocates for cycling and nutrition programs for young children. She and her husband, Michael, live in Rye, New Hampshire. 

April is the recipient of the Global Atlantic Chairman's Award (2020) and the Influential Women of Bermuda (2017).

Steve Koproski ‘89

Steve Koproski moved to Ashtabula when he was in 7th grade. He enrolled at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and then came to Saint John for his high school years.

His family, parents, Ron and Nancy, and his siblings, Scott ’92 and Kerry ’96, became very active in the Herald family.

Steve was an outstanding athlete at Saint John: a four-year letterman in football, two-year letter winner in basketball and was a member of the Track team that was Northeast Conference Co-Champs in 1989.

After graduation Steve continued his education at Kent State University, earning a BA in Business in 1993 and MBA in 1995. Steve played football and then coached for the team while attending Kent. In 2016 Steve attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he earned an MA in 2016.

While at Kent, Steve joined Athletes In Action in 1995.  Through this organization he served at The Ohio State University and Central State University for five years before moving to Shanghai, China for 18 months, serving in campus ministry.  In 2002 Scott returned to Ohio and continued his work at Athletes In Action at their headquarters in Xenia, Ohio.  

When Steve was in Shanghai, he met his future wife, Elizabeth, whom he married in 2003, and was coincidentally from Toledo, Steve’s birthplace and home until he moved to Ashtabula. Steve’s wife died in January 2019 after a heroic struggle with the dreaded disease of cancer. Steve and their three high school aged children, Olivia, Quinn and Turner, reside in Dayton, Ohio. 

Steve is a Cru Executive School of Leadership Graduate (2012-2014). He proudly joins his father, Ron, into the Herald Hall of Fame, who was inducted in 2008.

Jeff Shore ‘71

Jeff Shore is the son of Betty and Harlan Shore. He along with his sister, Gerriann Shore Broski ‘62 and brother Brad ‘74 attended Saint Joseph and then continued on at Saint John.  

While at Saint John, Jeff wrote for the school newspaper, played basketball and ran for the cross-country team. 

Graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1975, Jeff traveled to Los Angeles, California. After several jobs - from ticket sales to bartender - he was injured while working at the Whiskey A-Go-Go and subsequently wrote an essay about it. The essay was purchased and became a cover story for the LA Weekly. This led Jeff to work for the Weekly, becoming a free-lance writer and play right.  

In 1982 Jeff was hired as a researcher on the syndicated show “You Asked For It”, the show that starred comedian Rich Little. Over the next few years, he advanced from researcher to production assistant to associate producer on a number of shows, culminating on his first producing job at Fox, “Pump It Up”, a seminal rap video show.

In 1992 Jeff joined E! Entertainment television as a producer. Among his credits is “True Hollywood Stories”, a big hit with over 800 episodes. Jeff was promoted to Vice President of Development for E! Studios in 1998 and was in charge of “E! News”. Jeff also helped bring Ryan Seacrest to E! and was part of the internal development team.

Jeff retired from E! Entertainment in 2009. He was then hired by Fuse Network, a division of Madison Square Garden Media in New York City and created “Fuse News” as well as other live concert performances, series and specials. In 2016 Jeff returned to LA and took a consulting position at Spectrum.   At Spectrum Jeff created the issue-based public affairs show, “In Focus” and “Inside The Issues with Alex Cohen”.  He also created Spectrum’s first podcast, which was recently rebranded as “Inside the Issues, the Podcast”.

Jeff has been nominated for local and national Emmy Awards, won three Gracie Awards, the LA Press Club Award, Prism Award, Telly Award, member, Dramatist’s Guild, Accomplished Alumni Award, Bowling Green State University, and is a member of the Writer and Director’s Guild of America, Academy of Television and Arts and Sciences.

Jeff and his wife, Valerie have four children, Ryan, Hayley, Jake and Cade, and two grandchildren, Lillian and Arthur. They reside in Los Angeles.

The Benedict Family

Otto and Palma Benedict were married 1n 1947. They were married at Mount Carmel and throughout their life, the foundation of their family was centered in their faith.
Parents to Chuck ‘69, Gary “Mouse” ’71, and Lou Ann ’75, they were active at Mount Carmel where the children went to school. The Benedicts helped with the actual building of the school which opened in 1954 and subsequently the Festival which was a financial support for the school. This involvement continued when Chuck enrolled at Saint John followed by Mouse and Lou Ann.  Otto and Palma taught by example. They were active in the Moms and Dads Club and the Athletic Boosters.  

Chuck was a member of the Class of 1969 and was an outstanding football player and upon graduating went to Baldwin Wallace, majoring in History and playing football for the University. After graduation he taught and coached at Painesville Riverside before taking a supervisory position with Roadway Trucking and FedEx in Atlanta, Georgia. Chuck died from a heart attack in 2000.

Gary “Mousey” Benedict is a member of the Saint John class of 1971. While at Saint John Mouse was involved in drama, track and cross-country. After graduation Mousey attended Kent State University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. He recently retired after a distinguished career for the United States Post Office. Gary and his wife, Linda, have three children who all graduated from Saint John, Brook ’08, Octavia ’09, and Rae Ann ’14.

Lou Ann Benedict Marx graduated from Saint John in 1975. Lou Ann attended Akron and received her RN and BSN Auburn University. She served for more than 30 years in the medical field specializing in biologic infusion, business development and marketing. Lou Ann recently retired from University Hospital where she worked since 1993. She and her husband William, live in Florida. They are parents of three children, two of whom are graduates of Saint John, Ron Chambers ’95, Rick Chambers ’96 and Ryan Chambers.
The Benedict family have carried on Otto and Palma’s tradition of involvement for Saint John. Mouse and Linda were active in Saint John’s Bingo program for many years. Mouse has also taken over his aunt’s role, the beloved longtime Saint John teacher, Miss B’s role of selling raffle tickets and being an all-around Saint John supporter. He attends and sells Saint Patrick’s Day raffle tickets as well as tickets to other Saint John fundraisers. Mouse, Linda, Lou Ann, family members, classmates and friends started a golf outing in 2000 to provide funds for tuition for Saint John students. Funds raised from this outing led to the establishment of the Benedict Family Endowed Scholarship, one of the first endowed scholarships for Saint John.