Sue was born in Inglewood, CA on July 26th, 1962 to the parents of Jim & Pat Powers. Sue is the middle of 5 children, Tom (SJB ’77), Mary (SJHS ’79), Jim (SJB ’84) and Patty (SJHS ’91).

Sue grew up in Artesia, CA, and began school in 1967 attending kindergarten @ Niemes Elementary school. In the fall of 1968, Sue attended Our Lady of Fatima School Elementary school in Artesia for her 1st through 8th grade elementary school years (1967–1976). Sue arrived at St. Joseph’s High School as a freshman in the fall of 1976. Fortunate for Sue, she arrived at SJHS with a preview & some 1st hand knowledge of what SJHS had to offer having an older sister (Mary) already there and an older brother (Tom) who was a senior at St. John Bosco High School.

The four years that Sue attended SJHS have had a lasting impact in her life. St. Joseph High School, like for so many who attended, became a 2nd home for Sue with many of her friends becoming her extended family! While attending SJHS, Sue remained involved by participating in Cheer, ASB, Drill team and many other clubs and group events with her friends. Sue graduated from SJHS with an excellent academic education and a true appreciation & understanding of what it means to live the school’s love, hope, and zeal motto.

Beyond the core values and excellent education acquired @ SJHS, Sue remains amazed and thankful over how much of an impact that these 4 years have had and continue to have in her life today. The friendships made, the knowledge & confidence acquired and the wonderful memories developed during these 4 years will remain an invaluable asset and a memory close to her heart always.

Just after graduating from SJHS, Sue began working full time in the insurance industry and attended Cerritos College. Sue graduated from college with a Business Administration degree and shortly thereafter married Robert Scurti in October 1987. In 1991, they began their family, welcoming their first son, Steven Anthony in December and shortly thereafter, February, 1993, welcoming their daughter, Heather Marie.

Sue continued to pursue her career in the insurance industry and today is responsible for producing & managing an $80M premium operation as the Regional Vice President of Field Operations for Meadowbrook Insurance Group.

Sue, along with her children, trust that they have been able to share some of these core values with their involvement at their church, St. Timothy’s in Laguna Niguel. Sue has taught Catechism and has also assisted with the St. Timothy’s youth group in her spare time. Currently Sue’s children, Steven & Heather, remain actively involved with their volunteer efforts on the St. Tim’s God Squad and with their continued involvement with the St. Timothy’s Youth Group.

Sue and her two kids reside in Laguna Hills, CA. Sue spends her spare time attending and supporting her kid’s (Sr. & Jr.) various high school sports and activities @ Laguna Hills High School.

Sue believes that her having attended SJHS is responsible for so much of the person she has become and is today; focused, determined, and equipped & capable of handling life’s many changes ~ and for this, she will always be truly grateful. Sue appreciates being given the many opportunities to learn from and will always remain grateful to her parents for their making the many sacrifices’ to send her to SJHS and to the SJHS faculty & staff and for their providing Sue with the nurturing environment to develop from.

SJHS and these memories remain close in Sue’s mind & heart always. Thank You for this honor!



Previous Distinguished Alumnae Honorees
           

2009 Honoree Jessica Sziebl Christensen – Class of 1989

Kathy was born in Port Townsend, Washington on March 15, 1931. Her family lived in Seattle for eight years, where she received her primary education at Saint John’s Parish School. She moved to Long Beach where she attended Saint Anthony’s High School. Then she went on to Saint Vincent’s College of Nursing.

Chuck was born On May 30, 1926 at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach. He attended Saint Mathews for grammar school and Wilson for high school. He spent the next four years in the Navy Air Force before returning home. He started his electrical apprenticeship and completed it after we were married in January of 1953.

We moved into our home on Greenmeadow Road and started our life together. Our first two daughters, Katie and Erin were born in 1953 and 1955. Our next two children were sons, Danny and Kevin who were born in 1957 and 1959. God blessed us with two more girls, Michelle and Shannon, born in 1962 and 1963. We were having so much fun with the first six He sent us our last two boys to round out our family. Shawn and Chad were born in 1967 and 1970.

The four girls and four boys all attended Saint Maria Goretti for grammar school and Saint Joseph and St. John Bosco for high school. Their college days took them to Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Loyola Law School, Long Beach City College, USFC School of Pharmacy in San Francisco, and UC Irvine. Chuck and I laughingly say we have not lived long enough to utilize their talents and it is payback time.

In our later years we have stayed close to our roots at Saint Joseph and St. John Bosco and have found an excellent place to do volunteer work in Los Alamitos at the Precious Life Shelter, a place for homeless/pregnant women. We have fun trying to keep up with seventeen grandchildren and one great-grandchild and their sports and activities. We thank God every day for our abundant blessings. God is good!!!


2010 Distinguished Jester Parent of the Year
Josephine “Pina” Roghi Mendoza

Josephine “Pina” Roghi Mendoza was born on 26 November 1928, in Marina di Grosetto, Italy. In 1944, during WWII, she met Henry Villasenor Mendoza, an American soldier stationed in Italy. They married and their first son Lalo was born. The happy trio made their home in Watts, South Central Los Angeles. Very soon Bobby was born, then Elio, and soon to follow their first daughter, Terri. Three more children followed, DeeDee, ChaCha and finally KiKI. Since a Catholic education was a priority, the magnificent seven, Pina’s children, attended St. Leo and St. Maria Goretti elementary schools and then went on to Catholic High Schools-- Lalo--St. Anthony, Bobby--Fermin Lasuen, Elio--Verbum Dei , and Terri, DeeDee, and ChaCha--Saint Joseph, and finally, Kiki--St. John Bosco high schools. Some of her children even went to Catholic colleges--LoyolaMarymount University and Mount St. Mary’s College. Pina claims all the bachelors, credentials, masters, and doctorate degrees that her children have achieved as her own because she always says, “I was right there with each of them through all the blood, sweat and tears.”

Pina ran the family business, “Henry’s Market” in Willowbrook in South Central Los Angeles, while volunteering her services with school hot lunch programs, bingo on Wednesdays and Sundays, parent associations, carnivals, and many other events. Wherever a school needed her services, she willingly gave of her time. She was always a fabulous cook so it was not unusual for the schools and parishes to call on her to make a variety of meals for the various special occasions.

In 1967, the Mendoza family moved to Lakewood. In 1974, after the death of Henry, Pina began a career in the food service department with the Long Beach Unified School District. She worked her way up to Cafeteria Supervisor, and retired to care for her grandchildren. Pina enjoys time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and friends, and loves to volunteer at Saint Joseph High School in the cafeteria.

At eighty-one, Pina is grateful for her full life. She has lived “la dolce vita!” Her motto is: “Believe in the Divine Providence. God will provide!”

Previous Distinguished Jester Parents of the Year


2009 Honorees
Patricia and John Hunter

2008 Honorees
Bernadette and John Ourique

2007 Honorees
Patricia and James Powers

2006 Honorees
Drs. Elisa and Manuel Breton