A Superb Athlete...and A Man For All Seasons... Although in our midst at Del Webb for only a brief time, major league baseball player John (Sonny) Ruberto left us a legacy of sports acumen and professional and personal integrity which will be long remembered. Sonny and Karen Ruberto (right) moved to Ave Maria in December 2013 but Sonny became ill and went to his God on March 24, 2014. Sonny grew up in the borough of Staten Island, N.Y., and played baseball with four consecutive New York City PSAL championship teams as a star at Curtis High School from 1960-63. He signed his first professional baseball contract in 1964 with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. As a catcher who had what was called a "rifle arm" and with baseball savvy beyond his years, Sonny played with the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds and minor league teams before returning to the Cardinals as their first base coach in 1977 and 1978. After his playing career ended, Sonny was a manager in the Cardinals farm system and led the Arkansas Travelers to a Texas League Crown in 1980. Following his retirement from baseball, Sonny had a career in photography in sales and management and gave the same dedication and professionalism to his job taking photos of students for yearbooks as he had shown in his years in baseball. Most importantly, however, Sonny was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a life-long supporter and champion of the Catholic faith community wherever the Rubertos lived. Sonny was a member of the St.Louis chapter of Legatus, a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Legion of 1000 Adorers. Seven years ago Sonny was able to make his "dream pilgrimage to the Holy Land." Karen and Sonny, high school sweethearts who were married 50 years, have two children—John and Robyn—and four grandchildren. Karen has become an active member of the Ave Maria community and, along with her son, daughter and grandchildren, is devoted to keeping alive the legacy of Sonny Ruberto, grand athlete, and a true Man for All Seasons.
Mission to Africa... Kody Kleinrichert, grandson of Pat and Ken Kleinrichert went to Africa for two weeks on a mission trip to an orphanage and to help build a well. Kody (on right) attends St. Xavier College in Chicago and Noah Phillips (on left) will be attending Ave Maria University in the Fall. Both boys are graduates of St. Francis High School in Traverse City, MI., where they played on the same basketball team.
An Important "Bucket List" Journey....Ann and Jim Longon celebrated Jim's 70th birthday with a long desired trip to D-Day celebrations in France. Jim was born on D-Day—June 6, 1944—and the couple took a two-week "Band of Brothers" Tour, learning about "the longest day" and the heroic actions by many American, British, Canadian and Polish soldiers. They toured all the beaches, saw President Obama at the American Normandy Cemetery and then went on to Paris and the Battle of the Bulge—learning about Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery and Patton. All the logistical challenges became more memorable when actually standing on Omaha Beach and next to a fox hole in the Ardennes region of France. Jim commented: "Chaplains and doctors allowed themselves to be captured so they could serve the POWs. Many soldiers were buried without ever being identified. This was a tear jerk moment—to think that not only did they die a violent death but their parents never knew what happened! They never had closure! And we still have wars."
Visiting Idaho...To celebrate the birth of Carlos and Ame Figueroa's 17th grandchild, Ame spent several weeks in a very rural area of Idaho—surrounded by spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes and plains. Otto Ignatius Dreifuerst, son of the Figueroa's daughter Cassie and Dustin Dreifuerst, was born on April 10 and joins sister Ceci (Cecilia), twenty-two months old. Some collections of photos are just too great not to share—at left Nana Ame cuddles with Ceci and Otto, sister holds small brother and the family poses together. The piece de resistance—Ceci fishing and nonchalantly about to take the fish off the hook!!
More New Grandbabies...Pat and Ken Kleinrichert's 14th grandchild –Campbell Lourdes Smith (below left) — was born to daughter Stacey and husband Dave Smith on April 1. (NOT an April Fool's joke!) The Kleinricherts now have 10 grandsons and 4 granddaughters!
And Jim and Ann Longon announced the birth of their eighth grandchild—Chiara Marie Schreck, born to daughter Annie and husband David on May 19. Chiara joins three siblings and four cousins—a very happy octet of grandchildren!
Marriage Rally...On Thursday,June 19, the March for Marriage Rally took place in downtown Naples, with about 25 "marchers" in attendance--about double the number who were there for the rally in March. Participants came from Ave Maria, St. Leo's in Bonita Springs, St. Andrew's in Cape Coral, and St. Ann's and St. John's in Naples. Nancy Freeman described the event: "It is so important to us as Catholics/Christians to stand in the Public Square and support and educate about the truth of God's laws. Of course, success is always in God's eyes but as Mother Teresa counseled us, 'God has called me to be faithful; He has not called me to be successful.' I strive for both."
A Superb Athlete...and A Man For All Seasons... Although in our midst at Del Webb for only a brief time, major league baseball player John (Sonny) Ruberto left us a legacy of sports acumen and professional and personal integrity which will be long remembered. Sonny and Karen Ruberto (right) moved to Ave Maria in December 2013 but Sonny became ill and went to his God on March 24, 2014. Sonny grew up in the borough of Staten Island, N.Y., and played baseball with four consecutive New York City PSAL championship teams as a star at Curtis High School from 1960-63. He signed his first professional baseball contract in 1964 with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. As a catcher who had what was called a "rifle arm" and with baseball savvy beyond his years, Sonny played with the San 
Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds and minor league teams before returning to the Cardinals as their first base coach in 1977 and 1978. After his playing career ended, Sonny was a manager in the Cardinals farm system and led the Arkansas Travelers to a Texas League Crown in 1980. Following his retirement from baseball, Sonny had a career in photography in sales and management and gave the same dedication and professionalism to his job taking photos of students for yearbooks as he had shown in his years in baseball. Most importantly, however, Sonny was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a life-long supporter and champion of the Catholic faith community wherever the Rubertos lived. Sonny was a member of the St.Louis chapter of Legatus, a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Legion of 1000 Adorers. Seven years ago Sonny was able to make his "dream pilgrimage to the Holy Land." Karen and Sonny, high school sweethearts who were married 50 
years, have two children—John and Robyn—and four grandchildren. Karen has become an active member of the Ave Maria community and, along with her son, daughter and grandchildren, is devoted to keeping alive the legacy of Sonny Ruberto, grand athlete, and a true Man for All Seasons.
An Important "Bucket List" Journey....Ann and Jim Longon celebrated Jim's 70th birthday with a long desired trip to D-Day celebrations in France. Jim was born on D-Day—June 6, 1944—and the couple took a two-week "Band of Brothers" Tour, learning about "the 
longest day" and the heroic actions by many American, British, Canadian and Polish soldiers. They toured all the beaches, saw President Obama at the American Normandy Cemetery and then went on to Paris and the Battle of the Bulge—learning about Eisenhower, 
Visiting Idaho...To celebrate the birth of Carlos and Ame Figueroa's 17th grandchild, Ame spent several weeks in a very rural area of Idaho—surrounded by spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes and plains. Otto Ignatius Dreifuerst, son of the Figueroa's daughter Cassie and Dustin Dreifuerst, was born on April 10 and joins sister Ceci (Cecilia), twenty-two months old. Some collections of photos are just too great not to share—at left Nana 
Ame cuddles 
with Ceci and Otto, sister holds small brother and the family poses together. The piece de resistance—Ceci fishing and nonchalantly about to take the fish off the hook!!
And Jim and Ann Longon announced the birth of their eighth grandchild—Chiara Marie Schreck, born to daughter Annie and husband David on May 19. Chiara joins three siblings and four cousins—a very happy octet of grandchildren!
Naples. Nancy Freeman described the event: "It is so important to us as Catholics/Christians to stand in the Public Square and support and educate about the truth of God's laws. Of course, success is always in God's eyes but as Mother Teresa counseled us, 'God has called me to be faithful; He has not called me to be successful.' I strive for both."