Gillespie High School will induct four members to the school’s “Wall of Honor” program on April 19, 2015. New members are inducted every spring at the annual event recognizing their contribution and impact to the community.
Nominations for the award were accepted for three months in 2014 before the Wall of Honor committee selected this year’s inductees. In addition to attending or graduating from a Gillespie school, nominees have to be out of school for 20 years, exemplified citizenship and contributions to society, and must have distinguished his or her self through the community or profession.
This year’s inductees are Dr. Cheryl Cavallo, Dr. William Frinsko, Dwayne Pomatto and Ed Saracco. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. inside the Gillespie High School gymnasium on April 19, 2015.
Cheryl Cavallo
Dr. Cavallo, worked as assistant professor emerita of physical therapy at St. Louis University and previous to that, she worked as chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department for 10 years at St. Mary’s Health Center in Richmond Heights.
Dr. Cavallo received numerous awards and recognitions during her teaching and service career as an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at St. Louis University where a colleague described her as having “a servant’s heart”.
Dr. Cavallo’s accomplishments stretched beyond the classroom or clinical setting. She devoted time to helping students and supported the Reinert Center for Teaching Excellence. She recruited staff and students to donate their time and she gave generously of her time and professional services at home and abroad. Her awards include:
- The Helen Holsum Whealan Service Award
- 5-time winner of St. Louis University’s Student Government Association’s “Faculty Excellence Award”
- Recipient of Saint Louis University’s “Nancy McNier Ring Award for Outstanding Teacher”
- Louis University Woman of the Year 2011
- School of Allied Health Professions Outstanding Teacher
- Louis Community College at Meramec Teaching Innovator Award winner
William Frinsko
Dr. Frinsko was an accomplished educator from 1950 until his retirement in 1984 having taught at the elementary, secondary, and university levels. Dr. Finsko was on the ACLU board in Normal/Bloomington and, while at Wayne State University in Detroit, he directed the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at South Releford Township.
In addition, he was an active officer of the local chapter of the Illinois Higher Education Association at Illinois State University in Normal and received the Bone Distinguished Teacher Award in 1969 from Illinois State University.
Wanting to honor the three-hundred plus servicemen and women from Benld, Eagarville, Sawyerville, and Mt. Clare, Dr. Frinsko created the Permanent Military Display (housed in the Benld Civic Center) that includes portraits and records of this area’s heroes. Dr. Frinsko’s contributions to education and community serve as an inspiration to future generations.
Dwayne Pomatto
Mr. Pomatto defines “small community living.” His accomplishments in high school included honorary captain of the baseball team for 4 years, volunteer for school and various charitable organizations and caretaker of facilities following sporting events. Pomatto was also an enthusiastic participant in all GHS pep rallies and sporting events.
After graduating high school, he has been an inspiration to community members and a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church – participating in all of its activities. Pomatto has been a member of the Lions Club for fifteen years, has donated his efforts to the Coal County Chamber of Commerce for 15 years of its 16 year existence, assisted in every Black Diamond Days Festival, has collected and distributed Christmas Baskets for the Needy and from 1994-2012, he assisted in maintaining Gillespie’s welcome signs and landscape islands.
Pomatto also helps city and civic organizations decorate for every holiday as well as supporting local politicians. Dwayne ran the mile race in the Special Olympics for 12 years and is a project director/developer of the Simon Pomatto Memorial Park. With energy and enthusiasm, Dwayne has also accomplished other acts of generosity that are too numerous to list.
Ed Saracco
As a lifelong resident of Benld, a Gillespie High School teacher for 27 years, Benld Elementary School Principal, and an advocate for the children of the district, Mr. Saracco has contributed significantly to CUSD #7 and his community. In addition to serving as a GHS coach and sponsor, he served on the GHS All-Weather Track Committee, was a Wall of Honor Founding Committee member and political liaison for CUSD #7 to lobby for state and federal aid after the mine-subsidence collapse of Benld Elementary School. Saracco was also selected for Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award in 1999.
Saracco’s community efforts include working for 2 years to remove dangerous boxcars that rested near a community playground in Benld, service to the Benld Fire Department for 25 years, holding the position of Cahokia Township Trustee for 34 years and Supervisor for 6 years. Saracco is a 50-year member of the Italian Club of Benld, which funds/completes many projects city-wide as well as producing the Italian American Days Festival.
He is a Benld Cemetery Board Member, previously was a Benld Sports League Member after coaching for 7 years and is a member of the Benld Homecoming Committee. As a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Saracco is member of the building and grounds committee and oversaw the church painting project. Saracco’s life long accomplishments are an inspiration to students and community.
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