The Men of Kiszka

Mr. Dimas is seen working extremely hard as he's dreaming about calling a donor, while Mr. Ferguson and DiFilippo are engaged in a meeting about tomorrow's tee time. 

Friday, November 10th, Mt Carmel High School, 6410 S Dante.

7:20 AM

Mr. Tony DiFilippo enters the building early, ready for the work day. As he walks up the stairs to the Kiszka Suite, he ponders the day’s activities.

“Hmmm,” he thinks. “Is today the day that I fire Bruno Kolom from being hockey manager?”

The Class of ’92 alum continues into his office, saving that question for later.

7:45 AM

Mr. Andy Dimas ’88 walks in and proceeds to the faculty lounge. There, he wakes up Assistant Principal Bill Nolan and reminds him that there is Studium today. Then he runs up the Kiszka Suite stairs, excited for another day to hang out with his friends.

8:20 AM

Mr. Craig Ferguson ’79 pulls into the parking lot on the bus with the rest of the Beverly kids. 

“If only they hadn’t ejected me from that game… I would have been on the Blackhawks with Chelios!” he exclaims to junior hockey player Conor McClelland. Mr. Ferguson notes the time on his watch. “But… those days are over. Looks like we made it right on time. I’ll see ya after the game, fellas.” 

These three Mt. Carmel alumni are proud members of the Development/Alumni Services team. They linger in the offices adjacent to the Kiszka Suite all day, not to ever be seen or heard from outside that area during MC business hours. Nobody knows what goes on behind the rolling glass doors on the track... until now.

The Merchant has gained insight on what really goes on above The Commons and Cacciatore Gym.

Among the Men of Kiszka.. 

During the first two hours, the halls are surprisingly quiet. They are vigorously working behind their doors, getting business done. Director of Development Andy Dimas hadn’t even made it to the fridge yet. This is short-lived. 

10:15 AM

“Gentlemen,” MC president Brendan Conroy starts. “I gotta roll off to a meeting with a Saudi oil tycoon who might be interested in donating another microwave to The Commons, so I’ll be back on Monday.”

As he descends the stairs through the front doors, Mr. Ferguson gathers his two friends in his office. Mr. DiFilippo stares down the boss’s car through his binoculars, watching it turn east down 64th Street. 

“Alright,” he says. “It’s showtime, boys.”

11:00 AM

Mr. Dimas runs back to his office and pulls out the putting green while Ferguson grabs the putters. Before long, the hallway is covered with a full-size putting green, and the three of them start hacking away. But they are soon interrupted by a text message.

“Oh great!” Ferguson remarks. “Brendan just texted me. We gotta send him that report today.”

After a long period of silence, Dimas chimes in.

“Looks like we're gonna have to settle this, Craig… on the course. Grab your clubs boys, let's head over to Jackson and hit 9.”

Mr. Dimas loses brutally at Jackson Park Golf Course, whiffing several balls, one of them going out to the lake and nearly hitting Cross Country coach Dan Burke as he ran his 15 mile cool-down. Due to losing the bet, he has to give the report to Mr. Conroy upon returning to the school. 

2:00 PM

As Dimas finally sits down at his desks, DiFilippo walks in.

“You know,” he starts, “Out of all the people I’ve met, you might be the worst. I mean, to think that you gave Ignotz (Mr. DiFilippo’s favorite Italian restaurant) a 7 out of 10, it’s outrageous Andy! I swear on the ’91 state team, it’s the best place in town!”

Dimas simply walks out of his office and goes to the fridge for the seventh time in the hour, about to pull out his lunch, a tray of two pounds of beans and rice. 

“But wait,” Mr. Dimas recognizes something in the fridge. “Is that a leftover bag from Ignotz? When was the last time I had Ignotz? Could it be? Veal saltimbocca? It’ll only take 45 seconds to heat in the microwave. I can polish this off in less than a minute. Tony may not even remember he left it in the fridge. It’s time to live life dangerously.”

2:10

After devouring Mr. DiFilippo’s lunch in record time, the food coma sets in. Veal saltimbocca makes Mr. Dimas sleepy. 

2:30 PM

“Yo, Andy!” Mr. Ferguson yells.

“What’s up?” Mr. Dimas replies.

“Do you remember Rob from class of ’91?”

“Who?”

“You know. Rob? He played football.”

“Which Rob?”

“C’mon Andy! You know his sons, Clark and Nick.”

“Oh yeah, Rob class of ’91! We go way back! How could I ever forget the Pope of Beverly!”

“Yeah, anyway, he’ll be at the game tonight.  I gotta go early, though, I’m suiting up for the game. Come watch me play on the ice tonight, fellas!”

Mr. Ferguson leaves the building and hops right back on the Beverly bus that specially drops him off at his house. This is his limousine. 

8:00 PM

Mr. DiFilippo and Mr. Dimas leave the school after watching Season 1 Episode 6 of Man V. Food. Dimas reflects... Did I miss my calling? 

They both go to Mr. Ferguson’s hockey game, where he carries the Caravan to victory over St. Rita with 5 goals and 2 assists. It was close, but the refs never realized there was a grown man on the ice.

Following the game, the Men of Kiszka meet in the locker room. Mr. Ferguson pulls out his post game Janson’s Chicken Portobello Mushroom sandwich from his helmet. 

“Well”, he remarks, ”looks like I’ll see ya fellas tomorrow.”

“Craig, we don’t have work tomorrow.” Mr. Dimas and DiFilippo respond. 

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot they don’t run the buses on the weekends. See ya Monday then.”

These are the men that operate the Kiszka Suite. They work their hardest at being productive in connecting with alumni and potential donors. Whether recognized or not, their daily activities and efforts are vital towards making Mt. Carmel High School run. God help us all.

These are the Men of Kiszka.