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Marian to Honor Hall of Fame Inductees and Distinguished Alumni on May 2

  • Writer: Marian Catholic High School
    Marian Catholic High School
  • 13 hours ago
  • 6 min read

Marian Catholic High School is proud to announce the honorees for its 2026 Hall of Fame Class and the recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award. All honorees will be recognized during the 4th Annual Distinguished Alumnus and Hall of Fame Celebration on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in the John P. Malarkey ’51 Gymnasium on the Marian Catholic High School campus in Hometown.


2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients

 

John P. Lavelle, Jr., Esq. ’81 – Bryn Mawr, PA

John P. Lavelle, Jr., a member of Marian’s Class of 1981, is a partner at the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, with offices in Philadelphia and Princeton. He represents clients in crisis management and complex litigation matters, including product liability, commercial litigation, class actions, and election law cases at both trial and appellate levels.


Lavelle has also remained deeply connected to Marian Catholic High School through his service on the Board of Directors, where he chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee.


A native of Lehighton, Lavelle comes from a proud Marian family. His sisters Marianne ’77 and Jacqueline ’84, as well as his brother James ’87, are also Marian alumni. He and his wife, Colleen, live in Bryn Mawr, where they raised their three daughters. He is the son of Marianne and the late Carbon County Judge John P. Lavelle, the longest-serving president judge in Carbon County history.


Reflecting on his time at Marian, Lavelle noted that the school played a formative role in shaping his character and career.


Sophie A. Kozuch Cuthbertson, Esq. ’91 – McLean, VA

Sophie A. Kozuch Cuthbertson, a member of the Marian Catholic Class of 1991, has built an accomplished career in law and public service. Through her professional achievements and leadership, she exemplifies the values of dedication, integrity, and service instilled at Marian.


Her career and continued engagement with the Marian community reflect the lasting influence of the school’s mission and the strong foundation it provides to its graduates.

 

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees


Marian Catholic High School will also induct six individuals into the Class of 2026 Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional service, leadership, and contributions to the Marian community.


Janet L. Bonenberger

Janet L. Bonenberger has been a steadfast champion of Marian Catholic High School through her leadership, philanthropy, and service. Though she did not attend Marian herself, she proudly considers herself “adopted” into the Marian family.


Janet and her husband, Bill Bonenberger ’76, are founders and owners of W.B. Homes, Inc., a respected real estate development firm based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Together they have supported numerous charitable and educational initiatives.


In 2019, Janet joined Marian’s Board of Directors and served as Chair of the Advancement Committee during a pivotal time in the school’s history. In response to a challenge from the Diocese of Allentown to strengthen Marian’s long-term sustainability, she helped reestablish the school’s Advancement Office, rebranded annual giving as the Marian Fund, and founded the 1954 Legacy Society.


Her leadership and commitment have had a lasting impact on Marian’s development and future. 


Joseph Svetik ’67

Joseph Svetik ’67 devoted his entire professional career to the financial services industry, demonstrating exceptional leadership in banking operations, risk management, and strategic growth. In 2013, he was inducted into The Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers Hall of Fame. Since 2014, he has served as Director and Treasurer of JTNB Bancorp and The Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank. Joe is a retired Certified Public Accountant.

As a Marian student, Joe was deeply involved in the school community, participating in Forensics, Dance Committee, Prom Committee, Bowling, Golf, Track, and Weight Lifting. He worked at the Acme store in Jim Thorpe to help pay his tuition—an experience that shaped his work ethic and determination.


A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics, Joe has been married to his wife, Rosemarie Friel Svetik ’69, for over 54 years. They have one daughter and three grandchildren and reside in Chalfont, Pennsylvania.


Joe shares that “Marian taught me discipline, responsibility, and the value of hard work. Working to pay my tuition made my education even more meaningful. The lessons I learned at Marian guided me throughout my career and my life.”


Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Yenushosky, V.G. ’69

Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Yenushosky ’69 serves as Vicar General of the Diocese of Allentown and Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Whitehall. Originally from Tamaqua, he studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia and Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton before being ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Allentown.


In 1995, he received Papal Honors with the title of Monsignor.


During his time at Marian, Msgr. Yenushosky participated in Yearbook, Art Club, and Social Action Club and earned the distinction of Eagle Scout.


He reflects that “my years at Marian were formative in my vocation. The priests, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the lay faculty challenged us to grow in Christian virtue and to work hard to achieve our goals. Marian helped lay the foundation for my life of priestly service.”


Ann Witcofsky Guth ’80

Ann Witcofsky Guth ’80 exemplifies Marian’s tradition of leadership and involvement. During her time at Marian, she served as Homeroom Representative, Yearbook Editor, and participated in the Senior Play, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Prom Committee, Pep Club, and multiple athletic teams including basketball, track, and field hockey.


Originally from Tamaqua, Ann comes from a proud Marian family, with siblings Joe ’76 and Mary ’84 also graduates.  Her mother, Regina “Jean” Baddick Witcofsky is a 1944 graduate of Saint Jerome’s High School.


After a 40-year IBM career as a software developer and technical architect, Ann is now enjoying retirement.   Beyond her professional work, she is most proud of her role as a devoted wife to Kurt and proud mother of daughter Taylor and son Quinn.


Ann has also dedicated time to her community, serving on the parochial school board and chairing numerous gala and fundraising committees for the Catholic elementary and high schools attended by her children in Connecticut.


Ann shares that “Marian gave me lifelong friendships, confidence, and a strong foundation of faith. The teachers and mentors who believed in me inspired me to lead and to serve wherever life has taken me.”


Susan Yacapsin McGorry ’84

Susan Yacapsin McGorry ’84 has dedicated her professional life to Catholic higher education, guided by the values instilled during her years at Marian.


Currently serving as Assistant Provost for Assessment and Accreditation and Professor of Business at DeSales University, she focuses on academic excellence, mission-driven leadership, and student-centered learning. She previously held positions with Chase Manhattan Bank, AT&T, and UNESCO in France.


Sue earned her MBA and Ph.D. in Marketing and Applied Research from Lehigh University and completed post-doctoral work at MIT. A respected scholar, she has authored numerous publications and serves as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.


At Marian, Sue was active in Student Government, French and National Honor Societies, Youth Corps, track, and cheerleading. She also served as a parish organist and choir member. She continues to serve on Marian’s Marketing and Enrollment Committee and is active in her parish community.


Sue reflects that “Marian instilled in me a deep sense of faith, purpose, and service. The sacrifices my parents made to provide a Catholic education shaped not only my career, but my commitment to community and lifelong learning.”


John “Jack” Huber, P ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93, ’97, ’98

John “Jack” Huber dedicated 29 years to Marian Catholic High School as a beloved mathematics teacher, mentor, and Activities Coordinator. Over three decades of service, he educated thousands of students and was known for his patient tutoring sessions long after the final bell rang.


Jack served alongside Principal Jack Malarkey ’51 and coordinated countless student activities. He led the Math Tutoring Club, served in Guidance Counseling, drove the after-school activities bus, and worked as a press box spotter at athletic events. He also organized the annual Faculty and Staff Spaghetti Dinner, raising funds for tuition assistance.


Jack and his wife, Marcella Mazur Huber, sent all six of their children to Marian: Ann ‘89, Susan ’90, John ’91, Joe ’93, Mary Beth ’97, and Michael ’98.


He also serves as a longtime member and past president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at his parish in Jim Thorpe.


Jack shares that “Marian was never just a job — it was a family. I was blessed to work with dedicated colleagues and remarkable students. Seeing generations of families pass through Marian has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”


......


The Hall of Fame was established in 2023 to honor and recognize alumni from Marian High School, Saint Ann’s High School, Saint Jerome’s High School, Saint Mary’s High School and Mauch Chunk Catholic High School along with faculty, staff and special friends, who are distinctively dedicated to serving their community in a way that upholds the tradition and teachings of Marian High School and its mission. The Hall of Fame seeks to honor these individuals who have significant lifetime achievement and service.


The celebration will start at 5:30 p.m. with the cocktail reception and the catered dinner and induction ceremony starting at 6:45p.m. Over 2,500 invitations to the event are being mailed this week.


The 2026 recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award are John P. Lavelle, Jr., Esq. ’81, of Bryn Mawr, PA, and Sophie A. Kozuch Cuthbertson, Esq. ’91, of McLean, VA.


Limited tickets for the celebration are still available by contacting Erin Marek, Director of Advancement at 570- 467-3335 or emarek@mariancatholichs.org. Proceeds from the celebration will benefit the Scholarship Fund at Marian High School.

 
 
 

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