Center Focus 1-16 ALL.pdf Center Focus May 2014 | Page 4

LIVING AS A CHRIST-CENTERED LEADER

Success Is a Product of
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INTEGRITY

bout a year ago, an idea was brought up to host a reception for the large alumni base living
in Southern California. Clare (Tibbets) Faulkner ’75, a California resident and Foundation
Board member, offered to help coordinate the reception, which was eventually held in Garden
Grove, CA at Christ’s Catholic Cathedral (formerly the renowned Crystal Cathedral). Attendees
represented a wonderful cross- section of alumni from the 1940s all the way to the 2000s.
However, it was two alumni who were unable to attend the reception that left a lasting
impression…Dr. Tom ’49 and Dr. Cynthia (Pryor) Coad ’51.
Tom and Cynthia were unable to attend because they were hosting an event at their home in
Santa Ana, CA. They were excited that representatives from their alma mater were going to be
so close, so instead, they hosted Dr. Jerry Deegan (DCHS President), Ryan Osborn ’01 (DCHS
Development Director) and Clare, the night before the alumni reception. Shortly after
visiting with the Coads, it was apparent to Dr. Deegan, Osborn and Faulkner that these two
alumni had lived very full, Christ-Centered Lives, after graduating from the “old Dowling” and
St. Joseph Academy.
Tom and Cynthia both attended Holy Trinity Parish and School, but did not meet until one
of Tom’s paperboy routes included Cynthia’s family home in Beaverdale. Tom would go on to
graduate with his twin brother, Robert (who died in a crash of his Navy Plane in 1969), from
Dowling and Cynthia graduated from St. Joseph Academy two years later. They followed each
other to the University of Iowa, where Tom eventually graduated from dental school and
Cynthia graduated in Occupational Therapy.
-Class of ’77 Alumna
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SPRING| 14

THE GREAT RACE
Tom Coad is also a vintage-car enthusiast and participates in a
well-known auto-racing endurance challenge. Sponsored by the
Army National Guard, “The Great Race” is a coast-to-coast competition
featuring classic cars competing for bragging rights for having the best
time. Pictured, Coad was featured in LIFE Magazine participating in
this event.