Raftery honored during Gorman’s Knight of the Gael

Jack Raftery Sr. was honored as the 2015 Knight of the Gael during Bishop Gorman High School’s 33rd annual Knight of the Gael benefit March 19 at Red Rock Resort.

Foundations, committees, couples and individuals have been honored for their dedication and commitment to the school and Catholic education. Honorees are inducted into the prestigious group, Royal Order of the Gael, which has raised more than $1.5 million benefiting Gorman students.

Knight of the Gael is the school’s signature event and brings alumni and friends together. More than 600 attended this year’s gala, which coincided with Gorman High’s 60th Diamond Anniversary.

Guests viewed a video during the induction of Raftery into the Royal Order of the Gael. Raftery, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., moved his wife and nine children to Las Vegas in 1964. At the time, he was a lieutenant commander assigned to the Lake Mead Base where classified weapons were developed and taken care of.

In 1966, Raftery retired from the military after 20 years and went to work as an engineer for Reynolds Electric at what was then the Nevada Test Site. He retired after 25 years and became active at St. Viator Catholic Community and Bishop Gorman High School.

With 15 children and grandchildren attending Gorman, the Raftery legacy lives on.

The gala began with a hosted cocktail reception that offered a silent auction of 11 deluxe packages.

Mingling in the crowd were former Gov. Bob Miller and Sandy Miller, Patricia and Michael Morrissey, Cynthia and John Schreiber, Rossi Ralenkotter, Denise Cashman, Mikey and Jim Bilbray, Jodie and Zafi Diamant, Amy and Danny Tarkanian, Paul Maffey, MaryLou and Art Thomas, Christi McEachern, Amy and Roger Tabor, Patti and Allen Puliz, Joe Roberts, Sandee and Tito Tiberti, Lorenzo Fertitta and UNLV football coach Tony Sanchez.

A string quartet played during the reception and members of the marching band led everyone into the dining room.

The dinner’s master of ceremonies was Jason Musni, 2015 student body president.

Bishop Joseph A. Pepe delivered the invocation.

Gorman’s President John A. Kilduff welcomed all and spoke about the school’s accomplishments and future plans. He noted that 96 percent of the senior class will attend four-year universities and that the school has five Merit Scholarship finalists.

In the past year, the school raised $5 million, thanks to the Fertitta family and the Engelstad Foundation.

Dinner entertainment was a student performance titled “Gaels on Broadway” with student singers Mia Richard, Alexa Wells, Delany Malm, Max Dalvey and Christian O’Brien.

The Rev. Richard Rinn, pastor of St. Viator Catholic Community, gave the benediction.

Other attendees were Kathryne and Troy Gillett, Brendan and Kati Keating, Denise and Gustav Mauler, Jeanne Kilduff, Ed Skonicki, Judy and Jerry Sylvain, Virginia Valentine, Dawn Gibbons, Dana Kanne, Deacon Tom Roberts and Karen Roberts, Bishop Gorman Principal Kevin Kiefer, Kim Gerringer, Paula and Michael Gaughan, Judith and Jim Kohl, Mary Jo Ellis, Connie and Chuck Gerber, Dorothy and Chi Chi Bengochea, Tim and Tamara O’Reilly, Amanda and Phil Eruin, Julie and Chris Thompson, Julie Gilday-Shaffer, Bridget and Geoff Michlik, Lauren Blaney, the Revs. Bill Kenny and Bob Stoeckig and John Mowbray, grandson of Bishop Gorman High School’s founder, Romy Hammes.

Dinner favors included a book written by Jack Sheehan telling the history of Bishop Gorman High School.