St. Xavier High School honored its late president Dr. Perry Sangalli with the school’s prestigious Theodore James Ryken Award during a ceremony on Dec. 3.
The award was presented to Sangalli’s father, Eugene Sangalli, a graduate of St. Xavier’s class of 1952, during a Mass celebrating the feast of St. Francis Xavier, patron of the school.
Sangalli died May 5 after a brief illness. He served at St. Xavier for 38 years, first as a math teacher, then as principal, from 1993 to 2001, and later as president, from 2001 to 2019.
“As a lifelong student, teacher, and administrator of St. Xavier High School, Dr. Perry Sangalli demonstrated his love for the mission of the Xaverian charism of education and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through his commitment and dedication to the students, faculty and staff,” said Cathy Reynolds, the school’s director of mission and identity.
“He lived his faith through a ministry of presence and hospitality and embodied the vision of Theodore James Ryken by exhibiting servant leadership in all he did,” Reynolds said.
The Ryken Award, named after the founder of the Xaverian Brothers, “is given to a St. X faculty or staff member who dedicates his or her life to furthering the mission of a Xaverian education,” said a statement from the school. The award is given annually.
