05/02/04
Eddie Dwyer and Jennifer Gonzᬥz
Plain Dealer Reporters
When Patrick DiPietro and other alumni from Benedictine High School heard about Lorenzo Hunter's death, they decided to help the family.
So they paid for his funeral. It's just the Benedictine way.
"Lorenzo was a great kid," says DiPietro, a 1985 alumnus and owner of a Twinsburg-based accounting firm. "I never saw a negative side to him."
As Lorenzo's family struggles to make sense of what has happened, the Benedictine school community deals with a tragedy and an uncomfortable spotlight. Supporters say Benedictine is known for its alumni base and that it is not surprising that former students would step in to help a family.
For the Hodakievics, Benedictine is a significant part of who they are, and what they have become.
Jim, Kerry, Al and Ron graduated from the 77-year-old Catholic school on the southeast side. The all-boys school, operated by monks from the Benedictine Order of Cleveland, serves about 400 students. Enrollment draws from the inner city and suburbs.
The Hodakievic brothers, who pursued coaching careers, competed for legendary coach Augie Bossu. In 1976, Ron was selected as "Mr. Benedictine."
"Nothing is going to bring back Lorenzo," says Al Hodakievic, who coached the football Bengals for four seasons, leading them to a 40-7 record and Division III state title in 1996. He's now varsity football coach at Twinsburg High School. "But for the other guys, you just hope the scenario doesn't turn out for the worse."
Ohio's Mr. Football, Raymond Williams, and all-district defensive back Jon Huddleston were charged Wednesday with murder and aggravated robbery. Another man, Rodney Roberts, claims self-defense after being charged with shooting Lorenzo, who police say was trying to rob the 20-year-old with a toy gun.
The recent events have stunned many, leaving them to make sense any way they can.
"But you know," said Bob Patton, Bengals basketball coach, "today's society is scary. There are so many things kids can get into. Heck, when we were growing up we had curfews and went home to three television channels. Today, kids have 300 channels they can watch and they all have cell phones."
Lorenzo's death has touched people beyond Benedictine. At Cleveland Central Catholic, Ron Hodakievic coaches kids who grew up in the same area as the three teammates. He has an assistant who is Williams' cousin.
"People are not infallible," Ron says. "But, hey, as coaches, adults and parents, we have to sit down with the kids and make them see what is out there. We have to take care of each other."
Many, like Jim Hodakievic and Glenn Novak, hang on to faith - a faith taught within Benedictine's walls and echoed through its alumni.
Jim Hodakievic, football coach at Bedford High School, holds a deep passion for Benedictine but says he realizes there is a chance Lorenzo's death and its circumstances could have a ripple effect on his alma mater. But Novak, recently inducted into Benedictine's Athletic Hall of Fame, believes the school can endure.
Benedictine football coach Art Bortnick "does a great job with the kids," Novak said. "But he can't be with them 24 hours a day. This is a terrible setback. But I am confident the school will rebound from it. . . . There are great people at Benedictine, and they will survive this."
To reach these Plain Dealer reporters:
edwyer@plaind.com, 216-999-4376
jgonzalez@plaind.com, 216-999-4327