Meet the Team

President of the Board

As a Lancaster native, Gerry graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School and the Temple University School of Pharmacy before founding Ganse Apothecary in Lancaster city in 1981.

In the mid-1990s, Gerry became an active volunteer at Lancaster Catholic, contributing to various school committees, including serving as chairman of the annual carnival, the Athletic Association, and the Advancement Initiative Task Force. From 2015 to 2021, he served as a member and past chairman of the Board, and co-chair of the Cherish-Love-Honor capital campaign.

He and his wife, Suzanne, are members of the Order of Malta, supporting its mission of serving the poor and the sick.

Gerry is a founding member of the Catholic Education Foundation, where he has held the position of President since its inception.

Vice President of the Board

A member of Lancaster Catholic High School’s class of 1967, Suzanne Ganse earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Cabrini College and a master’s degree from Villanova University in 1973. She worked in medical research for Merck and Hershey Medical Center early in her career.

Her love for her alma mater has led to countless volunteer hours at LCHS, including a key role in strategic planning, Future VUE 2022, in 2017-2018. Suzanne and her husband Gerry (LCHS ’67) both serve as co-chairs for the Cherish-Love-Honor Capital Campaign at LCHS. In the community, Suzanne has volunteered in mission work as well as for the Junior League of Lancaster. She also serves her parish and diocese as an Extraordinary Minister and Lector. Suzanne and Gerry are members of the Order of Malta.

Suzanne and Gerry have two sons who, like their parents, are proud LCHS graduates. Following in their footsteps, the Ganse’s have a grandson and a granddaughter currently enrolled at LCHS.

Suzanne has a deep appreciation for Catholic education. She serves as Vice President on the CEF board and believes in its mission to make Catholic education attainable and affordable for families in the Lancaster deanery.

Treasurer

Pat has served as the Treasurer of the Catholic Education Foundation since its inception. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 35 years of experience in public accounting, Pat’s responsibilities include preparing tax returns for not-for-profit organizations and auditing their financial statements.

A parishioner at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Pat is also a member of the parish's counting team. Pat graduated from Lancaster Catholic in 1981 and later supported his alma mater as the chair of the Finance Committee for the LCHS Carnival for over 20 years. Additionally, Pat has been an active member of the Parish and Finance Councils and have served on the School Board.

Pat resides in Ephrata with his wife, Cecile, who is currently a pre-school teacher at Our Lady of the Angels in Columbia.

Trustee

During her early education, Francine attended St. Peter School in Columbia, PA and Lancaster Catholic High School. She pursued a career healthcare and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Catholic University in Washington D.C. Francine completed a Master of Science in Nursing program and Family Nurse Practitioner certification at Millersville University. After working 25 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner, she recently retired.

Francine’s children followed in her footsteps and attended St. Peter School and Lancaster Catholic High School. She is a strong supporter of Catholic education efforts in Lancaster County, especially in her town of Columbia, PA because it strengthens the community and helps uphold the faith and mission of the Catholic church.

Trustee

A lifelong resident of Columbia, Bernard attended Holy Trinity Catholic School and graduated from Catholic High School in 1983. As an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, he serves as Vice President of the Holy Name Society and participates in both the St. Vincent DePaul Society and the Building & Grounds Committee.

Bernard is also on the board of the Janson Foundation, holds fourth-degree membership in Knights of Columbus Council 2294 (including service as Past Deputy Grand Knight), and was previously a member of the Columbia Jaycees.

Bernard and his wife, Beth (LCHS Class of 1980), have four sons who are all graduates of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School and Lancaster Catholic High School. Beth is also a proud graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, Class of 1980.

Trustee

A graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, Clark earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counselor education from Millersville State College. Upon graduation, Clark worked as a guidance counselor and Special Education Coordinator at Columbia School District for 7 years. He also served as a Resident Advisor for mentally challenged adults with Community Services. In 1981, Clark founded Tomlinson Bomberger Lawn Care and Landscape where he worked until his retirement in 2023. He is a board member at Catholic Charities and previously served on the board at The High Center. Clark and his wife, Elizabeth, belong to St. Leo the Great parish and Legatus. They have five children and five grandsons.

Clark serves as a trustee for Catholic Education Foundation because he believes Catholic education is essential for children's faith and formation.

Community Outreach Consultant

Tony Brill recently retired as the Director of Fine & Performing Arts at his Alma Mater, Lancaster Catholic High School, after serving 40 years as a music educator for LCHS. He also served on various Advancement committees during his time at Catholic. In 2024, he was selected as a Golden Apple Recipient from the Diocese of Harrisburg and, in 2006, received the Lancaster Catholic Alumni Citation Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement. He also served as President of Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 7 and as a member of the PMEA State Board of Directors. He continues to serve as a traveling Director for the American Music Abroad Bronze Summer Tour of Europe with students from all over Eastern Pennsylvania and has done so for 29 years.

Trustee

"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." (Albert Einstein). Walt Legenstein has dedicated his career and volunteer work to serving community needs. As a former co-owner of Certified Carpet, Walt is married to Fran for 58 years, with six children, seventeen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. His service includes roles on both the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and LGH Pediatric Capital Campaign. Walt has chaired major initiatives such as the LGH Cancer Campaign, Ann B Barshinger Cancer Institute, Lancaster General Health Foundation Board, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Lancaster County, and Lancaster Catholic High School. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of Certified Carpet.

Brendan Whalen was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he developed a strong foundation in faith, family, and community. He is a proud graduate of St. Anne’s Catholic School, Lancaster Catholic High School ‘05, and Duquesne University. Brendan earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Duquesne University. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and continues to embody the values instilled throughout his Catholic education.

Brendan remains active in his faith community as a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and is committed to supporting initiatives that advance Catholic education for future generations

Matt Dusablon grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1997. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of West Florida, completed advanced studies at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and holds a master's from Webster University.

Following his college graduation, Matt completed 21 years of distinguished service with the United States Army in numerous leadership capacities worldwide. He directed combat operations in Iraq, earning the Bronze Star for Valor. Subsequently, he commanded 150 soldiers tasked with training U.S. Army snipers. Matt served as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Johns Hopkins University and concluded his military career in the National Capital Region as Branch Chief for the Inspector General’s office.

After retiring from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Matt leveraged his leadership skills in a fellowship at Greencastle Consulting and now leads advanced missile system teams at Honeywell Aerospace.

Faith and family are important to Matt, who is married to Kristin, a preschool teacher at Saint Leo the Great. They have six children and enjoy outdoor activities like beach trips, fishing, snowboarding, surfing, and sports together.

Community Outreach Consultant

A Lancaster native, Mary Jo attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Lancaster Catholic High School. She graduated from Millersville University with a degree in Secondary Education and her first teaching position was at St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, PA. Mary Jo changed career paths for a job in Marketing and Public Relations with Skiadas Brothers Enterprises, where she worked for 17 years. Her desire to learn more about the industry led to the campus of Franklin & Marshall College for classes in Marketing and Advertising. Mary Jo started her own business, Taste & See, and produced mini brochures for tourists in the Lancaster, York and Brandywine area. After 18 years, she sold her business and took a position at her Alma Mater, Lancaster Catholic High School, as Director of Communications and Constituent Relations. Mary Jo then spent 15 years as Director of Development, Marketing and Sales at St. Anne's Retirement Community in Columbia, PA. She retired in 2024, but still remains an active part of the local Catholic community.

Mary Jo is the proud mom of two wonderful daughters, who like her and her siblings, attended Lancaster Catholic High School. Mary Jo credits her parents, grade school teachers and experience at LCHS for instilling in her that true learning is centered around the teaching of Christ.

"If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything." - St. Augustine