CHICAGO (July 2, 2003)

After 27 consecutive years of enrollment, Robert and Frances
Dennewitz graduated their 10th child, Mary, from St. Francis Borgia School on 3535 N. Panama Ave.

When Robert and Frances Dennewitz enrolled their first child, Robyn (class of 1982), for school in the fall of 1976, they made a firm decision to send all of their children to Catholic school too. Little did they know Kristen (1984), David (1985), Frances (1988), Jill (1990), Daniel 1991), Margaret (1993), Andrew (1997), Sarah (1999) and Mary (2003) would follow, keeping enrollment numbers up at St. Francis Borgia for three straight decades.

“We liked the small school atmosphere there and knew it was important to give our kids a Catholic education. Our faith was the driving force behind our decision to send the children to St. Francis. We strongly believe you need faith to raise a family and a good foundation is the key,” said Frances Dennewitz, who attended Catholic elementary school.

The family has lived on North Wolcott, nearby the school, since Robyn was five-years-old. Robert and Frances Dennewitz admit it was difficult financially to send ten children to private school. To cover the cost of tuition, Robert often worked two or three jobs at a time as a police officer, security guard and maintenance worker at St. Francis Borgia.

With the exception of Mary, who will be attending Trinity High School in River Forest this fall, a Catholic college prep school for girls, the other Dennewitz children attended public high schools for economic reasons.

“We’re in a different place now financially. Years ago, we couldn’t afford to send them all to Catholic high schools. Mary’s very humble about getting more than her other siblings and doesn’t want extra attention just because she’s the youngest.”

Aside from Mary, the elder Dennewitz children have graduated college and pursued various careers such as nursing, engineering, law, military and law enforcement.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for 117,229 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 290 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 248 elementary and 42 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Website at http://schools.archchicago.org