2013 - 2014 Fraternal Year

July 2013 - Mike Palko

Knights of Columbus member Mike Palko has been named the July “Knight of the Month.” Mike is the unofficial parish photographer and recently completed a remarkable photo album as a going-away present for Fr. Matt Pfeiffer. The album included more than 1000 photos of St. Sebastian parishioners, church and school activities, and organizations so Father would have a remembrance of his first assignment.

Mike also made sure parishioners had an opportunity to sign their photos and offer a special memory. Mike presented the album to Fr. Pfeiffer at his going-away party in June.

September 2013 - SK John Anderson and Bert Brownfield

Like other's who've received this honor, both John and Bert displays exemplary service to the Council and the parish. Most recently they dedicated countless hours setting up the Council's most Golf Outing, exceeding last year's funds raised for charities.

Worldwide, the KofC raises a large amount of money for charity each year, but its members’ commitment of time is enormous. Knights collectively volunteered more than 70 million hours of time to their churches and communities last year.

October 2013 - SK Jim Nixon

Those who remember ice skating at Forest Lodge as kids don’t recognize the interior of the building anymore, thanks to the church’s renovation and remodeling of the building over the past two years. With the recent addition of a brick plaza at the lower entrance to the building, things have now changed on the outside, too. Knights of Columbus Council 14255 has designated SK Jim Nixon as “Knight of the Month” for his lead role on the project.

Jim worked with various City of Akron council representatives and departments to obtain engineering and site preparation assistance, construction materials and equipment for the project, which was supervised by Eagle Scout candidate, Chris Morris. Working with the Department of Neighborhood assistance, Jim was also able to coordinate clean up and mulching of the Lodge’s flowerbeds and playgrounds.

Jim is a charter member of the council, a Fourth Degree Knight, and current treasurer of Akron Council Charities, the council’s non-profit affiliate.

November 2013 - Tony Burgoyne

St. Sebastian’s Knights of Columbus Council 14255 has named Third Degree member R. Tony Burgoyne its Knight of the Month for November. Tony is one of the architects of the Knight’s successful 5K Race Around the Park and has chaired its organizing committee since the race began in 2011.

An active member of the council since its founding in 2007, Tony has also served as council recorder and publicity chair. He was recognized as the council’s Knight of the Year in 2011.

October’s 5K race and Family Fun Run attracted nearly 400 participants. Race proceeds benefit the Knights’ Deacon Terry Peacock Scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to two parish eighth graders planning to attend an area Catholic high school.

December 2013 - Tim Beringer

The Knights of Columbus has named charter member Tim Beringer its “Knight of the Month” for December. Tim and his crew of Bob Wolf, Ron Shaw, Dick Gross and Bert Brownfield have coordinated the Red Cross blood drives at St. Sebastian since the Knights took over their sponsorship here about five years ago. During that period, donors have stepped forward to provide more than 625 units of blood for our community—with each unit able to help up to three people.

Tim is a Fourth Degree member and Council 14255’s founding Grand Knight. He also serves as a mass coordinator and Parish Foundation board member.

January 2014 - Ray Stone

Ray a 4th Degree Knight has been preparing the yearly taxes for the council for a number of years. This past month Ray volunteered his barbershop quartet, Clear Choice Quartet, to provided holiday vocals at the annual December Social. When not on stage, he is behind the camera photographing many of our events.

February 2014 - Bruce Meyer

A long-time member of the Knights of Columbus had been named Council 14255's "Knight of the Month" for coming to the aid of a parishioner with frozen pipes. Despite work done in the woman's condo last year to prevent such things, the recent "polar vortex" proved too much for her plumbing system. A relative put out the call for help and council member Bruce Meyer was first on the scene to help mitigate the damage.

Bruce became a Knight almost as soon as he was eligible, earning his First, Second and Third Degrees in 1984. When a council was formed at St. Sebastian, he decided to transfer his membership and join his fellow parishioners in their charitable work in the parish and on Akron's west side.

March 2014 - Matt Beaven

Matt Beaven, a First Degree Knight since 2008, earned the council’s thanks in March for his continuous behind-the-scenes work at the council’s annual “Race Around the Park.” The 5K race and one mile fun walk, held each October, is an important fundraising event for the council, providing vital support for the Knight’s scholarships and charitable work. Matt has also been an important worker at the council’s youth events, in particular its free-throw competition each January.

April 2014 - Mike Fallucco

Third Degree member Mike Fallucco, council Advocate, was recognized in April for his work as chair of the council's "Measure Up" program. Each year, approximately 400 KofC councils throughout the state join to collect about $400,000 for support of individuals with developmental disabilities. A substantial portion is returned to the the local councils for use in their own communities. The St. Sebastian council's proceeds support The ARC of Summit County.

May 2014 - Ken Butler

Charter member Ken Butler, a Fourth Degree Knight, was honored in May for taking leadership of the council's car raffle. Launched last month, the fundraising effort hopes to raise $40,000 for the Knights' scholarship fund, financial aid to our seminarians, and related council programs. The car raffle runs through mid-October and replaces the Knights' regular 52-week raffle.

June 2014 - Patty Smith

The council's Honorary Knight of the Month is Mrs. Patty Smith, who helped prepare the Mull-Hawkins traffic circle garden for planting this year. The garden is much larger than it seems to those driving by, requiring about 35 flats of plant material. Weather and scheduling conflicts made preparation difficult this year, making Patty's help all the more valuable. Patty is the director of St. Sebastian's pre-school, where she also teaches. Her husband is Past Grand Knight, Bernie Smith.