November 20, 2019

The Alumni Awards Dinner was held on a lovely night on campus where we honored three fine Cubs with the Cahalan Award—Andy Camacho ’58, Robert Gianelli ’70 and John McNicholas III ’54. The Cahalan Award is the highest honor bestowed by Loyola High School’s Alumni Association upon its graduates. It is awarded to Loyola men of deep faith, integrity and character.  

Read up on this year’s winners below and view the photo album here.

The award is named in honor of Rev. Patrick J. Cahalan, SJ, former President of Loyola High School, for his 27 years of untiring service and dedication. Thank you to all of our Cub alumni and guests for making such an incredible evening.  

We would also like to thank the alumni vendors who provided food and beverages that night: 

• Ashland Hill – Luke Tabit ’04 – Co-owner
• El Paseo Inn – Andy Camacho ’58 – Owner
• Gonzollo Wines – Jonathan Rollo ‘97 – Owner
• Greenleaf Chopshop – Jonathan Rollo ’97 – Owner
• Harold & Belle’s – Ryan Legaux ’98 – Owner
• John O’Groats – Paul Tyler ’84 – Owner
• M. Special Beer – The Malloy Family, Ted Fourticq ‘92 – Owners
• Randy’s Donuts – Mark Kelegian ’78 – Owner
• Sean Murphy Catering – Sean Murphy ’84 – Owner
• Tito’s Vodka – Taylor Berry ’07 – Sr. Director of Brand Marketing

 

2019 Cahalan Award Winners

Andy M. Camacho ’58

Andy M. Camacho is an accomplished attorney, businessman and entrepreneur. As chairman of the board of Camacho’s Inc., he and his family own and operate a unique collection of restaurants located in Southern California including El Paseo Inn, established on Olvera Street in 1930, and Mariasol Restaurant located at the world-famous Santa Monica Pier.

Mr. Camacho attended Southwestern Law School and is a member of the State Bar of California.  Throughout his career, he has served on numerous boards including the National Restaurant and California Restaurant Associations, the Board of Overseers for Loyola Law School, and the Stanford University Department of Athletics. He was also appointed to the Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Rams. President Jimmy Carter appointed him as special ambassador to South America and chairperson of the National Advisory Committee Investment Board.  Mr. Camacho has also served as a delegate for the State of California at the Democratic National Convention on two occasions.

Mr. Camacho resides in Encino with his wife of 47 years, Mary Lou, and has three children and four grandchildren.

Robert S. Gianelli ’70

Rob S. Gianelli has established himself as a leading California attorney in prosecuting insurance class actions and individual insurance “bad faith” cases. He has specialized in representing policyholders in disputes with their insurance companies, resulting in several groundbreaking individual and class action cases that have secured needed benefits for consumers under life, health, property and other types of insurance policies.

He also is a contributing editor to California’s leading insurance practice guide and has served as adjunct professor teaching Insurance Law at Whittier Law School and La Verne University School of Law.

Mr. Gianelli has received numerous awards over his long career including being selected as a finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year (2011) in a class action case where he recovered $47 million for 7,700 senior citizens who were sold deceptive annuities. He also received one of California Lawyer magazine’s Attorney of the Year (CLAY) awards (2015) for his work as lead attorney in a class action against health plans for their refusal to provide certain types of treatment for autistic children.For his work on this case, Mr. Gianelli also was selected as a finalist for the Consumer Attorney of the Year (2014) by Consumer Attorneys of California.

Mr. Gianelli earned a law degree from Southwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Los Angeles.

John P. McNicholas III ’54

John P. McNicholas III is the founding member of McNicholas & McNicholas LLP and has been a pillar in the legal community for more than five decades, representing plaintiffs in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, employment law, class actions, sexual abuse and other consumer-related matters.

He is a recognized leader with more than 150 jury verdicts and 20 reported appellate decisions in copyright infringement, breach of contract, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and aviation cases. His clients have included the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Pope St. John Paul II, the Vatican Library, the late Congressman Andrew J. Hinshaw, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac and former L.A. Dodger pitcher Carols Lopez.

Mr. McNicholas III has received numerous honors and recognitions including, but not limited to: U.S. News – Best Lawyers“Best Law Firms,” Best Lawyers in America, The National Trial LawyersTop 100 Trial Lawyers, Loyola Law School’s Board of Governor’s Award, Daily JournalTop 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California, and Daily JournalTop 100 Lawyers.

His work in law and for the Catholic Church, as well as his willingness to give of himself, has led to multiple affiliations and responsibilities. Among them: trustee of the State Bar of California; member of the Board of Governors for the State Bar of California; member of the Committee of Bar Examiners and the Judicial Nominees and Evaluation Commission; chair of the Committee of Bar Examiners; director, Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums; Loyola Law School’s Board of Overseers and the Loyola Advocacy Institute; executive board of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Orders of St. Gregory, Malta and the Holy Sepulcher; and a lector and member of St. Brendan’s Finance Council. Mr. McNicholas III also serves as judge pro tem at Los Angeles Superior Court and serves as adjunct professor of trial advocacy at Loyola Law School.

Mr. McNicholas III earned a law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, Los Angeles.

 

To nominate a fellow Cub for this prestigious award in the future, please submit this form.