Ursuline High School is proud to honor the 2019 Distinguished Alumni, Dr. Vincent ’62 and Mrs. Zip ’64 Basile and Attorney Robert Nelson ’64.
Dr. Vincent T. Basile entered Ursuline High School from Sacred Heart School on the East Side of Youngstown. As an Ursuline student, he was a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, Junior Classical League, National Forensic League, Mission Club, Altar Server, Track Team and Intramural Basketball. He earned a state superior rating for his science projects in biology and physics. Vince played the role of Walter in the Senior Class play, “Our Miss Brooks.” He was a first alternate to the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation in 1962, Vince enrolled at John Carroll University where he majored in chemistry with a minor in biology graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1966. He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Basile completed an anesthesia clerkship in Austria, his internship/residency in anesthesiology at University Hospitals (Cleveland) and a cardiac anesthesia rotation at the Cleveland Clinic. He had a Fellowship in both Cardiac Anesthesia and at the Pain Clinic at the University of Virginia. Dr. Basile was active duty with the rank of Major and Chief of Anesthesia and Operating Room Services at the United State Military Academy at West Point, New York. Dr. Basile had a private practice in Anesthesiology and Pain Management in Roanoke, Virginia from 1976-2000. Vince is a member of Rotary, English Speaking Union, Torch Club, Roanoke Ski and Adventure Club, Notre Dame Club of the Blue Ridge and Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church. He has been active in planning the class of 1962 reunion always making sure that they visit their Alma Mater as part of the reunion festivities. He is a regular Alumni Golf attendee and the chief organizer of his classmates to the Annual Ursuline Auction. He married fellow Distinguished Alumna, Mary Zipporah Largey in 1968.
Mary Zipporah Largey (affectionately known as Zip) is graduate of Saint Brendan School on Youngstown’s West Side where she was a Golden Bears cheerleader. At Ursuline High School, Zip was a majorette, class officer and a member of the National Honor Society. She also met her future husband, Vince, while an Ursuline student. Following her Ursuline graduation in 1964, Zip enrolled at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana where she was Senior class president, and a member of Kappa Gamma Pi. Zip received her bachelor of arts degree – Magna Cum Laude. Zip also earned a Master of Arts Degree in English from Case Western Reserve University. Zip was office manager for her husband’s private medical practice in Roanoke. They have a daughter, two sons and two grandchildren. She founded the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Roanoke as well as Roanoke Academy of Medicine Auxiliary Book and Author Dinner. She is on the board of The Achievement Center, a school for learning disabled children. She is a North Cross School volunteer, a member of the Community Services Board for the Junior League of Roanoke Valley and was named “Outstanding Sustainer” of Junior League Roanoke. She is a regular alumni golf participant and annual auction attendee. Zip is a member of Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church, Notre Dame Club of the Blue Ridge, English Speking Union, Family Promise program to aid the homeless and the Roanoke Ski and Adventure Club. She and fellow Distinguished Alumnus, Bob Nelson established the Class of 1964 Scholarship Fund which is part of Ursuline Endowment Fund, Inc.
Atty. Robert Nelson was a graduate of Saint Edward School where he was the 2nd Grade Spelling Bee winner. As an Ursuline student, he was a member of student council, the golf team, National Honor Society and the Senior Class President. Following his Ursuline graduation in 1964, he enrolled at John Carroll University and received a degree in Economics. He spent his first year of law school at the University of Notre Dame but graduated from the Case Western Reserve University Law School where he was the Law Review Notes Editor. He was awarded the Order of the Coif by Case Western Reserve University Law School given to the top 10% of his graduation class. Bob was an instructor of money, credit and banking at Notre Dame College in Cleveland. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1971. He began his career as an associate lawyer at Stotter, Familo, Cavitch, Elden & Durkin Law Firm in Cleveland. Atty. Nelson was later named partner at Cavith, Familo and Durkin Law. Since 2013, he has been a sole practitioner at Robert M. Nelson, Attorney at Law in Avon Lake. Bob is a member of the Cuyahoga County, Lorain Countyand State of Ohio Bar Associations. He and his wife Carole have two sons and a daughter, and five grandchildren. Carole passed away in 2014 after 40 years of marriage. He remarried Mary Ehrnschwender in 2018 and has three stepchildren and 9 stepgrandchildren. He lives in Amherst, Ohio and is a member of St. Mary Church in Vermilion.
President Richard Murphy, Attorney Robert Nelson, Mrs. Zip Basile, Dr. Vincent Basile, and Principal Mr. Matt Sammartino