David Aberli grew up in the 1960s in the Irish Hill/Butchertown neighborhoods. The youngest of four sons of Walter and Cleo Aberli, he was raised a Catholic and attended St. Joseph Catholic School.

David’s father was a foreman at National Distilleries and his mother was a devoted homemaker. His three older brothers inspired him to be successful. His oldest brother, Perry (Flaget, 1965), was the first Aberli to graduate from college, earning a master’s degree at the University of Notre Dame. His brother, Walter (Trinity, 1968), was a Louisville police officer for 24 years, earning the distinction of Officer of the Year in 1984. His brother, Don (Trinity, 1970), worked his way from an entry-level position at Liberty National Bank to become a senior vice president.

David enrolled at Trinity in 1971. He remembers Rev. Kevin Caster H’93 greeting him at the door of his first-period French I classroom, and from that point forward, he knew he had made the correct choice. David was fortunate to have giants like Rev. Caster, Rev. Ted Sans H’05, Sister Jane Hall, John Esterle H’05 and many others as teachers and role models. He served as Student Council president during his senior year. He also participated in bowling, intramural basketball, the French Club, the National Honor Society and the Pep Club.

When David’s father passed away during the summer before his junior year, he remembers Rev. Tom Duerr H’92 calling him to the Principal’s Office to assure a frightened and confused young man that Trinity would always be there for him. He never forgot that.

After graduating from Trinity in 1975, David attended the University of Louisville where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1980. Upon graduation, Father Duerr offered him a teaching position at Trinity. He explained to David that teaching was a vocation and rewarding work. David eagerly accepted and began a 38-year career as a teacher, basketball and baseball coach, and school administrator. In 2008, he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Spalding University.

David wore many hats during his career. He taught algebra I, geometry, freshman and sophomore theology, freshman affective skills and recent American history. Additionally, he served as a Senior Retreat adult leader, was a member of Trinity’s Cultural Diversity Task Force and Pep Club moderator.

In athletics, David was mentored by two great men who taught him what coaching was truly about: building character and forming relationships. He worked as an assistant basketball coach under the legendary Joe Thompson ’63 for seven seasons before assuming the head coaching position from 1991-2001. He also spent several years as the freshman and JV baseball coach under another Trinity great, Rich Rostel H’93.

In 2000, David became a school administrator when he was named Director of Students, a position he held until 2016. He served the most years in that position in school history. David considers the work done as Director of Students to be the most important of his career.

During David’s tenure, Trinity incorporated the ID system and many school security protocols that are still in place. He also participated in developing the drug-testing program for students, faculty and staff. He was instrumental in Trinity’s decision to create a full-time school nursing position. He served the students on their path to adulthood. David says he could not have done his job without the loyal assistance of Mickey Engelbrecht, Betty Roth H’15 and Joe Henning H’06.

David was honored by Trinity with the Ed Nolan Service Award (2001) and the Rev. Thomas Duerr Teacher of the Year Award as voted on by the faculty (2005, 2017). Additionally, he received the Presidential Excellence in Achievement Award (2011, 2017). He was honored by the Alumni Association with the Honor Alumnus Award (2012).

David and his wife, Cindy, (PRP, 1978) are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Westport Road Church of Christ. They have two children – Katie Meurer (Sacred Heart, 2005; University of Dayton, 2009) and Andrew (Ballard, 2008) – and four grandchildren.

A - Hall of Fame

David Aberli

Tony Altieri

Robert L. Arnold

Jeff Ashley