1940s

40 Minor Sports

Realizing that Phil Donohue is still playing golf in his 90s brought back memories of the great rivalry of our golf team. There was Walter Hagen Jr., Billy Schaller, and George Costello, all competing for attention. Many of them went on to win amateur championships after college. Most of us remember contests among them trying to drive shots across one of the lakes. Fencing was another of those sports where we had some outstanding seniors. Joe Smalley was undefeated while Gerry Donovan, John Gavan, and Bob Sayia also competed. They were a competitive group. Of course, we remember the outstanding tennis players. There was team captain Bill Fay, who won the state championship along with Hal Bolwer, John Wolf, and Ed Maher. I had some interesting email exchanges with Ray Schnorr Jr. ’75 and his sister, Mary Ann Evans, regarding the death of Ray Schnorr Sr., who passed away in 2007. We recalled former Indianapolis classmates whom both children had known. Eddie Jacobs, Le Roy Keach, and Dr. John Courtney were among those fondly remembered. Their mother, Eloise, died more recently. I missed the phone call from Alvina Larkin telling us about the death of her husband, Joe Larkin. Joe was a regular caller until his recent health problems, and I recall that he was still playing senior softball into his late 80s. He had a family of six children and retired to Florida relatively young. Len Barton also passed away in June. He was a lifelong resident of Louisville KY, whom we remember from accounting classes. Holly Moorehouse also reported that her mother, Helen Devereux, recently passed away. Helen was happy to join her husband, Bill Devereux, who died many years ago. As all of you know by now, our class has been enrolled as members in The Golden Treasury of Holy Cross Prayer. I had an interesting note from Alice Osberger ’50SMC, a former South Bend friend, telling us about her brother, Frank B. Flynn, during his summer school session in 1940. He spent all of $74 for room, board, and tuition for the eight-week session, and $17.70 for books and supplies. He considered Jake Kline a very good math professor and enjoyed his experience. Kay and I can still get around and manage to get to daily Mass and participate in some church activities. We appreciate our assisted-living situation, realizing that we have slowed down. We keep all of you in our prayers and may God continue to shower His blessings and graces on each of you. — Bob Sanford; 3212 N. Miller Road, No.106; Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480-433-7916; r40shorty@aol.com

41 Her Loyal Sons

Marty Ingwersen was back on campus to kick off this fantastic football season, joining nine family members for Purdue weekend in South Bend. He had a wonderful trip and enjoyed his new, annual tradition of taking a campus tour and seeing the new developments: this time, the new Compton Family Ice Arena. He had a great weekend visit and enjoyed the Irish victory. Arthur Humby passed away on May 13, and William Welsh passed away July 13. I offer condolences to their families and welcome any information that relatives or friends wish to share in a future column. Barbara Perrine also called to notify me that her husband, Alfred “Al” Perrine, passed away June 4, peacefully, in Scarsdale NY. Al had two sons, including John “Bradley” Perrine ’96, as well as three grandchildren. Al had attended one football game a year and often made it to ND for reunions, until recent years. ND was extraordinarily dear to him, and he was very proud to see his youngest son graduate from his alma mater. Al’s brother-in-law was Bill Baum, who Barbara reports is active in his community in Greenport on Long Island NY. Bradley Perrine traveled to cheer on the football team in Dublin this year, and Barbara is staying busy. When we spoke, she was planning to come to NYC for a Broadway show. I hope that Hurricane Sandy did not disrupt those plans. Our thoughts are with class members and their families, both living and deceased, and a special prayer for any of you who were affected by the storm. — Meg Julian ’03, ’06JD; 171 E. 89th St., 5A, New York NY 10128; 646-246-5480; megjulian@gmail.com

42 Swan Lake Echoes

Bright and snappy was our Purdue/Notre Dame victory in September, won in the final three seconds. Norma Jean and Dan Dahill came up from West Virginia; Jim Frick from Philadelphia, with his sons, Chris ’85 and Jeff ’81; Emmett Keenan from Davenport, with his sons Tim ’80 and Pat, grandsons Will and Ben. I came from San Francisco and Ann Schanuel from Decatur IL with the van, deftly locating Judge Miller’s tailgate party right off the bat for 12 lucky guests, including Tessie and Dr. Edward Joseph Sullivan from Fleming Island FL. Ray Rowan has moved to a retirement center in Seattle. Tony Hehn, our oldest member of the Class of ’42, died last September 29 at the age of 102. Tony celebrated that unique distinction at the 70th Reunion last June with Judge Miller and Dr. Ed J. Sullivan. My brother, Arthur Kirby ’43, former gunnery and navigation officer of the “Altamaha” during WWII, the featured carrier on our Circa ’42 stationery, called me from Sante Fe exulting over our Purdue victory. The following day, he collapsed with heart failure and died on September 21 at age 89. He and his ship had survived a kamikaze attack near the end of the war. Arthur, predeceased by his wife, Virginia Murray, left a large family in Sante Fe, where he had retired after serving with Gillette Company for many years in Latin America and Western Europe. — John Kirby; 110 Upland Road, Kentfield CA 94904; res/fax 415-925-0544

43 Class Secretary — A. Robert Masters ’05; 202 Remington Court North Drive, Apt. C, Mishawaka IN 46545; 574-904-8315; a.robert.masters@gmail.com

44 Mail Call

Austin Jones wrote from Lynbrook NY to check in and report that he is just about back up to full speed after two knee replacement surgeries. He suggests that the early morning mandatory Masses have finally caught up with him. It’s good that he’s up and about with three grandchildren getting married in various parts of the country this year. Like many others, Austin misses the minireunions that Joe Dillon and Ed Gallagher used to organize. As if on cue, a few days later I received a note from Barbara Dillon, Joe’s wife, with the neat news that her husband and his best friend at Notre Dame, Robert Kiley, have been honored through four generations of children and grandchildren, as each has reciprocated with inclusion of Dillon and Kiley when naming new babies in the family. Most recently, grandson Patrick Kiley Dillon ’04 and wife Donna (Bauters) Dillon ’05 named their daughter Kiley Dillon. Gerald Welch wrote from Flemington NJ to tell me of his 10 children, 40 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. He recently turned 90 and his kids threw him a luncheon with more than 60 in attendance. I did not have an opportunity to confirm if the guests were friends or all of the grandchildren. His company took him east in life but he remains a Midwesterner at heart. It’s with great sadness that I learned of the death of Daniel F. Stevens. Dan had corresponded with me regularly over email and was kind enough to send me a number of the books he wrote. Other members of the class for whom we send sympathy and prayers are Gerald F. Putnam, William W. Wicks, Alan H. Guard, and John P. Ford Jr. On behalf of the class, our thoughts are with all of the surviving families. As I write this, I hope that those on the East Coast are safe and sound from Hurricane Sandy. — Laura (Julian) Fraser ’00; 989 Belaire Ct., Naperville IL 60563; 773-255-9843; lejulian00@yahoo.com

45 Book Reviews

Denny Scully got around to reading a book given to him by his wife several years earlier. Its title is Leahy’s Lads and it is the story of some of the fabled Irish teams of the 1940s. Denny’s instant reaction was enthusiastic and he emailed a number of our classmates recommending the book, which he reassured us could be found on Amazon. His enthusiasm is echoed by Bob Thomas, who bought a copy and decided that most of us will enjoy reading it. The author is Jack Connor, brother of George Connor, our great All-American. Familiar names abound. Bob also sent me copies of his correspondence with the Naval Academy magazine in which (in 2006) a writer asked why “we (Navy) continue playing Notre Dame.” Bob cited the deep respect the two schools hold for each other and enclosed a picture showing Navy students in formation in front of the Rockne Memorial. By his count, there were 2,200 Navy and Marine students at Notre Dame at the time, accounting for about 80 percent of the students on campus. Quite different but equally enjoyable reading is the book, For Notre Dame Fans Only: The New Saturday Bible, which Rose Mary Denniston, widow of my roommate Jack Denniston, discovered in a bookstore and purchased for me. It is written by Rich Wolfe, a Notre Dame alumnus who is described as the “number 1 selling sports book author in America.” It’s a bit hard to describe the contents but it opens with a quote from Frank Leahy: “Prayers work better when the players are big.” It closes with the reassurance that “no actual Southern Cal fans were harmed during the making of this book.” For more information call Wolfe directly at 602-738-5889. In other news, Joe Haggar Jr. died on June 1 and is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. — Ted Weber Jr.; 1400 Geary Blvd. Apt. 1409, San Francisco CA 94109; 415-674-8771; theodoreweber@comcast.net

46 Class Secretary — William O’Neil; william.oneil@verizon.net

47 Times to Remember

Ed Sweeney reports that his granddaughter, Kaitlin Sweeney, attended the ND-Stanford game, and despite the incessant rain, said that she and her companions considered it the best sporting event they had ever seen. Ed rode out Tropical Storm Sandy in Seaford NY without too much damage, but the harbor and coastal area of town took a beating. Retired Notre Dame swimming coach Dennis Stark lives near campus and has attended many swim meets and all home football games the last few years. I had a lively telephone conversation with Bill Archibald. He winters in Florida with his wife and roams Chicagoland the rest of the year. Jerry, the wife of John Thomas, passed along best wishes to classmates. I spoke to the wife of John Burke, both residents of the Phoenix area. William Burrows recalls spending only one year at Notre Dame, but he still lives 30 minutes away in Michigan. Going off to service in WWII was, “what guys just did back then.” Paul McKee reminisced about helping to bring a big band for free to a dance off campus to the surprise of Father Cavanaugh. He recalls freshmen were only allowed to stay off campus after midnight once per year. Athletic Director Frank Leahy called him to his office for a lecture about hurdling using the same muscles as dancing, so save them. Leahy brought several tracksters practicing at Cartier Field onto the gridiron for a lesson and Paul landed in the infirmary after a collision with Bob Dove and Steve Juzwick. They later became friends and went to Rosie’s on Friday nights with many of the players. Paul ultimately opted for the Marine Corps instead of track. Classmates who passed away and will be missed include Ernest Clausing of Swarthmore PA on Aug. 3, 2011, John T. Ford Jr. of Bonita Springs FL on July 6, John Kelly Jr. of Bethesda MD on July 24, Max Sarff of Springfield MO on June 28, and Patrick Smid of Denver on July 3. David Clifton of Elk Grove Village IL passed away on July 30, at 88, survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Rita, and children Brian and Carolyn. Born in Smith Center KS, he served in the Navy during WWII, earned an MA at Northwestern, and worked at Kelco Co. in Chicago as an executive for 42 years. Rome Hartman of West Palm Beach died on Oct. 12, 2011, at 87. A broadcast pioneer with WIRK radio on the air as a disc jockey in 1947 and later a partner and general manager, Rome’s rich baritone voice and distinctive delivery were honed in the early part of his 35-year career, when he was known as the Sports Radio Voice of the Palm Beaches. Born in Cincinnati, he began his radio career in 1940 as a teen actor on the popular, nationally-broadcast radio drama Boys Town. In 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and was trained as a midshipman at Notre Dame, then deployed to the battle group of the USS Wisconsin in the Pacific Theater, and served as an officer on an LCI in the invasion of Okinawa. Rome worked many MLB spring training games in West Palm Beach, interviewing many baseball Hall of Famers and was a local TV pioneer. He is survived by Esther, his wife of 64 years, five children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Youngest daughter Bernadette Hotaling wrote that Bill Hartfield passed away peacefully March 2 with Teresa, his wife of 65 years, by his side. ND was a very special, spiritual place for her father. — Michael Morris ’80; 949-433-8568; michaelmorris07@gmail.com

48 Time Heals

Watching the Miami game on Oct. 6, I could not relax and get into the game. ND-Miami in the 1980s created a national rivalry generating more interest than any other football game. The most hyped game occurred in 1988, in the House that Rockne Built. That game I was seated where I had a clear, close-up view of Jimmy Johnson during the fierce battle. The fans enjoyed more than they bargained for in the tit-for-tat, toe-to-toe ND victory of 31-30. Jimmy’s heart was in his throat the full 60 minutes as reflected in his facial expressions, but the final outcome really depleted him, when the otherwise vivacious Jimmy meekly walked onto the field for his post-game handshake with Holtz. So the question after the Oct. 6 rematch is, “Has the rivalry declined into oblivion?” Maybe not. As I watched the game, I blinked: lo and behold, a relic of the past, a T-shirt, suddenly appeared on the screen: “Catholics versus Convicts.” Another football memory: Johnny “the Luge” Lujack ’47 revels in his international acclaim dating back to the 1946 ND vs. Army tie of 0-0, where he was one of four Heisman Trophy winners in a game broadcast over Armed Forces Radio. But Alan Page ’67 was my bride’s favorite football player, and she should know since she raised three. Alan was one of Law School Dean Manson’s army of five year legal wonders who took advantage of ND’s five-year AB Law Course. There were other football greats in that group: Coach Terry Brennan ’49 and the giant Gus Cifelli ’50, who later became a Michigan judge, as well as hundreds of others, including Bill Bonsai, Lisa and Ron Capronigri, Dan Curtis, Ready O’Connor, and Joe Quill. Travis Marshall, a lifelong friend and classmate, Motorola executive, and Washington lobbyist, and former Electronic Industries Association board member, called to advise he has resigned as board member of the National Radio Association. He was a charter founder of WND, bringing independent radio to campus in 1947. We sadly report the passing in 2012 of Mark F. Limont of Naples FL on June 10; Edward J. Cronin Jr. of Pasadena TX on June 21; William T. Cavanaugh Sr. on July 19; and Edgar K. Kleffman on July 25. — Dan Gentile; PO Box 2671, Scottsdale AZ 85252; res 480-425-1240; or Eileen Zander; 1538 Oakhill Drive North, South Bend IN 46637; res 317-292-2060; bus 574-631-7505; ezander@nd.edu

49 More Echoes

“The Leahy Years: World War II Ends, Greatest Irish Dynasty Ensues,” was a fine article and pictorial. The piece, written by Michael Rodio ’12, an ND Magazine intern, appeared as a special insert in the BYU game-day program. There they were, the coaches, Emil, Lug, Gus, Cory, Leon, Jim, Terry, Moose, Frank, Zig, Bob, Larry, Pep and more, and, of course, Coach Leahy allowing us to relive those glorious years. The anecdotes, profiles, events, and the chronicling of the coaches are priceless. Thunder? Echoes? We’ve heard them and we hear them now. Thanks, Mike. I had a nice chat with Joe Nauman, Dayton OH. He shared some memories of our days at du Lac and told of how proud he was to be a member of the marching band. Joe says that he still plays. A recent article in the Seattle Times, “Space Needle pens are still clicking for inventor,” chronicled the exploits and career of Alex Toth, Whidbey Island WA. Alex, who describes himself as a hustler, was the inventor of the Space Needle ballpoint pen, the bestselling souvenir at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. A total of 487,000 Space Needle-shaped pens were sold but 18,000 were still stored in his home. After a career in real estate and five decades later, Alex is back to marketing the remaining pens through a local drug chain and they’re selling. It’s a remarkable story of a hustling ’49er. The alumni office listed the following deceased since the autumn issue: Philip H. Corboy, Chicago IL; Dr. John B. Frankel, St. Paul MN; Joseph F. Mall, Moline IL; Lester J. Meng, Newark NJ; Clare F. Shriwise, Dodge City KS; Robert D. Brennan MD, Utica NY; Michael A. Hoeflinger, Oregon OH; Gerald J. Spahn, Westchester IL; and Frank C. Venner. — Joe O’Brien; 18120 Cloverleaf, South Bend IN 46637; 574-271-2323; obie49nd@comcast.net