1940s

40 In Our Prayers

In previous years, we looked forward to reporting names and news related to Christmas communications, but this year we received only a few cards with greetings and no news. We heard from Ruth and Tom Liston, as well as Bob Molin with daughter Mary Carol. Anne Hart, widow of Ed Hart, also keeps in touch. Janet Meade and Judi Appel also send their usual Christmas notes. Others whom we usually hear from neglected to check in this year. However, we have no recent deaths to report at this time so we consider that good news. We also received an annual note from Frank McBride ’50, who expresses his annual opinion about Coach Kelly. Ed Hart recommended me for the John Cardinal O’Hara Award before he passed away, but he was not around for the award ceremony. We so enjoyed planning reunions and special class events with Janet and have happy memories of all we did together. Judi and her deceased husband, David, sort of adopted the two of us when we first arrived on campus for our special teaching position. I recall how they were so good to us and also that David towed me behind his motor boat as I made my one and only water skiing venture. I received a pleasant note from the mother of a current student who assured us of her prayers and interest in our health. At present we are both helping each other along and managing to get from day to day. How about news from some of you or your loved ones? I do not have any official numbers but believe there must be about 45 to 50 of us still around. Please know that we keep all of you, as well as your loved ones, in our prayers. At our stage in life, praying for each other is the greatest gift we can give, and we ask that you continue to remember us in yours. — Bob Sanford; 3212 N. Miller Road, No. 106 Scottsdale AZ 85251; 480-998-5380

41 Spring Update

Condolences are sent to Mary Starr, who notified me that her husband, Arthur Starr, passed away on Oct. 18 at the age of 94 in Denver. Art spent his adult life in Colorado, since graduating from ND, attending medical school at St. Louis U and completing his medical internship and residency in Seattle and New York. An internationally renowned ophthalmologist, Art pioneered the laser light coagulator for repairing retinal detachments. He had been chief eye surgeon for the Broncos, taught techniques to colleagues worldwide, and was awarded a private audience with Pope John XXIII for his accomplishments. Art was also a fan of the ski slopes. He met Mary in Snowmass CO when he was there in 1970 delivering a paper on the importance of wearing sunglasses or ski goggles while skiing. Art continued skiing until about age 85, when he also fully retired from surgery. He was a member of the Doctors’ Ski Patrol in Vail and Winter Park. While at ND, Art was head trumpet player with the marching band. He is survived by Mary, his five children from his first marriage, four children that he raised with Mary, 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. — Meg Julian, ’03, ’06JD; 6 Carriage Trail, Princeton NJ 08540, 646-246-5480; megjulian@gmail.com

42 Links

Ray Reed of Indianapolis died on Feb. 24, 2014 in Santa Rosa CA. After Notre Dame he served as a combat medic in the European Theatre, and obtained his MD and OB/GYN degrees after the war at Indiana U Medical School. Ray is survived by wife Dorothy Jean Brown, two daughters, three sons and many grandchildren. They lived in Palos Verdes Estates, overlooking the ocean and had a view of Catalina Island. Ray opened his practice in Torrance CA, and maintained a successful OB/GYN practice until his retirement at age 68. A good friend of Steve Graliker, Ray attended Circa ’42 reunions and made up a foursome of Graliker, George Blatt and George’s son Leo, who attended the 2007 Masters Tournament. Bob Hargrave of Evansville IN died on July 28. Bob became the starting quarterback for Elmer Layden’s final season as head coach in 1940. Bob earned honorable mention All-American honors. In World War II, he served four years as a Navy officer in the Pacific. He married Florence Molyneaux in San Francisco on Nov. 11, 1944. Later they moved to Bob’s hometown, Evansville, where he joined Citizen’s National Bank. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Flo. He is survived by two sons, five daughters, 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was a great stalwart at numerous reunions and golf outings, and a wonderful friend. Bernard Marbach, formerly of White Plains NY, died on Aug. 06, in East Quogue, Long Island. Bernie was one of the first persons I met at Notre Dame, when we were checking in at Cavanaugh Hall in September 1938. A doctor, he served as a captain in the Army and was posted to the 24th General Hospital in Osaka, Japan, after the war. Subsequently, he maintained a private practice in White Plains until 1967 when he was appointed the director of Westchester Medical Center in White Plains. Bernie was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Mary, and was survived by a son and four daughters, their spouses, and 10 grandchildren. He spent his retirement in East Quogue, “a little corner of Paradise,” he admitted to me a couple of years ago. At school, Bernie had introduced me to one of his pre-med friends, Francis Gabreski, from Pennsylvania, and we three remained friends. “Gabe” left ND after sophomore year, realizing that medicine was not for him. He joined the Army Air Corps. He went on to become the top fighter ace in the European Theatre, shooting down 28 Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts, until he himself was shot down and interned by the Germans for the remaining 10 months of the war. Then, as a jet fighter ace in the Korean War, Gabe shot down six Russian Migs of the North Korean Air Force. Gabe died 10 years ago at age 83 and was buried at Veterans Memorial, Long Island, near East Quogue. My first wife, Navy WAVE Lt. Miriam Murray, whom I married at Notre Dame, was also buried at Veterans Memorial, alongside the grave of Frank Gabreski. I still marvel at how the Notre Dame thread, stretched across 60 years and many skies, finally encircled the three of us, two pilots and a wife, at the tip of Long Island. Bob Miller was grateful for the mention of RisingImprovements.com in the Class column winter issue. George Blatt and I recently exchanged timely pleasantries, reviews of world events, and acknowledged that all is well in Cleveland and San Francisco. We happily share these good feelings with all the stalwarts of the Class of ’42. — John Kirby; 110 Upland Road, Kentfield CA 94904; res/fax 415- 925-0544; cell 415-272-4016

43 Class Secretary — Bob Masters ’05;

202 Remington Court North Drive, Apt. C, Mishawaka IN 46545; res 574.904.8315; bus 574-234-0121

44 Rest in Peace

Jack H. Doyle passed away on January 13 at the age of 92. Rest in peace, Jack. As is often the case for the spring issue, I don’t have much else to report. I always assume folks have headed to fairer climates and are too busy enjoying the sun to check in for my February deadline. All will be forgiven if you send some of that warm weather my way. I did get a nice note from Gerald Welch, which helped me find him on Facebook. Hopefully he will accept my “friend request.” If you or your families have a page, please seek me out; I would love to keep in touch via social media. There was an article in the winter edition of this magazine highlighting 10 reasons to love Notre Dame. I thought of this Class and how those reasons have withstood the test of time. Suffice it to say, your experiences in Italy were monumentally different from my own and perhaps Junior Parents Weekend is a more modern event. I hope you are having a happy and healthy 2015. — Laura (Julian) Fraser ’00; 989 Belaire Court, Naperville IL 60563; 773-255-9843; lejulian00@yahoo.com

45 Closing in on 70

By the time you read this, our 70th Reunion will be less than two months away (June 4-7). Class president Dennis Scully has commitments from eight classmates and hopes for more. Those planning to come in addition to Denny are: Bob Thomas, Jim Griffin, Bill Klem, Vince Cushing, Frank McFadden, Bill Glass, and Jim Ruff. Denny has a room reserved at the Morris Inn for a hospitality suite and points out that “we have some money in the treasury and should have a great time.” As you read this you have undoubtedly received more details from the Alumni Association, and we would like to hear from any of you not listed above who plan to attend. If you decide to join us, please let me know at the address below and I’ll pass it on to Denny. In a holiday note from Monterey, Bob Thomas writes of two important personal events in 2014: Attendance at the graduation of a grandchild from Saint Mary’s College in May and a reunion with submariners in September in San Francisco. About 700 were in attendance, including 40 of the crew of the USS Remora. Four officers who served with Bob were in attendance and “many sea stories were told, some of them even true.” — Ted Weber Jr.; 1400 Geary Blvd., Apt. 1409, San Francisco CA 94109; 415-674-8771; theodoreweber@comcast.net

46 Class Secretary — Bill O’Neil;

william.oneil@verizon.net

47 Zip Line Celebration

Bob Pavlin in Wilmington DE writes, “I reached my 90th birthday in relatively good health, thank you. I did a zip line ride to celebrate.” Ed Sweeney reports he is looking forward to the Reunion in June, which will be his 20th time attending. He’s riding out the winter storms battering the Northeast. Robert “Bob” Snyder and his wife of 67 years, Marie, spoke with me and shared their secret to a long, happy life. They met at a CYO dance in South Bend while she was home from college for Thanksgiving. They had 10 children, five boys and five girls. Bob turned 90 on Pearl Harbor Day and worked at Boeing in Wichita KS for more than 40 years as a system design specialist after graduating with an aeronautical engineering degree. Paul Smaldone lives with his daughter in New York and fondly recalls attending ND with his twin brother, Peter, and his time in the Navy. John Murphy spent five semesters at ND. He was one of the few NROTC sailors that never saw the ocean. He lives in Cincinnati but has seen several oceans since. Donald Murphy retired to Venice FL and loyally recalls his only year at ND. He was stationed as a midshipman at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx NY at the end of WWII. Classmates who passed away and will be missed include Forrest Ira Watson in Bar Harbor ME on June 4 at 87. Forrest was born in Knoxville TN and spent most of his life in Knoxville with time away for school and military service. After joining the Navy, he was sent to Officers Training School in Berea KY, and then to Notre Dame where he stayed to finish his education at the end of the war. In 1947, he entered Harvard, where he earned an MBA and met his future wife, then a student at Radcliff College. The couple married in 1952. Forrest returned to military service during the Korean War this time in the Air Force. In 1955, the young family returned to Knoxville and Forrest began his career with the Ira A. Watson Company, a chain of small department stores serving small southern towns. Ultimately Forrest became CEO and chairman of the board before retiring in 1988. He and his wife traveled throughout the United States and Europe. While exploring Maine one summer, the Watsons found and fell in love with the Penobscot Peninsula. They purchased land and built a retirement home on Blue Hill Bay. In 2008, they were in Maine, living by the Bay in the summer and at Parker Ridge Retirement Community in the winter. Forrest was a stubborn optimist who saw only the best in people and worked tenaciously to achieve happy outcomes. He was a generous and truly gentle man, loyal to family and friends, always ready with advice and a helping hand. He is survived by his wife Marghie of Brooklin ME, son Sam and a grandson. Charles Koegler, 91, died on Jan. 8 in Stratford CT. A World War II veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge, Charles was a proud ND grad who had a career in executive marketing and sales, pioneering in the field of nuclear fire detection services and later sales of air freight with Consolidated Freightways and American Airlines. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Lillian, their four children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who will miss his party piano skills, indomitable spirit, good humor and hearty laugh. Rev. John Victor VandenBossche, CSC, 90, passed away Nov. 9 at Holy Cross House. Born on May 18, 1924, in Mishawaka, Father VandenBossche was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 15, 1943 and made his first profession of vows on Aug. 16, 1944. He graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in science in 1947 and was ordained on June 6, 1951. He earned a master’s degree in physics in 1953 from Notre Dame. From 1953 to 1967 he taught and assisted at Notre Dame College in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was made principal of the school in 1967. In 1970, he served as chaplain at the Holy Cross Brothers Center in South Bend while earning his second master’s from Notre Dame, in guidance and counseling. Beginning in 1971, he served as Newman Chaplain for San Bernardino Valley College and the U of the Redlands. From 1973 to 1976, Father VandenBossche assisted at St. Pius X Church in Granger before moving to the U of Portland in 1976, where he helped with the “Families for Prayer” program in Portland and Los Angeles. He then served as the assistant pastor at St. Casimir Parish in South Bend in 1984-85. He lived at Holy Cross House in 1985-86 and then became administrator at St. Stanislaus Parish in Dorr MI, where he served from 1986-88. He then moved on to Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Bridgeman MI, where he served from 1988-91. He moved to Phoenix and lived at Casa Santa Cruz from 1991-95 while assisting at St. Paul’s Parish and served as local superior for one year. He served as assistant superior at Holy Cross House at Notre Dame from 1996-98. He then was assigned to St. Francis High School in Mountain View CA, where he served as chaplain to the Holy Cross Brothers. He moved to Fatima House at Notre Dame in 2008 and then to Holy Cross House in 2010. Father VandenBossche is survived by his brother, Michael. Dennis Stark passed away on Dec. 22 in South Bend surrounded by his loving family. Dennis was a Detroit native and World War II veteran. He retired from Notre Dame in 2005 after founding the men’s and women’s swimming programs and serving as the swimming and diving coach beginning in 1958. He spent almost three decades in that role until 1985. He continued to teach in the Notre Dame physical education program for many years after his retirement and also served as longtime director of the Rolfs Aquatic Center. He was head of the physical education department 1975-81. He was a strong supporter of the Special Olympics and played an integral role in the 1987 International Summer Special Olympics held on the Notre Dame campus, serving as manager of swimming and diving. In 2010, the Notre Dame Monogram Club presented him with its Moose Krause Distinguished Service Award. Long known as the Notre Dame Relays, the early-season Dennis Stark Relays were renamed in his honor beginning with the 2003-2004 season. Several former swimmers have established endowments in Stark’s name to fund Notre Dame swimming scholarships. Dennis was an outspoken defender of Notre Dame traditions, and his legacy of impassioned leadership lives on in the lives of those he encountered and swimmers he coached. Survivors include his children: David, Craig, Jan and Tim; eight grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. I look forward to hearing from class members with news and stories. Call or email me. — Michael Morris ’80; 949-433-8568; michaelmorris07@gmail.com

48 Direct from Dan

Dan Gentile shares this information on his health: “Despite all the glory and excitement of my 91st birthday, Satan fingered me for two serious accidents within six months. In May, a drunk driver rear-ended me, breaking a bone in my neck. Then on December 26, before I had recovered from this injury, a pickup truck driver backed up as I was passing his rear and broke my hip bone. All of the spectacular enthusiasm of becoming 91 was momentarily diminished. I was totally immobilized in the hospital and nursing home. At this time I don’t get around too well because my left leg is almost totally immobile. The pain has passed but the lack of use of the left leg has really immobilized me, so I am totally dependent on professional and neighborly assistance. I am now at home embarking on a prolonged period of recovery, living one day at a time. I wish you all well and I appreciate your prayers. My sincere thanks to my many friends on campus for their cards. Thanks especially to those in the Eck Center.” — Dan Gentile; PO Box 2671, Scottsdale AZ 85252; res 480-425-1240 or Eileen Zander ’09; 1815 Hartman Drive, South Bend IN 46617; bus 574-631-7505; ezander@nd.edu

49 Another Spring

Are you enjoying Irish basketball this season? The women’s and men’s teams are a pleasure to watch. I’m so fortunate to root from my seat in the Purcell, wondering how Brennan, Gordon, O’Shea, Foley and Barnhorst would match up in a game with current young stars. That would be a game for all time. That was a nice vignette, “A Journey with the Sherpas,” in the winter issue of Notre Dame Magazine recounting Zeke O’Connor’s life-long association with the high hill people of Nepal. The harsh environment was tackled by one of Leahy’s Lads and now proudly boasts of a community high school, an expanded hospital and many more projects of the Sir Hillary Foundation. As executive director of the foundation, Zeke responds to the needs of the people through the remarkable achievements of his group and inspires another ’49er service and support success story. A recent obit appeared in the South Bend Tribune on our classmate, Brother Raymond DuFresne, CSC. Brother Ray earned his bachelor’s degree from ND and then followed it with graduate degrees from DePaul U and Rosary College. His career in education spanned over 50 years. He taught high school French and English for 14 years stateside and eight more in Rome. He served as a high school principal for another four years. He was appointed secretary to the superior general of his congregation in Rome for three years. He was a high school librarian for six years and spent 17 more as the librarian at Holy Cross College in South Bend. How’s that for keeping busy? Brother Ray was another 49er who left his mark in education with distinction. His calm, orderly, able and precise dedication to his calling has been exemplary. It’s great to see Coach Terry Brennan of Glenview IL up in the press box for most Irish home football games. While he keeps a low profile, you can see the Xs and Os are still whirling around as he watches intently the team’s progress. Kelly Smith ’85 emailed a note saying that her father, Maurice “Bud” Smith of Collegeville PA, passed away just before Christmas. Kelly got married two years ago; her dad came to Chicago for the events. They were joined by Matty Moroun of Grosse Pointe Shores MI. Matty was the first person Bud met on arriving at ND, and they became lifelong friends. The family takes comfort in that Bud’s final resting place is in Cedar Grove Cemetery and that he has “come home” to Our Lady. I got a memo from Peter Pullman of Kenmore NY. His note spoke to his remembrance of his great friend, roommate and professional colleague, Al “Iffy” Ifflander, who died over 30 years ago. Iffy too was a member of our class and hailed from North Tonawanda NY. It’s nice to be remembered. Of course all of our classmates will be remembered always by family, God, country, Notre Dame and all those whose lives they touched along the way. — Joe O’Brien; 18120 Cloverleaf, South Bend IN 46637; 574-271-8323; obie49nd@comcast.net