1940s

40 Worth Reading

I heard from Griff Hogan ’71 with some news on behalf of his father, Gerald G. Hogan. After Gerald graduated from Notre Dame, he enlisted in the Navy and became a highly decorated pilot, involved in anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic and the invasion of southern France. Shortly before his death in 1989, Gerald recorded memoirs of his time during the war. His son Griff has just published these memoirs in a book, A Call to Arms. It is available in hardback, paperback or electronic formats though Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. A Call to Arms offers a very personal and morally penetrating perspective on deadly combat. The first chapter explores Gerald and his classmates’ growing awareness of the coming war in Europe. The content would be of interest to those who were at Notre Dame with him at the time, as well as anyone who lived through World War II. I have already purchased a copy of A Call to Arms and look forward to reading it soon. It is a gift for Gerald’s family and for the entire Notre Dame family to have such memories captured from one of our fellow alumni. I send the class of 1940 and their families all my best. As always, please send updates, memories or stories my way. — Rebecca Antas ’08; 505 N. Lakeshore Drive, No. 3401, Chicago IL 60611; 630-254-4485; Rebecca.antas@gmail.com

41 Class Secretary — Meg Julian ’03, ’06JD;

11 E. 36th St., No. 603, New York NY 10016; megjulian@gmail.com

42 Class Secretary — John Kirby;

110 Upland Road, Kentfield CA 94904; res/fax 415-925-0544; cell 415-272-4016; drjd@sprintmail.com

43 Class Secretary — Bob Masters ’05;

202 Remington Court North Drive, Apt. C, Mishawaka IN 46545; res 574-904-8315; bus 574-234-0121; a.robert.masters@gmail.com

44 A Short Update

I received a note from Dan A’Hearn that his father, Richard A’Hearn, passed away in September. His obituary described that after obtaining his undergraduate degree, he went on to the U of Cincinnati Law School. He served as a lieutenant in the Army in WWII, worked for the FBI in New York City and had a distinguished career for more than 37 years as commercial contracts attorney with GE Aircraft Engines. Richard was an avid gardener, world traveler and swimmer. He enjoyed a long retirement and wintered in Naples FL. This class also lost Ben Mammina, a resident of Benton Harbor MI, who made it back to campus often and wrote to me over the years. On behalf of the class, I express sincere sympathy to their families. Andy Panelli ’77, ’83MBA shared with me some clips from a new documentary, The Greatest Team: Notre Dame’s Unrivaled 1946-47 Football Squad. If you are interested in seeing these highlights, please send me an email, and I would be happy to share them. Wishing you and yours many blessings, and may you have good health in the new year. — Laura (Julian) Fraser ’00; 989 Belaire Court, Naperville IL 60563; 773-255-9843; lejulian00@yahoo.com

45 Memories

I have little new to report and unfortunately it all concerns deaths in the class. Close readers of this magazine will be aware that I learn of some deaths only by reading the listings in the previous issue. That’s true of Philip Podruch MD of Wausau WI who died in June and* Frank Trunk*, a Chicagoan who also died in June. His death brought back memories of the dining hall in 1941 where we were assigned seats and a student waiter handled each table. Frank was our waiter. I remembered his name over the years and several years ago began a correspondence with him, mostly through Christmas cards. I was intrigued that he lived on Washtenaw Avenue in Chicago. I was born and raised on a Washtenaw Avenue several hundred miles to the east in Ypsilanti MI. The Alumni Office is trying to get obituaries to class secretaries so they can appear in the same issue as the individual is listed in the “Deaths” column but the problem has yet to be solved. The office has notified me of the death of Owen Doyle MD, who lived as did I in Breen-Phillips as a freshman. That year’s student directory shows Cheektowaga NY as Owen’s hometown. — Ted Weber Jr.; 1400 Geary Blvd., Apt. 1409, San Francisco CA 94109; 415-674-8771; theodoreweber@comcast.net

46 Class Secretary — Paul Taggett;

10 Grove Ave. West, Apt. 321, Lake Wales FL 33853; mtaggett@tampabay.rr.com

47 Checking In

Ed Sweeney writes that he has little to report. “I missed the reunion this past June due to a family wedding that weekend. Through 2015, I had attended 20. The last few had only one other classmate, as far as I could determine. I have been following Notre Dame football since 1933, and this season has to be one of the most disappointing. Jess Harper, Rockne and Leahy must be very upset. I plan to be at the 2017 reunion, God willing, as I turned 93 on July 1.” Bob Pavlin emailed to report that he passed his 92nd birthday. “I don’t have the energy to do much in the way of gardening or housework. I can’t get enthused about moving to a rest home yet.” John Molinarolo writes wondering about the present political climate. He asks “if the Notre Dame I remember, as a beacon, is holding strong to the course. On Nov. 1, 1943, a bus stopped at the Notre Dame circle station and a 17 year-old kid with papers to report for training at Notre Dame stepped out. That was me. What a shock. Out of Harrisburg High School and thought to be a fair student, I came in as Navy V12 program enrollee, found the Navy and ND to be a teacher in reality and maturity check. I feel the 12 months following had a very profound change in how things work. However, Notre Dame and Navy left me with me the confidence that I will do what life assigns. Our changing fall has been great and the rain was just as needed. I made the decision to close our four acres of Midwest grapes and stop the work and attention they required. My health gives me much reason to be thankful. I get lectured often by my three children as to my activity, but at 90, directives usually are not heard.” Classmates who will be missed include Richard E. Nickson on June 1 in Chesterfield MO. Beloved husband of Nancy J. Nickson, father of three, grandfather of seven, great-grandfather of 11, Richard was a WWII veteran, longtime member of Cherry Hills and St. Albans Golf Clubs and a 1947 graduate of Notre Dame. Classmate James D. Owen passed away on Jan. 3, 2016 in Peoria AZ. 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 Staying in Touch

We heard from Joe Kivlin, who turned 90 on Feb. 3, 2016. Joe graduated with a BS in chemistry after a couple of years in the Army, returning to his senior year with an easy class schedule and time enough to get a job at Saint Mary’s as a chemistry lab assistant. There he met Louise Nappi, his lovely wife of 65 years. Joe spent enough time in the Army to earn the GI Bill, which enabled him to attend law school at Georgetown where he graduated in 1951. Joe then joined the legal staff at S.C. Johnson Wax in Racine WI, ultimately becoming patent and trademarks counsel. Johnson Wax has a tremendous physical health and exercise facility that Joe has visited almost every day for 40 years or so. Joe swims or does weight training every other day, enabling him to stay physically fit as well as mentally alert into these “golden years.” Joe and Louise have four sons and their “favorite daughter,” 10 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. They live in the same house they built almost 58 years ago. Joe advocates for the addicted poor of Racine, having had a job as a public defender and a close family member suffering from this illness. The latter led to his ultimate avocation. Thank you for the updates, Joe, and for letting us know how another ’48er is doing. We are saddened to report the passing of several ’48 alumni over the summer: Marion J. Craney on June 26; John F. Tuite on July 16; William “Bill” J. Tully on July 21; and Robert W. Franz on Aug. 9. Please stay in touch with stories and updates. If you have anything you would like to share with the Class of ’48, please contact us. — Dan Gentile; PO Box 2671, Scottsdale AZ 85252, res 480-425-1240; or Eileen Surprenant ’09, ’15; eileen.surprenant@gmail.com

49 Class Secretary — Joe O’Brien;

18120 Cloverleaf Drive, South Bend IN 46637; 574-271 8323; obie49nd@comcast.net