1930s

36 Class Secretary — Maureen McGinn;

jwn176@aol.com

 

37 Missing Bernie

Bernie Hartz, 104, passed away on Nov. 26 on his 77th  wedding anniversary and the 177th anniversary of the founding of Notre Dame. While at ND in the 1930s, he waited tables in the dining hall to pay tuition and worked on the grounds crew of the stadium, digging dandelions out of the field. Bernie stayed alert and active until his final days and found joy and comfort in visits from his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Even at the end of his life, he could recite the Gettysburg Address, having learned it as a young boy. He used computers and networked two together in his home and would write me letters and emails to keep in touch. He also made an occasional watercolor painting. As he shared with me at his 104th birthday party, he always sought new knowledge. I feel so lucky to have gotten to know not just Bernie through my role as the Class of ’37’s secretary, but also to have met his extended family and see his legacy firsthand. He will be missed by many. — Kathleen Coverick ’08;

kathleen.coverick@gmail.com 

 

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

11 E. 36th St., No. 603, New York NY 10016;

646-246-5480; megjulian@gmail.com

 

39 Another Brother Passes On

William A. (Bill) Donnelly passed away peacefully on Jan. 5 in Boca Raton FL. Bill was your class secretary until 2015. Several family members wrote to share this news, stories from a life wonderfully lived, and to reinforce his love for Notre Dame. Bill was born in Paterson NJ, lettered in track and cross country at ND, earned his master’s degree in journalism, and a Doctor of Education in mass media from Columbia U. He served during WWII, fighting with the Army’s Liberty Brigade (the 77th Sustainment Brigade) in the Pacific Theater and working as a radio operator during the battle for Guam. Following the war, he worked for the Associated Press prior to teaching at St. Cloud State Teachers College in Minnesota and, later, SUNY Buffalo in New York where he served as a professor of English and journalism until his retirement in 1985. Upon retirement, he was named professor emeritus of journalism at SUNY Buffalo. Bill and his wife Marion, Life Master bridge players, then moved to Florida where they resided until passing. They had nine children, 13 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Bill happily cheered for the Irish during their December 2019 bowl game win over Iowa State. He remained a steadfast ND supporter until the end. His daughter, Elizabeth, sent two wonderful photos. One showed Bill with Coach Brian Kelly in 2015 during an ND celebration in Florida, and another of Bill in a ’39 sweater sitting on a ledge outside Walsh Hall, with the basilica and the dome in the background. For a Domer who realizes that only memory and friendships can take us back to those glory days, this photo captures so much emotion, spirit, and tradition. Bill was a loving, generous and faithful man. His dedication to this column for so many years is appreciated. He was the last class member to serve as secretary, joining Vincent DeCoursey, William O’Toole, Charles Reddy, James Motschall, Joseph Hannan, and David Meskill who together served their class and University for more than 75 years. — Seth O’Donnell ’04; 17 Marion St., East Greenwich RI, 02818, 603-828-7335; seth.odonnell@gmail.com