1940s

40 Class Secretary — Rebecca Smith;

542 Fairview Ave., Glen Ellyn IL 60137; 630-254-4485; rebecca.antas@gmail.com

 

41 Update

I hope the magazine arrives in your mailbox to find you in good health, vaccinated if possible, and spending time with family after a difficult year. I look forward to getting back to campus for a visit and hope COVID is behind us soon. I am sorry to report the passing of John Tormey. John is survived by four children: Daniel, John Tormey Jr. ’69, Mary and Michael. Please keep the Tormey family in your prayers. It has been a long time since I heard from class members or their families. Please reach out to say hello if you are reading. — Meg Julian ’03, ’06JD; 804 Jersey Ave., Spring Lake NJ 07762; 646-246-5480; megjulian@gmail.com

 

42 An Irishman’s Dream

We report the death of Neil Joseph McCarty on Nov. 12. Neil was a man who embodied God, Country and Notre Dame. His dreams came true through his wife of 72 years, Pat, their dozen children and his successful law practice. After graduation from Notre Dame, he served as a communications officer in the Army Air Corps during WWII. In 1946, he returned to civilian life and was accepted into Harvard Law School. With a law degree in hand, Neil established his own law practice in his hometown of Kaukauna WI, and over the next 38 years the firm grew to 12 attorneys. All the while, he and his wife were growing their family of 12 children. Years later, the firm relocated to Appleton WI and asked Neil to use his last name because of his reputation for integrity and honesty. Neil was a devout Catholic. He pursued an interest in writing poetry for at least a decade. Passionate about preserving natural beauty, he was an active supporter of the Door County Land Trust. Neil and Pat enjoyed traveling. They were particularly fond of Ireland, an ancestral home for both, and made seven visits to the Emerald Isle. Congratulations to the Class of 1942 on their 79th anniversary. Here is an item from the Notre Dame Scholastic, Feb. 14, 1941, Volume 74, Issue 15 :“1942 License Plates to Honor Notre Dame. Edward H. Stein, Indiana state commissioner, has announced that old gold and blue, the colors of the University of Notre Dame, will be used for 1942 Indiana automobile license plates. The figures for the plates will be blue on a gold background. The plates will be manufactured at the Indiana state prison and work will begin as soon as materials arrive. In 1939, the University of Notre Dame colors were used. That year Coach Elmer F. Layden ’24 was issued the first plate from the South Bend license bureau.” I hope you enjoyed the history trivia, and like Neil McCarty, follow your dreams that God has for you. — Ann Schanuel; annjolene2@aol.com

 

43 Summer Update 

Greetings, Class of ’43. I heard from Pat O’Reilly ’66, who passed along word of his father’s passing at age 99. Robert E. “Bob” O’Reilly left us on Oct. 5. Bob was born in Fort Wayne IN on Aug. 19, 1921. Like many of his ’43 classmates, Bob left Notre Dame to join the military. He proudly served in the Army Air Force during World War II as an armament officer. Bob married Rosemary Lill O’Reilly in 1942 and enjoyed a marriage of 71 years before her passing in 2013. Bob is survived by their six children. Including Pat, Bob ’65, Jayne ’77, and a grandson, Scott ’98. His brother, J. Thomas O’Reilly ’44, is also a Domer. Bob’s careers included involvement in a family office supply business, aerial and commercial photography, cinematography and law enforcement. Bob was active with the Catholic Church, Red Cross and Civil Defense. He served as chairman of the Fort Wayne Board of Safety. Bob loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s academic and sports events, and his favorite hobbies were fishing, hunting, gun collecting and reading. Bob lived a full and blessed life. He will be missed. — A. Robert Masters ’05; 1906 E. Madison St., South Bend IN 46617; res 574-904-8315; bus 574-234-0121; armasters@nfmlaw.com

 

44 A Place of Hope

It has been a quiet winter on the correspondence front, and I am happy that spring has finally arrived. It snowed here in suburban Chicago today, but I expect nothing less from the Midwest. I received a note from Mary McMahon who wrote to inform me of the death of her father, Frank Waldeck, in February. I heard from Frank when I first became the author of this column in 2009. He, like many others, reached out to welcome me to the class of ’44 and “Notre Dame’s Finest.” We connected again in 2014 by phone, having just missed the opportunity to visit at Reunion. Frank loved Notre Dame, especially the Grotto. Spring on campus typically results in many trips to the Grotto with final exams approaching. Though I can’t be there in person to light a candle, I’ll be thinking of this class, as well as those on campus closing out what has been a year like no other. Be well. — Laura (Julian) Fraser ’00; 1021 Royal Bombay Court, Naperville IL 60563; 773-255-9843; lejfraser@outlook.com 

 

45 Strangers Jumpstarting Memories

Though I don’t personally know any of my gentlemen, except as voices over the phone or senders of an occasional short note, I hold them in the highest regard as they have contributed so much during their long and eventful lives. Frank Hampton McFadden was a prominent judge. As a youth growing up on the family farm with six siblings, he possibly honed many of his skills in negotiation and arbitration that carried him throughout life. He acknowledged that joining the Navy in 1944 proved to be a defining experience. As a commissioned officer, he excelled as a gunnery officer on battleships and heavy cruisers. After the war, he returned to Mississippi for his BA and then his LLB from Yale. Frank practiced law in NYC and Birmingham before being appointed US District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama by Richard Nixon. Later, he was named chief judge. After resigning from the bench, Frank returned to private practice with Blount Inc. The judge was known for his practice in the field of alternative dispute resolution. Frank held a strong belief in service to one’s community and the importance of education. He chaired the Alabama Education Study Commission and served on the board of Holy Cross School and the vestry for Grace Episcopal Church. He loved horses, dogs and his southern land. He spent most weekends fox hunting, enjoyed duck hunting on four continents and sought out nature whenever possible. He avidly studied history and always had a story to tell. He often quoted Winston Churchill, and all would agree that Frank was “happy in his habitation” sitting by a warm fire, surrounded by friends and family. He is in their memories always. Arthur Charles (Chuck) Sartore passed Nov. 15. Chuck (known as Art during his ND years) was a mechanical engineer. His degree took him to Huntsville where he worked on the Saturn rocket program for NASA. Moving to Greensboro, Chuck and his wife, Jane, raised their family while he worked as an industrial engineer for the Forsyth Hospital. Engineers are not necessarily boring. After retirement Chuck travelled the world with family and friends. He volunteered at Wesley Long Hospital, Senior Wheels and other activities at St. Paul The Apostle Church. He also loved playing bridge. It was a passion that he enjoyed into his 90s. In going through the ND archives, May-June 1954, I discovered a note written by Chuck. “My first Saturday off in three weeks so I came over to see the races at Hot Springs AR. Received your letter last week and will be glad to serve on the committee. Will see you at the reunion and will write you soon. Regards to the class.” I am sure these sentiments still apply to Chuck’s remaining classmates. Chuck’s work with the Saturn rocket brought back wonderful memories of the Crazy Daze Labor Day Parade in my small hometown. My father, Robert A. Erkins, created rocket ship costumes from flour barrels for my seven siblings. They featured beautifully painted replicas that slipped over the skinny bodies, custom fitted straps for our shoulders and cone shaped hats. They were hot and uncomfortable, but we were cute. We went as the Sputnik 7. Thank you, Mr. Sartore, for a wonderful memory. In that same archived issue, I discovered a photo and article on my dad. Coincidence? — Melissa Erkins Rackish ’77; 1224 Campbell St., Williamsport PA 17701; 570-971-2296; mrackish@comcast.net 

 

46 Class Secretary — Paul Taggett;

10 W. Grove Ave., D15, Lake Wales FL 33853; paultaggett@gmail.com

 

47 Rally Sons of Notre Dame

We have nothing of note to report this issue, either of glad tidings or sad ones. I hope that this message finds you well and enjoying the summer sunshine. Please keep in touch with news or a quick hello, as your classmates and I love to hear from you. Go Irish. — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; eileen.surprenant@gmail.com

 

48 Curfew Correction

I heard from my good friend in Utah, John Cahill, with a correction to his previous correspondence. John writes that if all a student’s Mass checks were made, and there were no conduct infractions, he could stay out until midnight one time per month, rather than 10 p.m., as earlier reported. No one caught the error, and I’m wondering how many readers stayed out past curfew and also evaded detection. Reader, should you choose to share the details of your escapades, I’ll gladly conceal your name to protect the “innocent.” I also appreciated John’s story about his time at ND that reflected the experience of many of the young men at ND at the time. As John says, in those days there was a Navy Reserve program and many of his freshman associates belonged. As for John, he enlisted in the Navy on Sept. 4, 1942, and began active service in a V-12 program at ND. After one year in the V-12 program, John attended midshipmen’s school, also at ND. John graduated from midshipmen’s school on Oct. 26, 1944, and “became an officer and a gentleman.” John was discharged on July 15, 1946, returned to ND in September 1946 and finished his undergraduate work in late January 1948. The splendid graduation event in June 1948 featured Archbishop (now Venerable) Fulton Sheen as the keynote speaker. Finally, on the topic of COVID shots, John relates, “I received my first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Apparently, from time to time, it is advantageous to be an old ‘phart.’” Thank you for the history lesson and levity, John. On a somber note, I am sad to report the passing of Dr. Bernard F. “Bernie” O’Hara on Feb. 12; Harry C. Reich on Feb. 3; Dr. Thomas F. Cleary on Jan. 14, and Lawrence P. “Larry” Ricci on Dec. 6. Keep in touch, take good care. Go Irish. — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; eileen.surprenant@gmail.com

 

49 Rest in Peace, Tom

Kevin O’Brien ’75 wrote to notify his father, Thomas S. O’Brien, passed away on Jan. 13. Tom graduated with an undergrad and law degree and lived in Badin Hall when Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, ’39 was the rector. He fought in WWII in the Army Air Force on bombing missions in Europe and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a prosecutor and served honorably for nearly 40 years as a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey. He was married to Lillian O’Brien for 69 years. Like all of us, he was a lifetime fan of the Fighting Irish. He is survived by his son and three granddaughters: Dr. Caitlin O’Brien ’15; Mrs. Anne Cervenka ’22MBA; Mrs. Melissa Beilby; and three great grandchildren. On his gravestone is inscribed “God Country and Notre Dame.” — Bill Slavick; billslavick@myfairpoint.net