1940s

40 Class Secretary — Rebecca Smith;

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

 

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

804 Jersey Ave., Spring Lake NJ 07762; 646-246-5480; megjulian@gmail.com

 

42 Class Secretary — Ann Schanuel;

annjolene2@aol.com

 

43 Class Secretary — Robert Masters ’05;

1906 E. Madison St., South Bend IN 46617; res 574-904-8315; bus 574-234-0121; armasters@nfmlaw.com

 

44 Class Secretary — Laura (Julian) Fraser ’00;

1021 Royal Bombay Ct., Naperville IL 60563; 773-255-9843; lejfraser@outlook.com 

 

45 Paying Tribute  

True humor is a wonderful gift and Dr. Vincent (Vince) T. Murphy had that gift. Vince passed on Easter Sunday. He was three days short of celebrating his 99th birthday. A wonderful doctor, Vince delivered over 6,700 babies before retiring from his Los Altos practice and moving to the Carmel Valley. Vince was raised in Long Island, attended Brooklyn Prep, ND, and Georgetown Medical School. He enlisted in the Navy and served at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Vince and Dorthy, his wife of 64 years, had seven children, 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Besides enjoying a very full life of family and friends, Vince also golfed, sailed, and was an arm-chair quarterback for his favorite sport teams. Like most avid alumni, Vince would loudly complain to all in the room about the ND coaching – a true fan. His family and friends have lost an amazing Irishman, leaving behind wonderful memories of his storytelling and jokes. Coincidentally, while preparing these class notes I received an email from David Sim ’69 and John Hickey Jr. ’69. They are working on a book which will explore the ties between ND and the armed service during WWII. The goal is to memorialize the many who died while on active duty and also to interview and record recollections of campus life, service (if any), and the overall tenor of wartime. They reached out to me and now I reach out to you, our senior gentlemen and family members. Please contact me if you have stories to share or questions. I did contact William (Bill) Wrape who is still shuffling around and getting under the feet of his daughter and granddaughter who moved home to help Bill. By the way, he loves their company. Bill was part of the Fast Carrier Task Force, which was the main striking force in the Pacific from January ’45 through August ’45. Bill explained his fantastic view as his ship steamed into Tokyo Bay. Being a turret officer, he was able to man one of the periscopes. Sadly, as his ship did not have the highest of ranking officers, they turned around and headed back to sea. Thus, they missed the treaty signing. Next, my call went out to Robert Thomas. Bob is always happy to “talk Navy.” He is currently quarantined as once again there was a COVID outbreak in his residential home, but Bob assured me he’s hanging in there, just feeling a little isolated. They both are happy to talk about their experiences. Again, if you have stories of your fathers or grandfathers, brothers, uncles or friends please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. — Melissa Erkins Rackish ’77; 1224 Campbell St, Williamsport PA 17701; 570-971-2296; mrackish@comcast.net 

 

46 Time to Retire 

I’ve had 10 very interesting years as class secretary, but it’s time for me to retire. I wasn’t elected; I just volunteered. For the last six years, I’ve been living in a very nice assisted living facility: Water’s Edge, Lake Wales FL. My wife, Dottie, of 69 years died five years ago, but I’m fortunate to have met new friends at meals in the dining room. — Paul Taggett; mtaggett@tampabay.rr.com 

 

47 Sons of ND

I am saddened to report the deaths of Ernst O. “Ernie” Miller on May 1 and Edward J. “Ed” Sweeney on May 23, 2019. May they rest in God’s perfect peace. When you are reading this autumn issue, football season will be underway, so I would be remiss if I didn’t say: Go Irish! It’s always good to hear from the Class of 1947, so please keep in touch with your stories and updates. — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; emzander@gmail.com

 

48 Buongiorno, Amici

It’s always a good day when I open my inbox to an update from John Cahill of Salt Lake City. John shared that he celebrated his 98th birthday on April 11: Happy belated Birthday, John! John vacationed in “la bella Sicilia” in April, a tradition he continued for 20 years until a two and a half year pause due to COVID. I am especially impressed that John relates: “Physically, I’ve slowed down a good bit, but I still visit the gym three to five times per week and work out on the weight machines and the rowing machine and I walk around the two hockey rinks that are in the gym building. Then I go home and take a nap!” I appreciate your perseverance and sense of humor, John, both hallmarks of a full and healthy life. John appreciated the old photos of the dining halls from the Spring Issue of the Notre Dame Magazine. He said that the dining hall looked like the photo on pg. 80 when he arrived on campus in Sept. 1942, except there were more tables and chairs. John thinks this photo may have been from the 1930s or early 1940s, when there were fewer students on campus prior to the GI Bill. John also pointed out that, when he was there, the priests and brothers ate at tables placed inside the dark arches in the middle of the photo. When John returned to ND in July 1943 as a member of the Navy and the V12 program, the dining hall service was changed into a cafeteria, but the young men were still seated at the tables shown – and more of them, due to the influx of service members. John said he and his friends even learned a few Polish words in the cafeteria because the dining hall was staffed by the daughters of local Polish workers from the Studebaker plant in South Bend. I am saddened to report the recent passing of William T. “Bill” Summerlin on April 4. May Bill rest in God’s perfect peace. John Wolfram ’90 wrote a touching tribute to Francis L. “Larry” Ryan. Molly (Hyland) ’90 and John live in Louisville KY and got to know Larry from their activity in the local ND club. John writes, “Larry was a true Notre Dame person, with a strong faith, true character, and a big smile. He was a student manager for the 1948 national championship football team, and he wore his national championship ring proudly and regularly.  We never saw him on Sunday at Mass without it on his finger! Larry was one of those guys who seemed 10 years younger than he really was.” Larry passed away in May 2020 and is cheering for the Irish with the angels. — Eileen Z. Surprenant ‘09, ‘15; emzander@gmail.com

 

49 Passing Members 

Two ’49ers passed in recent months. Robert E. Keiser, from Niles MI and a lover of his Dowagiac Indian Lake cottage, died Jan. 24. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and is survived by daughters Dede Van Hulle and Deanna Young, son Curt, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Robert served in the Navy and Army Corps of Engineers for 38 years as a Bendix accountant. Raymond “Ray” Rusek of Cheektowaga NY, Bradenton FL, and Dayton OH died in April. He was predeceased by sisters Doris Whitehead and Elaine Trybuskiewicz and is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Serwacki, daughters Marilyn Proude and Jacqueline Zofkie, son Philip, seven grandchildren and six bonus grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A World War II veteran, Ray was a home referral agent for Hunt Realty and Buffalo ND Alumni Club past-president. Classmates: Is there other news? —Bill Slavick; whslavick@gmail.com