1960s
1960s
60 Class Secretary — Joseph F. Jansen;
9190 Southmont Cove #103, Fort Myers FL 33908; 317-514-4478; jfjansen@aol.com
61 Marines and a Memoir
Received word from Frank Hamilton (excuse me, that’s Maj. Gen. Frank Hamilton, USMC Ret.). I believe he is the highest-ranking military officer in our class (if not, I’m sure you’ll let me know). He was the first to write after receiving my request to tell me what he was doing for someone else. He and his wife, Sandy, have accumulated more than 1,500 hours as hospice volunteers in Melbourne FL, where he retired in 1997. What a wonderful way to spend your extra time. They also have a regular dinner date with Pat and Dick Flava. They are retired and living in Vero Beach FL. After retirement, Frank spent time with KeyCorp in Cleveland until retirement in 1997 to live in Melbourne. While I’m on the subject of the US Marines, I received a note from Mike Esposito Jr. He was correcting the number of US Marine Corps who entered OCS in 1961. He wanted to be included with the exception that he was delayed because of some required surgery, which he had and recovered from, causing him to have to wait for the fall class for OCS. Myself, I went to law school after graduation and was in OCS Class 1-64. All my mates in 2nd Platoon of “B” Co. thought I was crazy to join the Marines after graduating from TX Law and being licensed to practice law. My father would agree with them (oh well…). Dick Lochner (that is, Col. Lochner) told me there were 86 Marine Corps officers in our class. Mike Summon weighed in responding to my plea asking all to tell us what we are doing and what we have done. He says it’s only 200 pages, so I have archived it and I will print parts of it in issues to come. He says it’s about his favorite football games, Vietnam and personal things in his life. He calls it his memoir. I hope we will all get some enjoyment out of it. Ted Dawson wrote to give me some info on the St. Patrick’s Day bash in Naples FL. A photo he provided showed the attendees: Frank Annese, Father Gerry Olinger, CSC (guest speaker), Joan Lennon (prince Chuck’s widow), Dave Balane, Spike Werner, George Bott Jr., Tim Monahan Jr., Ted himself, George Niemeyer and Pat McKeever. Elinor Ponsetto wrote me to advise of the death of her husband, John Ponsetto, her spouse for 61 years. They had three children and four grandchildren. He was a retired partner in Gravel and Shea in Burlington VT (and yes, he was one of our lawyers). Jay Kilroy called to say his roommate Joe Blake had died. They lost touch with each other after graduation but reunited recently at the funeral of a mutual friend. They and their wives had lunch and caught up after the funeral. Jeanne McAnaney wrote me of the death of her husband, Edward McAnaney, in December. He suffered a seizure while watching TV Mass from ND. They were married 58 years (bless them). At his funeral Mass, they sang the alma mater at the Communion. In May, they were at ND for their granddaughter who graduated magna cum laude and was in Phi Beta Kappa. Their grandson is at ND now. I had a chat with the son of Werner H. Graf II ’86. Werner’s father, Werner I, died in January. He sent me Werner I’s obit. He was an architect (so he stayed another year after we graduated). He served his country as a naval aviator. He and wife Jeanne were married for 65 years. They had three children and five grandchildren. They were the loves of his life. Jack Engler was the valedictorian of our class. He died at age 83. He was a psychiatrist at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge MA. He is survived by his wife, Renee, and three children. He was highly thought of by his peers in the psychiatric field. As always, please pray for these souls and their families. Bill Neal sent me a copy of his book, Vanishing Sands, about losing beaches to the mining industry. After ND, he got his MA and PhD from Missouri U and is now a member of the faculty at Grand Valley State U in Allendale MI. That’s about it for now. I note that Abbie is ready at the front door, with the latch string out, for you to drop by on your way through South TX. We would love to see you. — Joseph P. (“Pat”) Kelly; 2103 N. Wheeler St., Victoria TX 77901; 361-573-9982; jpkellytx@gmail.com
61JD Class Secretary — John N. Moreland;
jnmnd1958@aol.com
62 Milestones and Visits
John McNamara retired in December after 50 years as the elected St. Joseph County Surveyor. John said, “…(T)he County Commissioners gave me the key to the County and then changed all the locks! They also gave me the Council Oak Award to go along with the Sagamore of the Wabash award from the Governor.” John remarried last year and now has, between him and his wife, 10 children, 35 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. John Govreau and Jim Higgins sent notes that they have downsized. John and his wife sold their house in Evanston and now split time between their farm in Wisconsin and condo in Ft. Lauderdale, where they play tennis nearly every day. Recently I profiled some classmates who went to work in long established family businesses that have been operating from 90 to 153 years. Dick Cramer’s father started Dee Cramer, Inc. in 1937 as a two-man operation doing residential furnaces. It is now one of the largest HVAC companies in the country with the third and fourth generations of his family now in charge. Dick began working there during summers in high school and continued while at ND. After a year and a half in graduate school, he returned full time as a project manager/estimator. Dick said, “When I joined, ...we were just a small entrepreneurial company doing less than one million.” Dick then realized he had to convert the company from an entrepreneurial one to a professionally managed one and started a peer group of contractors, “who were in the same business as us. We shared all information and did critiques of our operations.” Dick sold out to his two sons in 2005, both ND grads, and stayed on to mentor and support them. By 2021 the company had sales of $64.5 million. Dick feels that a good part of their growth was adherence to core values including, among others, that every employee be treated like family, treating each customer like it is the only one they have, and being innovative and forward-thinking. Dick’s company is deeply involved in their community and gives a scholarship annually to a local university that is the source of their talent. Looking back, Dick said “there were many things that, at the time, I thought were the right things to do. Sometimes they worked out and sometimes they did not. You can always learn something from a bad decision.” George Lensing lives close by and we have had lunch a couple of times during the past year. He retired from the English department at UNC where he taught for 47 years and served stints as the department chairman. He tells this story: “In the early 1980s I was invited by the UNC Committee on Student Conduct to address the men’s basketball team, coached by Dean Smith, on the topic of the campus honor system. A year later Coach Smith asked me to repeat those same remarks to the team. That invitation was repeated every November—until Smith retired in 1997. He always introduced me with these words, ‘Now George is a graduate of Notre Dame, but you don’t need to worry about his loyalties. . .’ I always stood there, feeling a little stupid, and merely smiled! Several times he invited me to travel with the team, once to South Bend. During these years, I occasionally assisted him in recruiting players, especially Catholic players, whom Smith, a staunch Baptist, wanted to enroll at UNC.” Since my last column, Jack Regan passed away in South Bend on Feb. 13 and Joe Novello in DC on March 16th. — Raymond Raedy; 5310 Rileys Ridge Road, Hillsborough NC 27278; 919-967-8816; nd62secy@medicinemanremedies.com
62JD Remembering George
Sad news to report—George McAndrews passed away on April 7 after a battle with Alzheimer’s and cancer. He was 87. George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Katharine (Cookie), his five children, 21 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was beloved by many and certainly devoted to our beloved Notre Dame. Praying you will keep in touch with your stories and memories. — Tom Kelly; marianne1956@sbcglobal.net
63 Sons of Kucharich
Judy and Ed Hoerster celebrated 60 years of marriage this past December. They have four children and eight grandchildren; two sons, one daughter and a granddaughter graduated from ND. After graduation, Ed played professionally in Canada with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (where he won the Grey Cup in 1965), Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders. After football, the Hoersters settled in the Chicago area. Ed received an MBA from Northwestern U and spent his business career in marketing. Ed is a member of “Sons of Kucharich” along with Ed Rutkowski, Ed Burke, Steve Kolski, Denny Murphy, Scott Maxwell and Charlie O’Hara. This group and spouses have visited with each other every year since 1963. Arnie Testa retired as Chief Information Officer for the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, after working for Siemens and Intel. He received an MBA from UC Berkeley. His wife of 55 years, Ann, and he have four children, two of whom are ND grads. Arnie served on the NDAA board as VP for Region 1 which includes Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska. The Testas have lived in Los Altos CA for over 50 years. Arnie advised that Raymond Blockinger passed away in July 2021, the victim of several continuing illnesses and COVID. Ray lived in Naperville Il and has four children surviving him. He spent the majority of his career in the steel industry, including US Steel. Ed Hackett earned an MA from ND, an MS from Arizona State, and an EdD from Ball State. He worked for 35 years in public education as a psychologist in Northern Indiana, the last nine of which as the head of the Elementary Education Department at Purdue. Ed retired in 2004 and moved to North Carolina. His wife died of breast cancer within a year, his son died of colon cancer, his youngest son has just been diagnosed with cancer and his daughter is a breast cancer survivor. He now lives in Bentonville AR in an assisted living facility. Dick Fellrath obtained an JD from the U of Detroit and then spent four years in the Army (JAGC) at Ft. Holabird MD. He married his wife, Barbara, 57 years ago and they have two adopted children and one granddaughter. After the military, Dick returned to Detroit and practiced law in the Bankruptcy field with various firms, ending as a sole practitioner. Charles “Rich” Ginder died on March 20, 2022, in Leesburg FL, survived by two sons and four grandchildren. After graduation, Rich earned a commission in the US Army and completed Ranger School. From September 1966 to August 1967, he served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, where he was known as the “Living Legend,” earning two Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts. When he returned home, he married Bonnie Thompson (who predeceased him), and entered the heavy equipment industry. In 1976, he formed Ginco, Inc., which sold mining equipment across the country. In 1980, he was named “Who’s Who” in business. Later he moved to Savannah, where he continued in the heavy equipment business. He was a known visionary in business and entrepreneurship, founding four other companies. Rich retired in 2010 and moved to Leesburg. An “Ever Loyal Son of Notre Dame,” Rich helped recruiting during the Faust and Holtz eras, was President of the ND Club of Savannah, and annually marched proudly in the St Patrick’s Day parade. It’s been said that Rich “had bulldog tenacity to refuse defeat”—truer words were never spoken! Myron J. Busby Jr. died on February 7, 2023 in South Bend. He is survived by his wife, Pauline, three children and three grandchildren. He was a longtime assistant director of admissions at Notre Dame and worked in similar positions at Indiana State and St Mary’s of the Woods. He was generous with his time for charitable organizations serving with many. Myron “never met a stray dog he didn’t want to take home.” John D. Dow died on October 16, 2022 following a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Carole, two daughters and a stepdaughter. Jack held a PhD in Physics from ND and was a world-recognized researcher in the field, teaching at a number of universities, including his beloved ND. Jack and Ed Hackett were roommates for all four years at ND. The Alumni Office has advised of the following members of our class: Francis X Colligan, MD, died Jan. 17, 2023 in Ann Arbor, survived by his wife, Judy, and two children; Robert W.Wilkinson, MD, died Dec. 24, 2022, in Honolulu, survived by his wife, Molly; and Donald W. Doyle Jr. died Jan. 17, 2023 in New rleans, survived by his wife Melissa. — John F. Dougherty Jr.; 915 Exeter Crest, Villanova PA 19085; 215-510-0844; johndoc969@gmail.com
63JD Class Secretary — Bob Saxe;
15725 Ranchero Drive, Morgan Hill CA 95037; bsaxe5@aol.com
64 ND in Albuquerque . . .
. . . is alive and thriving according to Tony Strati. He reports he is part of a trio of classmates living there who have remained close for over 50 years. Gerry Kardas, Mike Keller and Tony all spent a few years in the military upon graduation, before successful careers in either banking or public accounting. Tony’s four kids, Mike’s three and Gerry’s two are all doing well (with Mike’s youngest, Tim, the current mayor of Albuquerque). They remain well married (to patient wives, per Tony), collectively totaling almost 175 years of wedded bliss. As important, these Three Amigos meet most every Wednesday over coffee to address the world’s major problems, occasionally expanding their group to include Domers from other classes. I was pleased that last issue’s update on David Nardone prompted a note from his third-floor BP roommate, the noted philosopher and theologian, our own Ralph Martin. Ralph is still teaching at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Detroit Archdiocese, and continues as director of its Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization. He writes a bit (including A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, which continues to place in the Top 100 audio Catholic books since it was published two years back). In his spare time, Ralph is president of Renewal Ministries, a Catholic mission organization devoted to renewal and evangelization that has a wide-ranging media ministry and works in more than 40 different countries. Oh, Ralph and Anne have six children and 19 grandchildren. Whew! Mike Holt brings the sad news from Naples FL that his wife passed away last fall, around the same time that Nick Thies, his roommate after freshman year, passed away in Buda TX. Nick was a Wharton MBA who enjoyed a successful career in the finance/accounting world. He and Sharon spent 53 special years together. They had two sons and six grandchildren. Nick was recently able to welcome his first great-grandchild. Ed Vytlacil died in Endicott NY last October. His wife Juanita, two children and one granddaughter survive. A chemical engineering grad, Ed spent 38 years as an IBM engineer and then became a patent agent. Morris Nicholson, a “double Domer” with both BA and JD degrees, passed away in November in Sun City AZ. He was a retired attorney who loved the outdoors. He is survived by his wife Karen, four children and three grandchildren. Jim Murray was a Vietnam veteran with a Wharton MBA and a law degree from BC. He died in November in Fort Lauderdale where he had lived and practiced law for 50 years. Jim and his wife had two children and seven grandkids. Walt Gajda left ND with an electrical engineering degree, subsequently earning an MS and a PhD at MIT. He was an EE professor at ND and held leadership positions in the U of Missouri system. He passed away in January, survived by wife Laura and three children. Marty Sullivan died in February in Naples FL, leaving behind Loretta, his wife of 57 years, seven children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. — Paul R. Charron; 44 Contentment Island Road, Darien CT 06820; 917-860-5385; paul.richard.charron@gmail.com
64JD Class Secretary — Richard Balfe Wagner;
1204 Erskine Manor Hill, South Bend IN 46614; 574-299-9888; 760-567-1270
65 Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Scientist
Jim Muller was designated Distinguished Scientist of the Year by the American College of Cardiology in March for his work on mechanisms of heart attacks and as an entrepreneur in founding three successful medical device companies. He observed that myocardial infarction was more likely in the morning and documented morning increases in stroke and sudden cardiac death. Jim co-founded International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War, which won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, and ND awarded him an honorary degree for his role in creating that organization. In June, Jim and his wife, Kathleen, were guests at the Kroc Institute to discuss his group’s continuing work against nuclear weapons. Additionally, Jim continues to serve as a senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School. John Antoun has reminded many of us that this is the 115th birthday of the ND Fight Song. He noted that despite inaccuracies in some publications the song made its debut on the ND campus Dec. 1, 1908, in Washington Hall at an event honoring the University president. The tune was sung by the Glee Club, accompanied by the University orchestra. Dick Murry wrote that after celebrating his 80th birthday he feels as if he was there when the “Victory March” was first played. Eileen and John Huarte continue to enjoy retirement in southern CA. After winning the Heisman and playing 10 years of professional football, John founded Arizona Tile and Marble Co., which has grown to more than 1,000 employees with 30 locations in the USA, including the opening of three new sites last year. John has relinquished his presidency and CEO role to his two sons, Mark and Matt, and his son-in-law. They are blessed to have their entire large family living in the LA area. Jack Moran of the Moran Law Group in Lake Barrington IL won a case along with his colleague earlier this year in the 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals explaining the waiver doctrine and how the defendant’s position would permit people to change post hoc the entire theory of the case without at least suggesting that they were making “concessions” for purposes of appeal only. Jack often attends the Lake County IL ND Club breakfasts hosted by Ted Valenti, retired VP of sales for ADP. Earlier in his career Jack worked on Capitol Hill and in the Cook County Public Defender Office. He has been in private practice since 1985 and is working full-time. William J. “Joe” Palmer continues to be a prolific author and has just published two more novels in his contemporary detective series: Stars. Cars. Murder. and Slots. Plots. Murder. The setting for both books is in the Hollywood movie industry and in Las Vegas. Joe and his wife, Maryann, spend winters in the LA area. Phip Haight has turned his chemical engineering degree into success as a real estate investor in Santa Barbara CA. He is founder and president of Haight Properties. In April a memorial Mass was celebrated by Father Paul Doyle, CSC, for John Roos, ND professor emeritus of political science. The eulogy was delivered by John Gearen, who was John’s roommate for three years in Lyons Hall. Bill Krier, retired ND English professor, returned from a trip to New Zealand in time to attend. Ed Burke missed the event when his plane was grounded at Logan Airport with a malfunctioning cargo door. Roos donated his body to medical science after a long battle with ocular melanoma. In February Jim Morley died in Oak Lawn IL. After serving in the Army Special Forces “Green Berets,” Jim had a career as an insurance broker specializing in health insurance for over 50 years. He is survived by two sons and a treasured friend, Anne Marie Ellis. In January Joe Nemac CPA died in Austin TX. He was president of Joe R. Nemac & Co., an accounting firm. — James P. Harnisch MD; 6759 West Mercer Way; Mercer Island WA 98040; jphnd65@hotmail.com
65JD Class Secretary — Henry Boitel;
324 Brower Ave., Rockville Centre NY 11570; boitel@mindspring.com
66 Join the Club
Jack Gerken has labored mightily and well to establish and maintain what has to be the top ND class website. Through Jack’s efforts news is shared in timely fashion, versus this missive, which reaches you four times a year. Most of you haven’t joined. Membership has risen to 372—about one-third of our remaining still-breathing mates. Latest joiners include Neal Anderson, Gene Beeler, Art Dudek, Dan Gulling, Jim Heaney, Mike Krach, Jim Merrion, Shane O’Neill and Saxton Palmer. Easy to join and stay connected—1966.undclass.org. I received word from Mike Slattery, residing in Port St. Lucie FL following a career in public accounting in the US and Spain and a stint with Harris Corp in the UK. Two of his sons and one granddaughter are Domers and two grandkids are at ND now. He and Sharon are planning to be in Dublin for ND-Navy. Jim “Starman” Starshak reported his visit with his ND roomie John “Kahuna” Ganahl in Fresno. Still lawyering, John shows no signs of retiring soon. Jim hit Cleveland Clinic in March to resolve a carotid blockage, and the doc caring for him was ND and sang the “Victory March” as the anesthesia set in. Star expects to be at the Central Michigan, OSU and USC games. Brian Graham inquired of astute sports oracle and our prez Cap Gagnon as to Irish grid prospects. Cap reported that Hartman, the touted QB transfer from Wake Forest, looked like a Heisman candidate in the spring game. Cap says the offense will be strong and the defense more than capable and predicts 11–1. I did have that Naples lunch with John Flatley and Jack Pavlic. Flats hosted us at the Naples Yacht Club and is still active in business up Chicago way, while Jack is retired and playing golf in FL following a career in medical devices. A new feature: Lost Sheep—guys I haven’t heard from or about. My senior year roomie, John Musto, Ed Badaracco, Paul Vidmar, Ted Stanko, Joe Fobes, Dave Fletcher, John Wallerius, Ron Rhodes, Mike Reisert, Ray Oakley, Bob Haines, Mike Annis, John Bols, Mike Doll, Bernie Fenoglio, Bill Foerg, Bill Giesecke. If you folks are out there or anyone has info, I’m shamelessly scrounging for news. Word of more ’66 brothers who have made their final passage: Dr. Bill Lasher (Oct. 5), Fred Nelson (Jan. 12), Joe Dold (April 8). Tom Talga in Chicago related that Dick “Mo” Garrett, who was mentioned in our last issue, passed away in January 2022. Mo really enjoyed his last ND game, Cal. I’m aiming to be in Eire with son Chris for golf and the ND-Navy clash, as well as solo in SB for Pitt with Mike Rush, Bob Lombardo, Tony Andrea and Bill Loftus. Greg Rust and Pat Madden are among those planning to hit the June 50 Year Club Reunion on campus. I previously mentioned the Independent ND Footballers Study conducted through Boston U’s preeminent Department of Neurology, which I helped organize. Designed to assess the long-term health impact of playing major college football, it’s the first effort to focus on a defined college cohort—500 former ND players from Ara’s and Devine’s teams. Our aim was/is to produce useful info and data that will benefit current and future ND athletes, and others beyond the Dome. Peer reviewed and published in JAMA, it has yielded significant results, which stimulated new federal research funding. A summary of the results is available at NDstudy@bu.edu. Be well and aim high! — Tom Sullivan; 1090 Shore Road, Unit 14, Pocasset MA 02559; cell 773-454-4343; t66sullynd@gmail.com
66JD Where’s Waldo . . . At a Reunion?
Just when it appeared that no column would be written, Walt Terry came through with an email. He was looking for sympathy because he had to stay in Oneonta NY this winter. I was starting to feel sorry for him until I came upon “except for three weeks in Aruba and on a two-week cruise from Fort Lauderdale.” Walt went on to again suggest that we should start planning for a reunion (official or unofficial) in the fall of 2024. He correctly pointed out that none of us are getting any younger. So, how about it? Please let me know if you are interested in getting together next year, and any suggestions you have as to venue, format, etc. I’m up for it; how about you? I spoke with Bob Murphy a couple of times. He could use your prayers to help with some family medical problems. Etta and I got together recently with Windy and Al McKenna. They are both doing well and were in the process of packing for their annual trip back to OH. As I was preparing to send in this column, I received an email from Fred Morelli’s daughter, Leslie ’96, advising that her father, Fred Morelli, passed away on Jan. 20. Parts of his obituary were included, which provided many details about Fred’s life. Fred was a Double Domer who lived in St. Edward’s Hall during his seven years at Notre Dame. He was a rector for many of those years. As an undergraduate, Fred captained the ND wrestling team. He practiced law for 56 years, served in the Army National Guard and served as a judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit. Fred was a skydiving fanatic who made more than 1,000 jumps, and an avid outdoorsman who biked across AK to raise money for charity and hiked up to Machu Picchu. Fred was very devoted to his family and believed strongly in taking care of others. He will be greatly missed. Remember, no news, no column. — Scott Maxwell; 2781 Siena Lakes Circle, Unit 2444, Naples FL 34109; cell 215-920-0616; ndscotty@gmail.com
67 Class Secretary — Bert R. Bondi;
1891 Curtis St., Unit 1501, Denver CO 80202; bertrbondi@gmail.com
67JD Budding Movie Star
Marylyn and Ken Lazarus boast that their 5-year-old granddaughter, Louise, has a small part in the upcoming Joe Pesci movie, Bupkis, which will debut this spring or summer. The little star also had a part in a recent FBI: Most Wanted TV show last January. Jack Couch and wife have booked the Grand European Tour through the rivers of the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany and Hungary to celebrate Jack’s 80th birthday. Of special interest to this horse-loving couple is a stop at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and the famed Lipizzan stallions. On the family side, their daughter is retired(!) and living in Maine as are their grandchildren. Their son and family live in Charleston SC. While some of us mark the passage of time by popping pills, our marine biologist, author (more than two dozen titles), and probably web-footed classmate, John Christopher Fine, continues to scuba dive, photograph, write and lecture. His most recent literary effort is an article on sea turtles in peril. Jerry Berthold has returned to golf following successful surgery on his thumb and is “looking forward” to a lumbar nerve ablation soon, which he hopes turns back the clock on his terrific golf skills. An annual event for the Bertholds is grandparents “camp” for their three grands, which lasts 10 days. It’s always exhausting and always rewarding. Another annual event is their month-long trek to OR and WA for a family reunion. I follow on Facebook Hal Bliss’s very active second career in his local community theater. Dick Muench is looking forward to his granddaughter Carly’s marriage later in the year. Carly is a wildlife scientist in MT. I finally heard, after a long hiatus, from our favorite barber back in our Law School days, “Jack the Clipper” Harty. There hadn’t been any rants, nor any opinion for that matter, about our new football coach. I wrote to Jack and he responded; he was full of hope, citing the obvious that our coach is a very decent human being and a terrific leader of young men and is learning and growing into a fine head coach! Lynn and Ted Sinars have a trip to Iceland scheduled for July. Before the trip he has plans for gel shots in both knees in order for him to climb the ice fields and volcanoes on their trip. When he returns, he has successive knee replacement surgeries scheduled on both joints. He dreams of golfing again. Their grandchildren are thriving and their oldest will join Yahoo in the medical research field after graduation from college this spring. Jim Harrington was recently hospitalized three times for treatment of pneumonia. He reports that he is doing well and gaining strength. As usual his life revolves around family. Their grandchild Emma is graduating from college with a PhD in applied mathematics (I’m not sure what that is but I’m nevertheless impressed) and will do postgraduate work at Princeton. Not to be outdone, another grandchild sang in an opera and then gave a recital singing bass for a series of opera arias in several languages. Frank Verterano, as reported by his wife, Beth, had successful cataract surgery and has returned to work. However, there is a cloud over their house as Beth’s sister, her only sibling, is in hospice and the family awaits the inevitable news. We can offer prayers and, having gone through this myself within the last two years, I can add that you will get through this. — Jim Heinhold; 1200 Carmel Lane, New Bern NC 28562; res 252-638-5913; im4irish@aol.com
68 Looking Ahead — and Back
Since these late April notes will appear in Notre Dame Magazine after the 55th reunion of our Class, an exact prediction of the event is difficult. By the end of June, who knows what effect the Class of 1968 may have had on the campus? The whole place could be a smoldering ruin. The Notre Dame diaspora could be bubbling with reports of a monumental gator pile, of a moving performance of Rocky Bleier’s play, of laughter and delight engendered by Bob Brady’s cabaret show, of remembrance of Vietnam-era military service, of sorrow for our departed, of joining in our Class Mass concelebrated by Father John Pearson and Father John Sheehan, SJ. One unlikely outcome is a report of good behavior. Just consider the registrants as of April 17: among them Rich and Neil Rogers, Mike Sterling, Marty O’Hagan, Ed Wilbraham, Brien Murphy, Tom Culcasi, Dennis Dorratcague, Tom Fitzharris, John O’Brien, John Walsh, Brian Schanning, Myron Cramer, Dan Collins, Walt Moxham, Tom Brislin. In San Francisco, John O’Connor hopes that a stirring opening argument will lead opposing counsel to raise a white flag and a big wallet for settlement in time for John’s reunion attendance. With the number of future reunions dwindling, there may be some recklessness, a disregard for future penalties. There is no dawn patrol at reunions number 60 and thereafter. Certainly, there will be gratitude for the work of classmates who invested great amounts of time in the planning of events with University staff: Fred Ferlic, Gene Cavanaugh, Matt Walsh, Class President Tom Weyer, Skip Strzelecki and Chris Murphy at the forefront. No doubt, too, the effulgent class of 1968 (Joe Ferry’s word, first applied to John O’Connor) will turn to the future. After all, Notre Dame will meet Navy in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, on Aug. 26. Those making the trip have an invitation from Ken Warburton. Ken wants to host a barbecue at his Sligo property during the weekend. Ken has no internet, so RSVP and get directions and details by calling him: 516-695-0476. With the football season so grandly launched, the home games will include all the comforts and grandeur of the Great ’68 tailgates, a time and place for gathering with classmates, friends and new acquaintances gathered from the passing stream of visitors. In short, whether you can make the Reunion or not, there are a lot of good times ahead with the Class of 1968. In the immortal words of the mortal Eddie Kurtz, “no croakin.’” Thanks for sending news and photos to — Tom Figel; 455 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach CA 90802; 312-241-7917; tfigel@reputecture.com
68JD Class Secretary — Dennis G. Collins;
2203 Derby Way, St. Louis MO 63131; bus 314-516-2648; dgc@greensfelder.com
69 Honored and in the News
January: Kate and Tom Altmeyer were busy visiting classmates in Florida—lunch with Karen and Terry Fiorina; dinner with Cheryl and Dean Benner, Scottie and Dick Cimino, Kathy and John Kenefick; lunch and boat tour with Barb and Coley O’Brien. Jim Burke, Fritz Gast, Ernie Gargaro, Peter McInerney, Eb Moran, Tim Schlindwein and Jerry Teagan attended a men’s basketball game—an annual winter tradition started 30 years ago. Sally and Larry Pezanko, Nancy and Greg Ryder, and Cathy and Chip Stumpf took a Caribbean cruise together. Maggie and Dennis Fenn moved from Northbrook IL to South Bend. They have stayed in constant contact with Joe Garbrous, Frank Cardile and Mike Abbate. February: Snowbirds Patty and Mike McCauley saw Mary Ann and Errol Flynn several times in Bonita Springs FL. Bob Franken and Dan Merritt attended the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s reunion for past board directors. John Wehrheim appeared on Drukyul’s Digital Salon’s podcast about the story behind his book Taylor Camp. Cindy and Dan Merritt spent time at the Naples home of Karen and Terry Fiorina. March: A Japanese journalist interviewed Andy Fedynsky, the director of the Ukrainian Museum Archives in suburban Cleveland for 30 years, about the Ukraine war. Althoff Catholic High School (Belleville IL) presented Dr. Greg Hipskind with its 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Gene Hammond, Diane and Steve Kavalauskas, Mary Kennedy ’69SMC and Hub Miller convened in Palm Springs CA for a mini-reunion. Lawdragon, a legal media company, published a lengthy interview with Tom Demetrio, a 2021 inductee in the firm’s hall of fame. The Athletic Club Foundation in Indianapolis honored John J. Quinn with its 2023 Irish Citizen of the Year award on St. Patrick’s Day. The foundation honored John’s father, Francis Quinn ’42, with the award in 2005. Mike Cerre did a segment for PBS NewsHour titled “How the Iraq war still impacts lives of American Marines and families.” On a visit to Marco Island and Naples FL, Jeral Rembusch and Jim Slattery visited with Mary and Fritz Gast, Barb and Coley O’Brien, Pete Moriarty, Sean Duerr, Jack Hannigan and Jeff Kemper. Joel Connelly reviewed A Fever in the Heartland: The Klu Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan on the Post Alley: Seattle website. Ken Beschke published two novels: Skywatchers and Summer of Dreams. Jim Durand and Denis Darko MD collaborated on the novel Safe, Effective, Fraudulent: Chose Two—When Money is the Drug. April: Retiring after 35 years several years ago as a sociology professor and associate dean of faculty at Pitzer College, Peter Nardi now volunteers as a docent, leading tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, Los Angeles’s first UNESCO Heritage site. In October, Tim Russell will be inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame. One of his notable jobs included doing skits and impersonations on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. At the Leadership Conference, the Notre Dame Alumni Association honored me with its 2023 Notre Dame Volunteer of the Year Award. In memory: Walter “Bud” Finan, May 2022, Arlington MA; John Saville, Feb. 15, Dixon IL; and Frank Criniti, March 26, South Bend. Tom Feske, Terry Hanratty, Mike Holtzapfel, Len Moretti, Coley O’Brien, Dan O’Connor, Tom Reynolds, Dave Yonto, Tom Eaton ’71, Dan Harshman ’67, Mark Hubbard ’71, Jim McDonald ’71, Bob Neidert ’71, Jim O’Donnell ’63, Don Reid ’70 and Pat Sarb ’76, ’78 attended Frank’s funeral Mass. Our sincerest condolences to their families and friends. Requiescant in pace. Please keep in your prayers our classmates and their family members experiencing medical challenges. God bless. — John Hickey; jphjr47@hotmail.com; notredameclassof1969blog.blogspot.com
69MBA Class Travelers
Well, classmates, I’m back in the secretary saddle providing an update on our Class after several missed issues. Thanks to Bob Dowdell for his efforts these past few years. Jean and Chris Odenbach have been on a whirlwind travel trek this past year, with stops ranging from Peru (Machu Picchu) to Galapagos, Antarctica, Alaska, South Africa and many others. England is on tap for May, with France, Spain and Portugal in the fall. The late John Knittel’s wife, Rita, writes that their family is as prolific as ever and continuing to grow, with one granddaughter marrying her high school sweetheart. Can you also believe that the baby Rita was carrying at our graduation is now a grandfather! How is that for a wake-up call! Grace and Bob Dowdell write that son Brian ’08 wed in February to Dana Plair in Escondido CA. The marriage took place in a giant outdoor tent, amid all the torrential rains in CA that month. A beautiful wedding video was shared with many in our ’69MBA class. Bob and Grace are trying to keep up with the Georges, with separate trips to Rome, Spain and Croatia during 2023. Our 1967 classmate Vince George ’73MBA and wife Cindy plan to visit France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco in September, so will miss our mini reunion, scheduled for the ND–Central Michigan game on Sept. 16. Peggy and Tom Condon write that he has finally retired. Tom said following a visit to Ireland, they returned home with COVID! They came through it fine and now he’s taking banjo lessons. Joe McCourt writes that he is not quite ready to retire. Harlee and Joe are keeping their medical supply business going. Their oldest son, Jack, is married and living in Austin, while younger son Hank is single and living in Houston. Jerry Claeys has also retired, though in 2019; he didn’t get to travel until 2021 with trips to Greece and Turkey. He is planning a trip to Tuscany with his four eldest children and spouses. We will look forward to hearing all about it, Jerry. Joe Cavato writes that he enjoyed a winter sports weekend road trip to ND with son Joe ’99 and grandson Adam. They attended basketball and lacrosse matches. And two granddaughters now attending U of Kentucky and Fordham U enabled Joe and Linda to enjoy separate, very enjoyable campus visits. We are hoping that many of you will be able to attend this year’s mini reunion in September. More specific info to follow from Dennis McCarthy and me. One last note: As I prepared this update, Vince George is in the fight of his life, with cancer on three fronts. Please remember his struggle with your prayers and hope he will be able to join us soon. Please keep me updated with your activities. — Ken Samara; 3030 McKinney Ave., Apt. 601, Dallas TX 75204; 214-532-2187; kensamara@sbcglobal.net
69JD Dordogne, France
My wife, Sue, turned 75 this year. We are celebrating by taking a tour with the Traveling Irish to Dordogne, France. But before we go, I had to go to the Cleveland Clinic to have my right carotid artery cleaned out. The surgeon who did the procedure (successfully) is Sean Lyden ’88. He was singing the “Victory March” as I was being administered the anesthesia. Sean had all of his children and many nieces and nephews attend ND, so many that he bought a house on Ironwood, not far from the house that Tim McLaughlin, Jim Leavey, Chris Carroll ’68JD and I shared during our second year in Law School. Dave Prior is still looking for takers to join him in Ireland for the Navy game and a few pints at Priors Pub. I missed George Ball this year while he was returning from his mission in Indonesia. Tom McCusker sent me an email apologizing for not getting in touch with me when he overnighted in Honolulu to watch an ND football game—30 years ago. Better late than never. Let me know if you will be at any of the football games this fall. It appears the Central Michigan game is gathering attention. Joe Frantin is exploring hip and shoulder replacement. — Jim Starshak; 889 Ka’ohe Place, Honolulu HI 96825; res 808-395-0443; cell 808-778-4033; starman@hawaii.rr.com