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 — A. 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 Not Mr. Lonely, Thank You Jesus
What a wonderful melody to hum, Bobby Vinton’s “Mr. Lonely.” Today, Jan. 20, my Class Note submission deadline, would have been my father Bob Erkins’ 100th birthday. Happy birthday, Dad! In talking with Bill Wrape yesterday, we discussed how blessed so many are compared to others. Definitely Bill’s “thank you, Jesus” upon waking, for the simple fact of waking, and his “thank you, Jesus” for helping him enjoy one more day contribute to his wonderful senior years. Those with loving and supportive family and friends have the best situations. Bill, as always, was happy to chat. Philosophically: Why am I here when so many loved ones have gone before me? Why am I so lucky to have had this life I’ve been blessed with when I see so many in miserable situations? Will my “heaven on earth” mean I get a not-so-wonderful hereafter? (I, personally, don’t think heaven works that way.) What is my purpose? God always has a plan/purpose, so what is it that I am to accomplish before I depart this world? Being honest, Bill is ready to depart at any point, so really, what is God’s last plan for him? My father, Bill and most of their classmates that I’ve been able to know (even slightly) have fortunately never felt forgotten. ND and the war and the Navy were their main connections. After the war many lost touch with their military family. It’s odd to think of a time when one could not just call a friend. My siblings and I text often with long chains allowing us to keep up with families, babies, weddings, health issues, UFO sightings and daily life. Even we can remember the old days of when calling after 5 on Friday and before 8 on Sunday was important for thrift. Being able to hear from home and loved ones is so important. As Bobby Vinton sings: “Letters, never a letter, I get no letters in the mail.” Fortunately, that was not my parents’ case; we have Mom and Dad’s letters, a small hard-copy snapchat to life when the 10 of us were not even a thought. In today’s world snail-mail letters are history; satellite phones, e-mail and texts are the norm. Whether from a small or large family, in today’s world, one never needs to be far from loved ones. So philosophically, how do we reach those who feel forgotten and are not as fortunate? Bill and I could solve no world problems. Bill, as a very senior senior, depends on the support of family and friends. A head popping through the door to smile good morning, fruit/cookies left within reach, dinner and conversation following create a wonderful, blessed day. Realizing not all are as blessed, Bill, as my father did until he could no longer, says all we can do is continue to say, “Thank you, Jesus.” Thank you, Patrick Voll ’09, for reaching out. If Captain Bob Thomas is reading this, please call when bored with nothing to do. Being a text away, anyone with information or stories of those from the Class of ’45 never hesitate to text or call. — Melissa Erkins Rackish ’77; 1224 Campbell St., Williamsport PA 17701; 570-971-2296; mrackish@comcast.net

 

46 Class Secretary — Paul Taggett; 
mtaggett@tampabay.rr.com

 

47 Sons of ND
Greetings to our ’47 grads and their families: I hope this spring issue finds you all well and enjoying warmer weather. I don’t have anything to report this issue. Please keep in touch with your updates, stories and reminiscences. Go Irish! — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; emzander@gmail.com

 

48 A 100th Birthday
The most enthusiastic and happiest of birthday wishes to our loyal writer, John D. Cahill of Salt Lake City, who turns 100 on April 11! John writes to me that his health is “OK to great” and that he is “very blessed.” John continues a regular regimen at the gym: “I am convinced that keeping moving is very important to a long life.” This activity extends internationally as John recently visited Italy and Spain to see friends. My apologies, John, for prematurely granting you centenarian status by inadvertently placing you in the Class of 1947 several issues ago. Thank you for catching that! May God continue to fill your days with abundant blessings. Please continue to keep in touch with your stories and reminiscences. Go Irish! — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; emzander@gmail.com

 

49 Three New Books
The foremost ’49 literary voice, friend Samuel Hazo, author of 50-odd books, again proves himself both inexhaustible and indefatigable with three new books, Becoming Done, a collection of poems published last year; Who Needs a Horse That Flies? Essays on Poetry and Pretense; and a novel, I Want It To Happen: A Love Song. John Phillip Muench Jr. died Sept. 24 in Grand Rapids MI. Jack enlisted in the Army immediately after high school and provided Morse code communication support for OSS agents behind enemy lines in France and Germany. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Marie Valkier, and his five older sisters, Marie Bernadette Clemens, Jeanne Barbara Brady, Virginia Carolyn Bjorn, Carol Celeste Cashin and his twin, Patricia Mae Hyde. He leaves behind five children, Mary Jo Baisch, Laurie J. Wesley, John P., Margaret Learner and Jeanne A. Wood, and 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He sang with the Grand Rapids Schubert Club and Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Paul the Apostle parish choirs, led family in Rogers and Hammerstein numbers during vacation trips, golfed, and was a distance swimmer. Carl H. Wolford, a founding member of Holy Family Church in New Albany IN, died Oct. 1. Carl was a staff sergeant in the Japan occupation and a St. Vincent de Paul Society participant. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Kay Osbourne; his parents, Herman and Clara Wolford; brother Bob; and sisters Mary Lee Finger and Dottie Fell, and survived by his sister Trudy Grove. A South Bend native and member of Our Lady of Hungary Church, Edward M. Jordanich died Oct. 12. He was predeceased by his wife, Alma Vukovits, and sister Ann M. He is survived by his son, Edward J.; daughter, Ann M.; and granddaughters Lauren, Mia and Natalie. — Bill Slavick; whslavick@gmail.com