1950s

50 Full of Playful Energy
Donald C. Machado, 94, of Honolulu HI passed away May 20, 2023. From the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “With family roots in the islands for nearly 150 years, he was the first ND graduate from HI. He went on to Georgetown Law, was stationed in San Francisco at the Presidio, and moved back to Honolulu to continue his successful law career. At 85, he retired to spend time with his family, friends and garden.” He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary, two children and a granddaughter. Stanley A. Cross, a resident of Sayreville NJ, died July 9 at age 102. An online tribute described how Stanley “enlisted in the US Army in Nov. 1942. He achieved the rank of PFC and served as an anti-tank gun crewman with the 379th Inf. Reg., 95th Inf. Div. till Nov. 1945. His WWII military service took him through the countries of France, Belgium and finally into Germany. During this time, he was awarded two field commendations. One was from Gen. Patton for the attack against the strongly fortified city of Metz, Northern France, and the other was from Lt. Gen. Simpson for the successful battle of the famous ‘Ruhr Pocket’ in Germany. For his valor, Stanley was awarded three Bronze Stars.” After graduating from ND, he worked at engineering firms in NJ and our nation’s capital. He was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church (Parlin NJ). Francis A. Casurella, age 99, passed away in the Atlanta area July 17. A WWII veteran, he annually celebrated his discharge from the US Army. Frank was the first in his family to attend college and became a Double Domer when he graduated from ND Law School. An attorney, Frank was a member of the IL state bar and employed by the Chicago Title Insurance Co. for 34 years; he was senior VP before his retirement in 1989. Frank is survived by his wife of 70 years, Victoria; three children; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Emil V. Garofalo died in Fairfield CT on Aug. 27 at age 96. He was a star at ND on the basketball court and baseball field. The Connecticut Post reported that Emil later was an instructor for the US Army Ord. School in Aberdeen MD and was VP of Wiretex Mfg. Co. He served his community as a member of several important civic organizations. Emil also played for and managed the Raybestos Cardinals softball team, leading them to the ASA championship, and coached a basketball team at Fairfield U. Emil’s wife, Lillian, predeceased him but he is survived by his three children and six grandchildren. James L. Kroner, 96, passed away in La Crosse WI on Sept. 13. After graduating from high school in 1944, Jim enrolled at ND but then left after his first semester to join the US Navy; he served as a pharmacist mate before returning to college. He was a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Church for over 80 years and served his parish in many important ways. He was married for 68 years to the late Maxine but is survived by seven children, 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Mark H. Berens of Northbrook IL died Sept. 21 at age 95. Mark earned Double Domer honors when he finished ND Law School (first in the graduating class and editor-in-chief of the Law Review). The Chicago Tribune stated that he was later “awarded a fellowship from the U of Chicago where he studied for a year before leaving to serve in the US Army JAG Corps at the Pentagon. Mark later joined the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago and spent the next 40-plus years developing a diverse practice focused on tax and international corporate law. Mark is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara, and their eight children and 14 grandchildren. John D. Durkin, 99, passed away in Norwalk CT on Sept. 26. He served in the US Navy during WWII and, following discharge, graduated cum laude from ND. He worked at Milprint Inc. for over 30 years, initially in Milwaukee and then in NYC. The Hour (of SW CT) reported: “Jack’s life can be summed up in two words: faith and family. He was a devout Catholic and a parishioner at the Church of the Assumption in Westport. He treasured his faith and loved to pray. His children admired and appreciated his wisdom and wit.” Jack was married to his wife, Joan, for 69 years; he is also survived by five children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. If you would like to share news about the Class or stories from your time at ND, please let me know. — Jim Coogan ’91; 4 Gile Drive Unit 2A, Hanover NH 03755; jcooganv@alumni.nd.edu

 

51 Class Secretary — Jim Jennings;
jmj4703@gmail.com

 

52 Class Secretary — George Heidkamp;
9308 Linden Reserve Drive, Prairie Village KS 66207; 913-206-4128; georgeaj@rcn.com

 

53 It’s Spring
At writing, students have just returned in sub-zero weather — reminiscent of long walks from North Quad to the South Dining Hall. Earlier this year, Cullen Langford, our broadcast manager, issued a Waldo inquiry in hopes of not receiving an eternal hibernatory response. The success was responses from Marty Wehner, Mike NcNulty, Alex Valvassori, Tom Morsch and others with unrelated messages. Stan Stasch wrote a personal note stating that all is as good as it can be while coping with the trials of prostate, an issue many of us enjoy. Greg Sebold ’80 advised that his father, Bob Sebold, passed away a year ago on Jan. 26 when Class communications were rebooting. Mike McNulty described a scripture reflection he prepares and sends to family. He is willing to add others who are interested. Fred Ionata praised Tex McMonagle’s message in the winter issue of Notre Dame Magazine, and remembered his roommate John Flynn. Marlym and Frank Woidat write all’s well in Elmhurst IL. Gail and Paul Curtin are well and coping in Lisle IL. Jerry Hammes responds to all the broadcasts. Susan Wagner wrote about the death of her father, Tober K. (Buzz) Wagner. Suzanne Powers reported on the death of her father, Jack Powers. Most recently, George Blubaugh wrote of his recovery from surgery and wishes to give a shout-out to Dave Augsberger. The correspondents expressed the best wishes and prayers for classmates living and deceased, as do I. Remember the Class of ’53 Mass Fund with the Holy Cross Missions, which helps the missionaries and helps support daily Mass for the Class of ’53. — Bill Berry, wberry@nd.edu

 

53JD Class Secretary — Bob Berry;
5806 Spaulding St., Omaha NE 68104; 402-457-4142; yokeemup@aol.com

 

54 Class Secretary — Jack Mertens;
550 Wilmette Ave., Ormond Beach FL 32174; 845-216-7251; jacknd54@gmail.com

55 Lacrosse National Champions
By beating Duke 13 to 9, Notre Dame won the 2023 NCAA men’s lacrosse national championship. And the Notre Dame men’s soccer team came very close to doing the same thing: It was defeated 2 to 1 in the championship finals by Clemson. Our lacrosse team and our soccer team each have their own first-class stadium. These structures are side-by-side on the east side of the campus. So, we do have Knute and the Gipper and the Four Horsemen and Leahy, Lujack and Lattner and Marcus Freeman, but there is more than football at Notre Dame. Bill Corbett ’52 phoned me to tell me to turn on the TV to see Hannah Hidalgo, the freshman whiz-bang on the women’s basketball team. She is surely headed for a stellar position in Notre Dame athletic lore. Bill and I were in the NROTC together. He was a naval aviator for many years and is now back in South Bend and is seriously ill. Please pray for him. I visited a friend on campus the other day and walked by Cavanaugh Hall and remembered well the summer session during which I lived in that hall with John Queenan ’54 and Ted Laughlin, and all the Heublein canned martinis we drank after a hot day in the chemistry lab. And there was the summer evening that John and I caught a ride to a Lake Michigan beach party in Chesterton. In the morning, we had no ride back. So, we drew a big cardboard sign that read, “She lives in Boston,” and we stood by the highway. It worked: We didn’t get to Boston, but we got to South Bend before our first class of the day. John went to medical school at Cornell and was the director of a medical specialty at Georgetown’s hospital. Ted earned a medical degree at Georgetown and practiced in FL. He died in 2015. May he rest in peace. The Alumni Office called me to tell me that they have a stack of more than 30 portrait-type photographs of Father Hesburgh that they think our Class has ordered. Paul Fullmer was our very able class secretary for many years and his wife, Sandra, was his faithful helper. But when I contacted her, she said she knew nothing about these portraits. I think that Paul had a plan and I am going to follow it. I am going to deliver one to each dormitory’s office with a note that it is a gift from the Class of 1955. Do you remember the stirring sermon Father Hesburgh gave us from the pulpit in Sacred Heart Church (now Basilica) on the evening of our first day as freshmen? Anyone from our Class who has a child or grandchild who has attended or is attending Notre Dame, let me know so that I can prepare a list of those who are so blessed. Larry Buckley’s likely reply will probably put him at the top of such a list. In going through some of my old college papers, I found some notes I had taken when, in our freshman year, I was in East Lansing for our football game against Michigan State. I was there with Jim Sherer who worked for Charlie Callahan ’38 in the sports publicity office. We ended up on the short side of a 35-0 score and it was Frank Leahy’s worst defeat. Ralph Guglielmi, Joe Heap, Neil Worden ’54 and John Lattner ’54 were on that team. By 1953, those four had become what many say was the best backfield that Notre Dame has ever had. My daughter, Carrie Gallagher ’95, and her husband, Greg ’94, will have their son Matty (my grandson!) join his brother Quinn as Notre Dame students in the fall. Jerry Mulvihill ’53 was secretary of the Class of 1953. Jerry died last year. For more than 70 years, he faithfully wrote a class column for this magazine. I would like to take the following from his last class column and apply it to our Class of 1955: “Let us be grateful for the joys our Class of 1953 connections brought us and pray for our departed friends.” Kyrie eleison. — John Connaughton; 1516 Marquette Blvd., South Bend IN 46628; 574-289-1445; jcithaca37@yahoo.com

 

56 Again, Classmates
Bill Broucek died Oct. 17 in Englewood FL. He worked in commerce, was an Army veteran, and worked at the National Bank of Detroit. He was also chairman and CEO of Ann Arbor State Bank, MI and manager of the ND basketball team. He and Pat Craddock had to know one another. Loved his family and schools. Pat died Nov. 17 in Northfield IL. He was a star athlete at St. George High, Evanston IL. He was a walk-on to the ND basketball team and played the game until his mid-80s. A father of 10, he was a loving husband, an excellent lawyer, always about others, a devout Catholic and proud Notre Damer. John Kennedy died Dec. 5 in South Bend. He and Martha just moved from Hyde Park NY to be near her family when he died. A grad of Fordham Law, he worked as county attorney in Dutchess County NY and as Hyde Park town justice. He was one good guy whose classmates will remember him. Welcome to Rev. Bob Dowd, CSC, president-elect of our Catholic university. A word to the remaining members of the 1954 Badin Hall Interhall Football Champs. The February Blue and Gold Illustrated had an article on interhall football with our 1954 photo and a photo of the 1923 Badin Hall champs. It was mighty cold with much snow for the Bills vs. Kansas City game. Hope for the Super Bowl. Again, always stay in touch. — Ed Cosgrove; 525 Delaware Ave., Buffalo NY 14202; bus 716-854-2211; eccosgrove@cosgrovelawfirm.com

 

56JD Class Secretary — Lauren Starkey ’08;
703-927-2089; lksharkey@gmail.com

 

57 Seeking Class Secretary 
We are sad to share that John A. Slevin, class secretary for the class of 1957, passed away on Nov. 1 surrounded by members of his loving family at his home in Peoria IL. He is survived in death by his beloved wife Mary (Hurst) Slevin of 66 years. If you have an interest in serving as the class secretary, please contact Eleanor Hanson at ehanson3@nd.edu. — Send condolences to Mary Slevin, 6123 N. Mandalay Dr., Peoria, IL 61614.

 

58 Class Secretary — Arthur L. Roule Jr.;
114 Sagamore Parkway, La Porte IN 46350; alroule@yahoo.com

 

58JD Class Secretary — John F. Murray;
2036 Cheltenham Court, Woodbridge VA 22192; 703-494-2482; johnandnell66@gmail.com

 

59 Reunion Plans
Notre Dame is somewhat famous for alumni reunions, possibly more so than any other college or university. Many of us attended that first gathering of our Class at Notre Dame in 1964, some fresh from medical, dental or law schools, successful employment, marriages, and completion of ROTC military careers. Some classmates have been able to participate in every five-year class reunion. Jim Coorssen (Louisville KY) and Nick Dempsey (Barrington IL) have managed to continue to room together — beginning as students, and at every five-year gathering! They plan to do so once again, in Duncan Family Hall, for our 65th Reunion, May 30-June 2! A couple of our reunions were more memorable than others — who will ever forget the late Mark Shields being humorously pelted with dinner rolls in the North Dining Hall, as our featured dinner speaker, and Mark’s very strong advocacy of Bobby Kennedy for the presidency of the US, by those not sharing Mark’s political persuasion? Now, in 2024, we’re out of rolls and would need Tommy John surgery to get the strength to toss them. While Reunion 2024 will officially begin on Friday morning, May 31, we will have a wonderful opportunity to gather on Thursday afternoon, May 30. With a visit to Father Hesburgh’s grave in the Community Cemetery (on St. Mary’s Road) — golf carts and passenger van transportation available! — then tours of the new Corby Hall (2020), thanks to Rev. Bob Dowd, CSC, ’87, the newly appointed 19th president of the University, and the current superior of the 72 Holy Cross priests and brothers at Notre Dame, followed by visits to the nearby, recently renovated Sorin Hall. And, informal conversations with Rev. Edward A. “Monk” Malloy, CSC, ’63, ‘67M.A., ‘69M.A. the 16th president of the University, who has lived in Sorin (in the northeast turret room on the first floor) for 44 years. At 5 p.m., Msgr. Milam Joseph will preside at Mass in the chapel in Sorin Hall. After which, thanks to a generous, anonymous contribution by a ’59 classmate, we will (easily) move to Remick Family Hall (2022) in the Alliance for Catholic Education complex, directly behind the Basilica and the Main Building, for a hosted cocktail reception and dinner. Some classmates might remember that, in the run-up to our 50th Reunion (2009), we raised $26.4 million in a then-record gift to the University. Of that gift, $8.9 million was restricted to ACE. Numerous classmates and spouses have continued their financial support of ACE since that 50th Reunion. Jack Remick and his wife, Mary Ann (Rochester MN — however, Jack came to ND from Long Beach MS), are major benefactors of ACE, including the beautiful, recently constructed Remick Family Hall (2022), with an outside terrace on the second level that looks up to the back of the Main Building and the Golden Dome. Thanks, again, to this anonymous donor, we shall host a hospitality space at the Morris Inn on both Friday and Saturday, which will provide a perfect place to meet for coffee in the morning, and adult beverages later in the day — and to continue to tell “collegiate war stories.” The Alumni Office, thanks to staff members Dani Elgas and Beth Thomas ’05, will provide excellent, interesting lectures and activities during the day. Our ’59 Class dinner on Friday will be in the rotunda of the Main Building, and on Saturday in the Monogram Room at the Joyce Center. Our luncheon on Saturday will be in the Dahnke Ballroom of Duncan Student Center (2018), on the seventh level, overlooking Notre Dame Stadium. All locations are conveniently accessible via elevators. Please remember to join us in praying the virtual Rosary on Saturday mornings. — Bob Brennan; 855 Clubhouse Drive, Ballwin MO; 314-807-1011; bobbrennan76@gmail.com